20-Minute Amaretto Cheese-Filled Apricots
Elegant dried apricots stuffed with a creamy amaretto-spiked cheese filling and topped with toasted almonds. The sweet-tart apricots pair beautifully with the rich cream cheese mixture enhanced by almond liqueur and dried cherries. Perfect for holiday entertaining, wine tastings, or sophisticated appetizer spreads. The make-ahead nature and impressive presentation make these ideal for dinner parties.
Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup slivered almonds, toasted, chopped
- ¼ cup dried cherries or sweetened dried cranberries, chopped
- 2 tablespoons amaretto liqueuralmond extract1/2 teaspoonalcohol-freefamily-friendlyadds tree_nuts
use much less as extract is concentrated
- 30 soft whole dried apricots
Instructions
- 1
Mix cream cheese, 1/4 cup almonds, cherries and amaretto in small bowl with spoon
- 2
Spoon mixture into small resealable plastic bag and cut 1/2 inch off one corner
- 3
Open apricots along one side with fingers to create clamshell shape
- 4
Pipe about 1 teaspoon cheese mixture into each apricot
- 5
Finely chop remaining almonds and dip cheese edge of apricots into almonds
- 6
Refrigerate 1 hour before serving to chill
Tips
Toast almonds in dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant for best flavor
Use a small offset spatula to help fill apricots if piping bag method proves difficult
Good to Know
refrigerate covered up to 3 days
can be assembled 1 day ahead, store covered in refrigerator
serve chilled as appetizer or with cheese board
Common Mistakes
use softened cream cheese to avoid lumpy filling
don't overfill apricots to prevent cheese mixture from leaking out
Substitutions
use much less as extract is concentrated
Full guide →FAQ
Can I make these without alcohol?
Yes, substitute 1/2 teaspoon almond extract for the amaretto liqueur. The extract provides similar almond flavor without alcohol content.
What if my apricots are too firm to open?
Steam firm apricots briefly or soak in warm water for 10 minutes to soften before attempting to open them.
How long will these keep in the refrigerator?
Store covered in refrigerator for up to 3 days. The filling may soften slightly over time but remains delicious.