What to cook with apricots for the winter and 19 best step-by-step recipes

Every housewife can prepare apricot preserves for the winter. These healthy treats will become family favorites and holiday highlights, wowing guests with their flavor and earning them countless compliments.

Specifics of fruit preparation for winter

Apricots are a true treasure for any homemaker, thanks to their technical characteristics and flavor, allowing them to be used to make aromatic preserves, thick jams, homemade candied fruits, fruit marmalade, and sweet pastila.

How to choose and prepare apricots

For harvesting, select ripe, aromatic fruits with dense pulp, without dents, damage or rotten areas. Then rinse with running water and dry.

The best recipes for winter preparations with apricots

A selection of the best recipes that can be made at home.

Classic jam

This simple recipe for jam will help you create a unique dessert that will satisfy any sweet tooth.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg of apricots;
• 1.5 kg of sugar;
• 2 tbsp. water.

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Place sugar in an enamel saucepan and add water. Boil the mixture until the sugar crystals are completely dissolved.
2. Cut the apricots in half and remove the pits.
3. Combine prepared fruits with syrup and leave for 24 hours.
4. After the time has elapsed, pour the syrup into a saucepan and bring to a boil, pour it over the apricots again and leave for a day.
5. Place the container with apricots on the fire and cook until the fruit becomes translucent.
6. Fill the jars with hot jam and seal.

Fragrant jam

The thick jam made according to this recipe will serve as an excellent filling for pies and pastries.

Component composition:

• 4 kg apricots;
• 2.5 kg of sugar;
• 2 lemons.

How to make jam:

1. Wash the apricots, cut them in half, remove the pits and cut into quarters.
2. Place in a large container and sprinkle with sugar.
3. Leave the mixture for several hours at room temperature or put it in the refrigerator overnight, covered with a lid.
4. After 2-3 hours, squeeze the juice from 2 lemons and combine it with the apricots. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly and skimming off any foam.
5. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring constantly. When the jam wrinkles when touched with a finger, it's ready.
6. Beat the mixture with a blender until it reaches a puree consistency and bring to a boil.
7. Pour into jars, leaving 1-1.5 cm from the top, and sterilize, covered with lids, for 15-20 minutes. Then seal, wrap in a blanket, and let cool.

Dried apricots

This recipe requires an electric dehydrator and a little patience.

Necessary components:

• 2.5 kg apricots;
• 1 liter of water;
• 1 g of sugar.

Recipe step by step:

1. Remove the seeds from ripe fruits.
2. Make syrup by placing a container of water on the stove and bringing it to a boil, then add sugar.
3. Combine the solution with the fruit and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and let the apricots sit in the syrup for 24 hours in a cool place.
4. Place the fruit on the edge of the plate, allowing the syrup to drain off.
5. Place the fruit on the drying rack, set the temperature to 45-50 degrees and dry for 10-12 hours.
6. Place the dried apricots in a jar, seal tightly and place in the refrigerator for storage.

Drying

You can dry pitted apricots in the sun, covered with cheesecloth and placed under a canopy, for 5-6 hours. You can also dry them in the oven, after removing the pits and spreading them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, at 50 degrees Celsius for 10 hours.

You can also obtain a dried product using an electric dryer or an air fryer.

Freezing apricots

The essence of freezing consists of the following actions:

1. Cut the apricots into slices to preserve their shape after defrosting.
2. Place the prepared fruit on a tray and place it in the freezer.
3. Once the slices are slightly frozen, place them in a plastic bag, tie it tightly and store.

Housewives not only use whole frozen vegetables, but also prepare purees and slices in syrup in this way.

Compote

You can preserve this delicious and aromatic drink for the winter. A glass of compote, rich in vitamins and minerals, will energize you for the whole day. This healing elixir will help strengthen your immune system during the peak of colds and viruses.

Ingredients required for a 3 liter jar:

• 600 g apricots;
• 250 g sugar;
• 2.5 liters of water.

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Wash the fruits, cut them in half and remove the seeds.
2. Fill the jar with prepared fruits.
3. Pour water into a separate container and place it on the stove to boil.
4. Pour boiling water into the jar to the very top.
5. Cover with a lid and put under a towel so that the fruit can steam a little.
6. After 20 minutes, drain the water into a container, add sugar, and wait until it boils.
7. Fill the jar with the prepared syrup, seal it, turn it upside down and hide it under a blanket.

Apricots in jelly

To enjoy this sunny fruit in cold weather, you can prepare a delicate jelly that leaves a slight tartness and a hint of summer.

Set of products:

• 1 kg pitted apricots;
• 500 g sugar;
• 25 g gelatin.

Sequence of actions:

1. Cover pitted apricot slices with sugar and leave for 4-5 hours.
2. Sprinkle gelatin on top and let stand for another 1 hour.
3. Pour the resulting mixture into jars and sterilize for 15 minutes.
4. Turn over and put under a blanket until cool.

Paste

This delicacy is low in calories and packed with nutrients. This vitamin-rich dessert can be stored for winter use. To make it, take:

• 250 g sugar;
• 1 kg of apricots;
• 50 g of water.

