This Apple Apricot Amish Friendship Bread Cake is moist, flavorful, and best served warm with a generous sprinkle of confectioners’ sugar and a dollop of apricot jam. It’s easy to make, so expect HUGE raves. Plus, did I mention, it’s amazing?
Adapted from Tara Parker-Pope, New York Times. This recipe post contains affiliate links, so if you click and/or make a purchase, the Friendship Bread Kitchen may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
IT’S AMAZING.
This is the perfect autumnal or winter holiday treat, and just the sort of thing you’d offer to a friend along with a steaming mug of apple cider. It’s comforting, as anything with cooked apples tends to be, and the apricot jam takes it to the next level. I made mine in a Bundt pan, though I’ve also made it in shallower cake pans and layered it with a spread of apricot jam between each layer.
There are a few steps, but it’s super easy once you have everything ready, and the result is gorgeous. If you have one cup of Amish Friendship Bread starter and don’t know what to make, this is a recipe DEFINITELY worth trying!
Here’s a quick video to show you how I put it together:
Warm Apple Apricot Amish Friendship Bread Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon ground
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup oil
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup applesauce
- ⅓ cup apricot jam
- 3 cups Granny Smith apples peeled and chopped, approximately ¼ inch-thick (5 apples)
- ½ cup confectioners' sugar to top, plus extra as needed
- ⅔ cup apricot jam to drizzle
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F (or 177° C).
- Grease Bundt pan and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk salt, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine starter, oil and sugar with an electric mixer for three minutes, increasing gradually to high speed. Add applesauce and apricot jam, then mix on high for one minute until smooth.
- Add dry ingredients to wet mixture until fully incorporated. Batter will be clumpy.
- Fold in apples and mix on low speed. The batter will be thick. Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake 60-70 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Rotate cake pan halfway through baking. Turn Bundt cake onto a cooling rack as soon as it is removed from the oven.
- Warm apricot jam in microwave for 10-15 seconds. When cake is cool, dust with powdered sugar and drizzle with warm apricot jam.
- Enjoy!
Try This
Not a fan of apricot? Kitchen Friend Barbara Heyden made the recipe the day it posted, with a few alterations: “I left out the apricot, reduced oil to ½ cup, increased applesauce to 1 cup, added 1 teaspoon vanilla, and an egg. baked in 2 loaf pans. It’s amazing.”
>> Have you tried this? Share your best pic with us or leave a comment below and let us know how it worked for you!
I think this is the best recipe I tried yet, but of course I altered it. I had an expired can of apple pie filling to use, so I drained it and used the sauce in place of the jam, two apples instead of 5, and then used the remaining pie filling liquid to make a glaze with lots of powdered sugar for the top. It is soooo yummy!
I made this for my husband’s 70th Birthday Cake with this recipe! It was amazing!
So glad it turned out, Linda! And Happy Birthday to your husband!
I made this cake with some minor modifications for my daughter’s birthday. I didn’t have any apricot jam, so I made a mango one. I also used gluten free flour blend in place of the AP flour. I baked it in a bundt pan that was well greased andcoated with a layer of cinnamon and sugar before adding the batter. When baked, it had a wonderful crunchy topping from the sugar and all the wonderful apple cake goodness. Thanks for such a great recipe.
So glad it worked out for you, Elizabeth! That sounds delicious!
Time to get cooking. That cake looks yummy
Yummo!
I would definitely try this recipe. I would make it to give away for Christmas gifts.
I’d have to wait until later to make this one. It looks divine but I have too many I’m obligated to as it is! Oh boy, ?I can almost taste it now!
really looks good will have to try it. I have enjoyed all the recipes so far. thank you for sharing
I think this recipe looks delicious! Now I have to go out and buy some apples!
I just saw this and I can’t Wait to try it! I LOVE apricots! Thanks for sharing it
Have a very Merry Christmas, Darien and your entire family, too!
