Apricot Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried apricots, chopped
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)

Method:

1. Preparing the Apricots:

Place the chopped dried apricots in a heatproof bowl.
Pour the boiling water over the apricots and let them soak for about 10-15 minutes until softened.
Once softened, drain the apricots and set them aside.

2. Making the Cake Batter:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a cake pan.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until well combined.
Stir in the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Gently fold in the soaked apricots until evenly distributed throughout the batter.

3. Baking the Cake:

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, spreading it out evenly.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
Then, transfer the cake to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Serving:

Once cooled, dust the top of the apricot cake with powdered sugar if desired.
Slice and serve the cake on its own or with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Enjoy your delicious apricot cake with friends and family!