How to make a delicious dessert:

1. Remove the pits from the apricots and place them in a thick-bottomed container.
2. Sprinkle sugar on top and add water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Beat the resulting mass using a blender.
4. Lightly grease a parchment-lined baking sheet with vegetable oil to prevent the pastila from sticking. Pour the fruit puree onto the baking sheet in a 1 cm thick layer. Preheat the oven to 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit) for 4 hours. Turn off the oven and let cool. Repeat the process until the puree thickens.
5. Transfer the mixture, along with the parchment paper, to a drying tray and let it dry for 12 hours. The resulting consistency should be dense and elastic.
6. Separate the pastila from the parchment, roll it into a tube, and cut it with a knife into a 1 cm thick section. Dry it in a dryer or on the balcony for 12 hours.

Store the pastila in the refrigerator for 3-4 months.

Sugar apricot syrup

To make syrup, you need to prepare the following ingredients:

• 700 g apricots;
• 400 g sugar;
• 1 liter of water.

Syrup preparation technology:

1. Sort the apricots, cut them in half and remove the pits.
2. Place the halves in a jar in circles, trying to do this as tightly as possible.
3. Boil the water and pour it into a container, which is immediately covered with a lid.
4. After 10 minutes, drain the water and dissolve the sugar in it by bringing the mixture to a boil.
5. Combine the resulting solution with the contents of the jar and seal. Turn over and wrap until completely cool.

Delicious jam "Five minutes"

For the jam you will need:

• 1.5 kg apricots;
• 1.5 kg of sugar.

How to make dessert correctly:

1. Place the pitted fruits in a saucepan, sprinkling each layer with sugar, and leave for 4 hours.
2. Place the container with the contents over medium heat and simmer in 3 stages - 5 minutes each at intervals of 3 hours, skimming off the foam.
3. Fill the jars with hot jam and close.

Preparing juice without pasteurization

Components:

• 1 kg of apricots;
• 250 g sugar;
• 1 cup of water.

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Remove the pits from ripe fruits and place them in a container, add water, cover with a lid and turn on low heat until it boils.
2. Strain the cooked fruit through a sieve and transfer to a saucepan. Add sugar and, stirring, simmer over low heat until it boils.
3. Pour the boiling juice into jars and roll up.

Fruit slices in syrup without cooking

Preserving apricots without sterilization is also popular. To do this, you'll need:

• 2 kg apricots;
• 1 kg of sugar;
• 2 liters of water.

How to cook:

1. Divide the apricots into halves, remove the pits, cut into slices and place in jars.
2. Heat water, add sugar and boil for 5 minutes.
3. Pour the resulting syrup into jars and seal. Turn them upside down and keep them under a blanket until cool.

Sugar-free canning

This stock is suitable for making desserts and baked goods.

Products:

• 2 kg apricots;
• 2 tbsp. water.

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Combine the pitted fruit halves with water and cover with a lid and bring to a boil.
2. Keep on heat until the product starts to release juice.
3. Place the fruits in jars, pour in juice and seal.

Candied fruit

Recipe ingredients:

• 1 kg of apricots;
• 6 tbsp. sugar;
• 2 g citric acid;
• 0.5 l of water.

Manufacturing:

1. Place the container with sugar and water on the stove and boil until dissolved.
2. Place the pitted fruit halves in a metal bowl and pour hot syrup over them. Let sit for 10-12 hours.
3. Then boil for 5-7 minutes and leave for another 10-12 hours.
4. Repeat the procedure 3 more times.
5. Add citric acid during the last boil.
6. Drain all the syrup from the candied fruit and place it in a sieve. Place the fruit in the oven and dry at 45 degrees Celsius.
7. Sprinkle the candied fruit with sugar and place in jars, covering with parchment paper soaked in an alcohol solution.

Fragrant jam with cinnamon

Ingredients needed for canning:

• 2 kg apricots;
• 1 kg of sugar;
• 250 ml of water;
• 2 sticks of cinnamon;
• citric acid.

Recipe step by step:

1. Make syrup using water and sugar and pour it over the pitted fruits.
2. Put the mixture to boil, adding citric acid and cinnamon.
3. After 30 minutes, pour the treat into jars, removing the cinnamon sticks and roll up.

Almond jam

Ingredients:

• 1 kg of apricots;
• 50 g sugar;
• 100 g almonds.

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Remove the pits from the fruit, place them in a bowl, and sprinkle with sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes.
2. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the almonds, stir, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Pack into jars and seal.

Apricot and gooseberry jam

Components:

• 600 g apricots;
• 500 g gooseberry puree;
• 700 g sugar.

Method of preparation:

1. Add 400 g of pitted apricot halves to the heated gooseberry puree and, after boiling, cook for 3 minutes.
2. Add 200 g of sugar and simmer for another 15 minutes. Add the remaining fruit and sugar in 2 additions, and cook until tender, stirring constantly.
3. Pour into jars and seal.

Sunny Jam

To make jam you will need:

• 3 kg apricots;
• 3 kg of sugar.

Recipe step by step:

1. Pass the pitted fruits through a meat grinder.
2. Sprinkle the resulting mixture with sugar and, placing it on the stove, simmer on low heat for 30 minutes. Set aside to infuse.
3. After 24 hours, cook for another 10-15 minutes.
4. Place the finished jam into jars and close.

Fresh jam with honey

Apricots can be used to prepare all sorts of dishes for future use, one of which is healthy jam with honey.

Components:

• 800 g apricots;
• honey.

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Pass the pitted fruits through a meat grinder, add honey to taste and mix.
2. Place the resulting puree into jars and seal.

Duration and storage conditions

Preserved food should be stored in dry, cool areas; a well-ventilated cellar or basement is ideal. The preparations can be stored for 12 months at a temperature no higher than 18 degrees.