Made it….loved it…..family just could not get enough of the greatness in the all of it from table to belly.
It was very moist & just plain delish.
BUT….come on with the giveaway…What is wrong with us Canadians???
We too subscribe to your awesome blog.
Canada & United States are “ONE” as a whole ‘North America’.
Reads a nice recipe. My thoughts are that I’ll have to get a good flour spray like the pros for that beauty of a Bundt. I like to try a recipe as written before adding my changes if needed. Could be an all year round recipe. I’ll keep you posted. Made the 9 p.m. deadline.
I can’t wait to try this! I canned apricots and cherries also peach preserves this year, each would make for interesting additions. Got to get my starter going soon!?
I would first try it as is then I would make it all apple maybe add applesauce. I love trying new recipes..
This sounds great! I’d love to try it.
This wonderful cake is something my family would enjoy, can’t wait to try it! Thank you for the chance to win a beautiful bunt pan, it makes the presentation so pretty to take to an event !
Can’t wait to smell the gingerbread, see the beautiful results, and taste the results. Tfs.
This recipe looks wonderful! Can’t wait to try it. The bundt pan is gorgeous. Would love to have it.
I haven’t tried the recipe, but I love apples and apricots (apricot jam is my absolute favorite jam!)…the only thing I’d change would be to reduce the amount of apples and add some diced dried apricots, plumped in a bit of apple juice.
Since it has apples I might throw in some cardamom
Can’t wait to bake this. I don’t have all the ingredients yet, but tomorrow I will. Looks yumm!!!!
Have extra starter from baking all week and all the ingredients on hand to try this tomorrow. Sounds really yummy! Thanks for sharing and Happy Holidays to everyone!
This bread recipe looks yummy!! It does look like one I may try. Love Amish Friednship breads and can’t wait to make some of the bread recipes for friends and family for Christmas!! Thanks for all the great recipes!!
I haven’t tried the recipe, but I can see this in my future. Looks amazing.
Used Apple jelly instead of apricot. Loved it
I wouldn’t change a thing. I love this recipe and bread looks delicious!!!
I think this looks lovely! I wonder if it would work with other fruits?
This bread looks delicious!!! I wouldn’t change a thing.
Hmm, I almost passed on this–I don’t know that we’ve ever had apricot jam in the house–but on closer inspection, I suppose I could use another jam. (I just got an AFB starter this past week, but I already know my mom and I aren’t going to eat enough bread to be just making bread, so I’m hunting out other things to bake with it.) Anybody have opinions on how alternate jams get along with it?
not a fan of apricots, so I’d try it with peaches or apples.
Got a starter brewing in the kitchen will be ready in a few days, will have to try this one,l sounds really good.
There is not one thing I would change or add to this recipe. It looks devine. The bundt pan is beautiful! Would love to win!
Sounds yummy, will need to give this a try!
Looking forward to trying this, might try it with dried blueberries. It’s cold enough in WI to look forward serving this warm and fresh!
Can’t wait to get it out of my oven!
Sounds scrumptious! I haven’t baked with apricots, but I adore apricot jam. I’m giving this one a go over the weekend with a starter I’ve got frozen!
Just got a starter today and will definitely be making this as our first friendship bread!
Not too much on apricots, but the applesauce one with some black walnuts and perhaps a drizzle of Carmel icing on it would suit my baking to a T. Will back a few for our Christmas. Ho Ho Ho ?
This looks insanely good and I would love to try it!
This looks amazing. I just made a starter and can not wait to start making breads with them. Will definitely be looking back on this recipe to try this one. Lools amazing!
Fantastic! No need to change a thing!
Fantastic! No need to change a single thing!
This dessert looks amazing as is, but I think I’ll substitute canned apricots (whirled in the blender) and cut up dried apricots for the apples. I think the flavor will intensify. Love this site and all the great AFB ideas!
