Appetizers Vegetarian

Cream Cheese Stuffed Apricots

September 4, 2014

Let me set the scene. You see a recipe you want to make, you buy all the ingredients, you make the recipe, you have a ton of random ingredients left over. This is my life. My pantry is filled with recipe ingredient leftovers. Items I wouldn’t normally buy, so if the recipe doesn’t use all of it, there it sits. Remember those awesome Double Decker Apricot Turkey Sandwiches? Yeah, guess who has bags of dried apricots leftover? Enter Cream Cheese Stuffed Apricots! Not something I would have normally made, but I’m glad I did. These little bites would be a perfect addition to any cheese plate and definitely something different.

Cream Cheese Stuffed Apricots

So, how’s it taste?

The original recipe called for adding amaretto, but after reading the comments that it was too strong, I decided to use milk to thin the cream cheese and honey to up the sweet factor. Success! I kept popping these snacks right and left. The apricot is slightly tangy and you get the sweet cheese filling with chunks of dried cherries and crunchy almonds.

Cream Cheese Stuffed Apricots

I’m lazy, so I didn’t bother to toast my almonds. They were fine without toasting, but would be much better toasted. You could use pecans, if you like, too. I really loved how these turned out and they’re so different from what you’d normally find on a cheese plate or at a party.

Cream Cheese Stuffed Apricots

I also stuffed some dates (of course I had some leftover from another recipe!), just to see if they would be good. They were, but really really sweet. I liked the apricots better. So if you’re like me and need to use those leftover dried apricots…throw a party and serve these cuties! Ooo, I think I just created something. I’ll throw a random ingredient party when my pantry gets out of hand! 😉

Cream Cheese Stuffed Apricots

Yield: 30 appetizers

Prep Time: 20 min

Total Time: 1 hr 20 min

Cream Cheese Stuffed Apricots

Ingredients:

4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted, chopped*
1/4 cup chopped dried cherries or dried cranberries
1 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. honey
30 soft whole dried apricots

*Note: To toast nuts, bake uncovered in a shallow, ungreased pan at 350F for 6 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. They're done when they're light brown.

Directions:

1. In small bowl, mix cream cheese, 1/4 cup of almonds, cherries, milk, and honey with spoon. Spoon into small resealable food-storage plastic bag. Cut 1/2 inch off 1 corner of bag.

2. With fingers, open apricots along one side so they resemble partially open clamshells. Pipe about 1 teaspoon cheese mixture into each apricot.

3. Finely chop remaining almonds. Dip cheese edge of apricots into almonds. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving to chill.

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  • Sues September 4, 2014 at 7:43 am

    What a great idea for a fun and unique party appetizer!

  • Crystal | Apples & Sparkle September 4, 2014 at 8:57 am

    These sound really tasty. Definitely something I never would have ever thought to make. Great appetizer! : )

  • Kelly @ Trial and Eater September 4, 2014 at 9:05 am

    These look so fun! I love apricots,and cream cheese makes everything better soo… yum 🙂

  • Shannon @ Bake. Frost. Repeat. September 4, 2014 at 9:15 am

    Oh wow. My mom would go bonkers over these. What a great appetizer for any party. LOVE!

  • Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy September 4, 2014 at 12:16 pm

    I never used to be a fan of cheese and fruit together, but I am totally converted now. These look yummy.

  • olivia - Primavera Kitchen September 4, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    Love this appetizer recipe! Look so tasty and flavourful!

  • Lesley Eats September 4, 2014 at 3:21 pm

    Ooh, these would be great for holiday party season!

  • cheri September 4, 2014 at 4:57 pm

    HI Leah, what a great idea, love this!

  • Phillip || SouthernFATTY.com September 4, 2014 at 5:01 pm

    You had me at cream cheese!

  • Thalia @ butter and brioche September 4, 2014 at 9:17 pm

    Never would have thought to stuff apricots with cream cheese before.. definitely a flavor combination that I need to try!

  • Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice September 5, 2014 at 9:36 am

    I love your creativity, Leah! These stuffed apricots sound amazing! Who knew that it would taste so good?! Gorgeous pictures, too!

  • Karen - 2Teaspoons September 5, 2014 at 5:00 pm

    I totally know what you mean about all the random ingredients that accumulate around the kitchen! I recently moved and was trying to clear out my pantry before hand, and it was quite the challenge. These apricots definitely look delicious…I just want to reach into the screen and grab one off the plate 🙂

  • Annie @Maebells September 8, 2014 at 8:04 pm

    I so understand!!! The randomness that is my pantry is totally absurd! I need to be creative like you and use up my odds and ends!

  • Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! September 8, 2014 at 9:39 pm

    I have got to use up my leftover ingredients as well. I love what you did with the apricots. You’re so creative, Leah!!

  • Jeni September 9, 2014 at 12:03 pm

    This looks fabulous. I am so excited to try these!

  • Isadora September 9, 2014 at 8:41 pm

    I have the same dilemma too! So many random bags of ingredients in my pantry. Thank goodness for the bulk section! I’m a huge lover of dried apricots and I bet they taste amazing stuffed with cream cheese! What a great way to use them up 🙂

  • Kelly - Life Made Sweeter September 11, 2014 at 3:45 pm

    Sounds like my pantry. So many bags of leftover ingredients. These bites are such a great way to use up your apricots. So fun and creative 🙂

  • Mindy February 12, 2015 at 9:24 am

    Such a great thing to make! I love the recipe! I can’t wait to do it myself! Looks so incredibly delicious! Thanks! Greetings, Storage North Harrow Ltd.