Apricots have maybe the shortest season of any stone fruit I know, which is exactly why I treat the few weeks they’re actually good as an event instead of just another trip through the kitchen. 😋
The moment they show up looking ripe and a little fuzzy in that perfect shade of orange, I start planning what to bake.
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This list is fifteen of my favorite apricot dessert recipes, ranging from a classic apricot cobbler to easier no-bake options for when you don’t feel like baking in a hot kitchen in July.
Some lean sweet and simple, a couple use dried apricots instead of fresh for whenever fresh ones aren’t in season where you live, and every single one is worth making at home before apricot season disappears for another year.
1. Easy Apricot Almond Cake
This apricot-almond cake is soft, nutty, and topped with caramelized apricot halves that make it look far fancier than it actually is to make. Greek yogurt keeps every bite moist, and a sprinkle of turbinado sugar on top gives it that perfect bakery-style crunch.
2. Spiced Banana Cupcakes with Apricot Frosting
These cupcakes taste almost like hot cross buns in dessert form: soft, warmly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, and studded with raisins. The real star is the frosting, a fudgy white chocolate and apricot jam combo that’s far less sweet and cloying than a classic buttercream.
3. Apricot Bars
These bars have a tender almond flour crust, a light and tangy yogurt filling that sits somewhere between cheesecake and panna cotta, and a glossy layer of fresh apricots on top. They look far more impressive than the actual effort involved, since most of the work happens in the fridge instead of the oven.
4. Crumb Apricot Cheesecake
This one comes from an old family recipe with a clever trick: part of the buttery crust gets frozen, then grated straight over the filling instead of making a separate streusel. Fresh apricot halves bake right into the creamy cheese filling, and the almond-flecked crumb topping adds the perfect bit of crunch.
5. Apricot and Vanilla Panna Cotta
This dessert is rated easy for a reason: it just takes time, not skill. A silky vanilla layer sets first, then a bright, lightly sweet apricot layer goes over the top, and it makes six servings you can serve chilled, straight from individual glasses.
6. Amaretto and Apricot Cupcakes
These cupcakes are made with apricot jam and chopped almonds baked right into the batter, then topped with a fluffy cream cheese frosting whipped with powdered sugar. The real finishing touch is a glossy apricot jam and amaretto glaze drizzled on top, turning a basic cupcake into something that tastes a lot closer to a tiny cake. The recipe makes a dozen, perfect for sharing.
7. Apricot and Cream Cheese Puff Pastry
This recipe comes together in under an hour using store-bought puff pastry, so there’s no need to make anything from scratch, and it doesn’t take much hands-on time at all. A simple cream cheese and vanilla filling sits under a fresh apricot half, finished with a sprinkle of crunchy sugar and a quick apricot jam glaze. They taste like something from a bakery, but they’re easy enough to whip up any morning at home.
8. No-bake Greek Yogurt Cheesecake with Apricot Mousse
This one skips the oven entirely: a cookie crumb crust holds a light, lemony Greek yogurt filling topped with a bright apricot mousse. It needs a few hours in the fridge to set, but almost no actual skill.
9. Apricot Melon & Rosemary Panna Cotta with Almond brittle
This vegan panna cotta swaps gelatin for agar agar and gets a subtle herbal lift from rosemary-infused coconut milk. A roasted apricot and melon sauce adds sweetness, and almond brittle on top brings the crunch.
10. Roasted Apricot and Ricotta Tart
A buttery shortcrust shell holds a tangy, no-bake ricotta and cream cheese filling, topped with honey-roasted apricots and spiced pistachios. Roasting the fruit first mellows out the tartness and makes the whole tart taste a little more impressive than it actually is to make.
11. Apricot Compote
This one comes together in about 15 minutes: just apricots, sugar, honey, and lemon simmered into a thick, jammy sauce. Spoon it over yogurt, ice cream, or pound cake for an easy way to use up extra apricots.
12. Apricot Cream Cakes | Vegan Mini Cheesecakes
These mini cakes layer a soft sponge base with a no-bake tofu cheesecake filling and a glossy apricot glaze on top, no eggs, dairy, or gelatin needed. They make ten individual servings, perfect for a crowd.
13. Apricot Sour Cream Bundt Cake
A cinnamon-spiced filling of dried apricots and toasted pecans hides inside this moist sour cream cake, finished with a simple powdered sugar glaze. It’s a solid brunch cake that travels well.
14. Easy Apricot Tart (Made with Store Bought Crust)
This one only needs four ingredients: store-bought crust, jam, rolled oats, and fresh apricots. The oats quietly soak up extra liquid while baking, so you still get a crisp, golden crust underneath.
15. Breakfast Crêpes with Ricotta and Apricot
Thin whole wheat crepes get filled with honeyed ricotta and a warm apricot preserve filling, spiked with a splash of brandy. They work just as well for dessert as they do for breakfast.
16. Easy Gluten-Free Apricot Cake
A soft almond cake base gets topped with halved apricots that turn tender and jammy as they bake, plus a scattering of toasted flaked almonds. It’s gluten-free, but you’d genuinely never guess.
17. Fruity Apricot Rosemary Layer Cake
Light sponge layers get stacked with an apricot and rosemary mascarpone cream, then topped with caramelized apricots infused with more rosemary. It’s an elegant, herby twist on a classic fruit layer cake.