This sounds great, And the bundt pan is beautiful! I have lots of apricot jam that I put up a couple seasons ago, and a few apples left from my tree, sounds like the perfect thing to make!
Darien! Sorry about my calling you Linda! I love your website. I never realized how much can be done with the AFB starter. Thank you for sharing!!
Sounds great. I think I need the pan to make it gorgeous. Thanks for the opportunity to possibly win such a beautiful pan.
I recently discovered apricot applesauce – that would be my only revision to the recipe vs. regular applesauce .
Hi Linda! Thank you for sharing the recipe! My first try at an AFB starter will be ready this week. I actually think the soda bread in the popup video looks amazing. I might have to try that first. I will keep you posted ?
Love apricot would put less apple because for me 3 cups adds too much moisture and heaviness. will definitely try.
This looks like another winner, Darien!! I am definitely going to try it!!???
This looks amazing. Thanks for sharing the recipe with us!
My two favorite fruits are apricots and apples! this looks like just the cake for me! I can’t wait to try the recipe.
Linda, The Industrious Homemaker ™
Milwaukee Wisconsin
I would love to try this, I have been reading a book series called Tea Room mysteries and one of the recipes they made in the last book was friendship bread and it sounded so interesting.
Holy moly it looks amazing! My family loves the Caramel Apple loaf and this recipe looks like another winner! Cant wait to try it.
I am from British Columbia, Canada, but spend the winters in Palm Desert, CA.
This recipe looks so good and I would have made it with my finished starter, but I did not have any apples. I like the idea of reducing the oil and adding more applesauce. I will definitely make this soon. I have lots of starter in the freezer!!
I’m going to try it with some ground toasted walnuts, but first I need to make some starter!
Imagine if you could smell it. Definitely looks yummy.
Looks beautiful! The smell almost comes through the email! Thanks for the holiday recipe. Linda
I’ve never tried baking with apricots! Sounds wonderful!
This looks delicious. I will definitely use this recipe.
Sounds amazing just as it is
I’ve made this too many times to count. I add blueberries, cranberry, coconut, pecans or whatever I have near. Never tried the apples, that will be a nice touch.
This looks really yummy. A perfect cake to make at Christmas time.
I’m not big on apricots, so I would probably substitute a vanilla or cream cheese glaze icing.
I made some Apricot Jam for the first time this spring and I made pear sauce I canned last fall. I would definitely like to try this using the pear sauce in place of the apple sauce.
This recipe sounds so delicious I love apricot flavors. The Bundt Pam is a beauty and I would love to have one. Thanks for the beautiful recipe. Can’t wait to to try it.
I think I’m going to make this for Thanksgiving. It sonds delicious!
Not a big apricot fan so I would leave that out and follow the alternative directions looks yummy
This recipe looks delicious! The only thing I would add is a crumble topping. The cake recipe sounds delightful.
This looks a amazing! I love apricot and don’t see enough recipes out there that include it. I can’t wait to try it, using apricot with apples seems so interesting!
Just moved from Alaska to Arkansas so I have got a new starter going’s. this recipe sounds amazing and I will make it with a drizzle of vanilla citrus glaze. The pan is beautiful!
Looks amazing! It is going to the top of my holiday baking list. I’ve only recently been learning to bake and much of it being with my friendship bread starter and I have yet to be disappointed in a recipe from here.
This looks anazing and I would make it like this. But it would be fun to try with other fruit combinations!
I don’t think I’d change a thing! It looks amazing.
I’ve been making Amish Friendship bread for about 50 years now. I never thought to alter the recipe as everyone is crazy about it..this recipe opens up a whole new world and I can’t WAIT to start trying new ones…just one more thing to be so thankful for!
I would try it – I might use peach preserves (family favorite) as a substitute. I usually try a recipe as written first.
I would definitely try this and will probably bake it this coming week. Might have to use a different
Definitely raiding the pantry for some potato flakes so I can get going on making the starter. The above recipe looks super delish!
I want to share a delicious cake/bread along with my starter gifts. The pan makes for a stunning display! The recipe sounds perfect!
I’d like to see this recipe use a little less oil. But it sounds amazing!
I might have to try this for Thanksgiving!
I’m in the New York Finger Lakes and I would for sure make this and maybe add some sour cream. It’s a nice time of year to gift baked goods to neighbors!
I’m always looking for new recipes to make with my starter and I love apricots. Going to try this soon.
I am from NJ, I use to make an apple cake that was my grandmothers recipe. It was delicious. Adding apricot jam sounds really good to. I think this is another one to try
Just looking at the video and pictures made my mouth water for a big slice. I would not change a thing
I wouldn’t change a thing about this scrumptious recipe! It is my kind of food. I’m right now imagining gathered ’round a roaring fire and eating a big slice, served with Earl Grey tea. Lovely!
This looks amazing for Thanksgiving. I love the cake pan
Recipe looks delicious. I would probably add some pecans, English walnuts or Black walnuts. We’re “nutty” people and like most kinds of nuts, edible and human!
Looks delicious! I will try this one!
Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win the pan!
Looks delicious. I don’t think I’d change a thing!
Fabulous recipe, can’t wait to try it! Making my starter….then watch out….I am going baking crazy! ? Thank for this opportunity to receive that wonderful pan, gorgeous!
Oh my this sounds fabulous!! I am making homemade apple sauce next week so I will for sure give this a try!!!
Super excited to try this one out for Christmas visitors! Sounds like a wonderful quick breakfast and then off to decorating, shopping and wrapping gifts!
Merry Christmas everyone!!
I don’t think I’d change anything at first except maybe add more cinnamon.
Thank you!
I am going to try this today. Cant wait
I’ll be making this today using the HIGH ALTITUDE adjustments. (increasing the flour to 2-1/3 cups King Arthur flour and decreasing baking soda to only 1/4 teaspoon). I’m also using 2 boxes of pudding mix. Stay tuned!
Yes, keep us posted please! There’s been a lot of high altitude requests, so will be great to hear how your variations turn out!
I will definitely be making this delicious sounding cake this holiday season. I love baking. I love apples and apricots. This pan is beautiful!!
I am going to make this for Thanksgiving. However, I will serve it with a light caramel drizzle or bourbon caramel drizzle over each piece before serving.
Thank you, this will be a great addition to the holiday!
Would leave the recipe as is – it looks great!
Sounds delicious! As another lady already suggested, I’ll probably make it with local apples.
Definitely would try to make it GF …
I love trying new recipes with my starter and I was wondering should you lightly dust the apples with flour before mixing in so they won’t sink I’m definitely going to give this a try
The last thing I made with my starter a few days ago word the peanut butter cookies and they did not last a day
This looks great! I’m always excited to find a new cake recipe!
Looks yummy, I’ve always baked my friendship bread in loaf pans but it looks so much more like a party dish when baked in a bundt pan, going to try this recipe today but may cut oil to 1/2 cup and increase applesauce. Thanks for all you do to keep us baking.
I left a comment but it isn’t here. This cake looks so moist and yummy. I love apples and apricots but never thought about putting them together. The pan looks like a nice pan. Thanks for the chance to win.
WOW! This looks so moist and yummy. I love apples and apricots. Never thought about putting them together.
The pan sure looks nice. Thanks for a chance to win.
I am making a fresh batch of starter so I’ll be ready to bake soon. Not being an apricot fan I think I’d try this wth cranberries. It’s that time of season and I always have cranberries on hand. Can’t wait to give it a try.
I’m trying to find a good cake recipe for a lighter Christmas Fruit cake. This just might be it.
This looks amazing! I’m not a big apricot fan, but I would make it as written and modify the recipe after. The pan is beautiful and Amish Friendship Bread is so good!
I think I would make this I love apples If I changed anything I would do a variety of apples or change the apple out to a locally grown apple