Apricot chocolate chip cookies

These apricot chocolate chip cookies are light, fruity, and delicious.

The combination of tangy, chewy apricots, creamy chocolate chips, and crisp, melt-in-the-mouth cookie crumb is utterly divine.

And the best news? These apricot chocolate chip cookies are super easy to make.

You'll need just 10 minutes to whip up the dough. First, you'll beat margarine and sugar together until creamy, then you'll whisk in an egg before folding in flour, baking powder, chopped dried apricots and chocolate chips.

Drop scoops onto a lined tray, bake for 10 minutes and you're done. It really is that simple!

Are you ready to make incredibly delicious apricot chocolate chip cookies? Read on!

Instructions

Preheat oven to 180C/355F (160C/320F fan). Put the sugar and the margarine in a mixing bowl and beat together until pale and fluffy.

Add the egg and beat again.

Add the flour and baking powder.

Fold through into a loose cookie dough.

Add in the chopped apricots and chocolate chips.

Fold together.

Drop separate spoonfuls of the mixture, spaced well apart, onto a greased baking sheet, using more than one baking sheet if necessary. At about 50g per dollop, I got 15 cookies.

Bake in the oven for about 8-10 minutes until golden brown.

You'll need to give them a few minutes to firm up on the tray before transferring them to a cooling rack to finishing cooling.

These cookies are gorgeous warm or cold. Dip them in cold milk or a hot cuppa for an indulgent treat.

They have gorgeously light crumb with chewy sweet apricot and creamy chocolate chips I'm certain you'll love.

Let me know how you get on!

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect apricot chocolate chip cookies

Are apricot chocolate chip cookies easy to make?

Yes! These apricot chocolate chip cookies are so easy to make. You can make them in just 20 minutes from start to finish.

They're quick to make and quick to bake, so you'll have delightfully light and delicious apricot and chocolate chip cookies in no time.

Will I need any special equipment to make apricot chocolate chip cookies?

All the equipment you need should be easy to find in the average kitchen: weighing scales and measuring spoons, a chopping board and knife, a mixing bowl and spoon, and a couple of baking sheets lined with baking paper.

You can find a full ingredients list in the recipe card below.

Where can I buy dried apricots?

Dried apricots are readily available in the supermarket. They are usually found with the nuts and other dried fruit, either in the baking section or sometimes near the fresh fruit and veg.

Some supermarkets will even stock chopped apricots saving you a bit of time.

You should be able to easily order them online too. Buying in bulk is often cheaper.

How can I tell if my dried apricots have gone off?

Properly stored in an airtight container in a cool cupboard, dried apricots can last for at least a year but, like all food stuffs, they can go bad eventually or if exposed to moisture.

Dried apricots are preserved by either naturally drying in the sun, which results in dark orange dried apricots, or with sulphur dioxide, which preserves more of the bright orange colour from the fresh fruit. Overtime, sulphur dried apricots may darken but are still safe to eat unless there are signs of decay.

Organic dried apricots will be darker in colour to start with because they've been dried in the sun.

To judge if your dried apricots have gone bad, look for signs of mould or breakdown in the fruit. White or dark patches or mushy, liquid areas are signs that the apricots are no longer safe to eat.

Next, check they smell ok. Any rotting or alcohol-like odours are a sign the apricots have begun to break down.

You can also freeze dried apricots, or keep them in the fridge if you live somewhere particularly hot or humid to keep them fresher for longer.

Are apricot chocolate chip cookies suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, these apricot chocolate chip cookies are fine for vegetarians as they contain no meat, poultry, or fish.

Are apricot chocolate chip cookies suitable for vegans?

These cookies are made with milk chocolate, chicken eggs, and margarine/butter so are not suitable for a vegan diet.

However, you can easily swap these ingredients for vegan alternatives if you want to make vegan apricot chocolate chip cookies.

For the margarine, make sure to use a plant based margarine that is suitable for vegans. Aim for one with a fat content of around 80% as this will give similar results to butter. Avoid margarines with high water content.

You'll also need to use vegan chocolate chips. They can be tricky to source, so you could also chop up a vegan chocolate bar or look for a dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa as these don't usually contain milk. In any case, it's always best to check the label to make sure.

For the eggs, you'll need to use an egg replacer. Try one of the following alternatives (each = 1 egg, so multiply as needed for any given recipe).

• 1 tablespoon of crushed chia seeds or flax seeds mixed with 2 tablespoons of water and left for 10 minutes in the fridge.
• 3 tablespoons of aquafaba (the water you get in a tin of chickpeas).
• 3 tablespoons of applesauce (bear in mind this will add sweetness).

Note: Although I've tested these adaptation options in a number of recipes, I haven't tested a vegan version of these particular cookies, so do let me know how you get on.

Are apricot chocolate chip cookies gluten-free?

I've used wheat-based plain flour to make these apricot chocolate chip cookies, so they are not suitable for a gluten-free diet.

If you want to try making them gluten-free, you could use gluten-free plain flour and gluten-free baking powder.

I haven't tested this recipe with gluten-free flour yet, but I always recommend using a good quality brand, which will usually be made from a blend of different flours such as rice flour, and oat flour, raising agents, of course, and usually a binding agent such as xanthan gum.

If making these cookies for somebody who needs to avoid gluten in their diet, you should check the label of all ingredients to make sure that they don't contain any traces of gluten.

Is this recipe keto-friendly?

These apricot chocolate chip cookies are made with sugar and flour, so are too high in carbohydrates to be suitable for a keto diet.

Are apricot chocolate chip cookies healthy?

Apricots contain vitamins A and C but these cookies are a high sugar treat so should be enjoyed as an occasional treat in a sensible portion as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Are apricot chocolate chip cookies safe to eat while pregnant?

As long as all the ingredients are in good condition, and the cookies are prepared and baked hygienically they should be fine to eat whilst pregnant.

Egg safety advice varies from country to country so please check information local to you. In the UK the NHS has some fantastic guidance on foods to avoid when pregnant, with eggs considered safe at the time of writing (Dec 2020).

This website does not offer medical advice. Please speak to a health professional if you have any questions.

What goes well with apricot chocolate chip cookies?

A glass of milk is a classic companion to any cookie. These ones are also delicious with a good cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate.

Can I make this recipe without apricots?

Yes, you can either leave them out or use a different dried fruit instead, if you like.

Any dried fruit would work. Dried cranberries or raising could be used whole, while larger dried fruits such as dates or figs would need to be chopped.

Can I make this recipe without chocolate chips?

Yes, if you want to make these cookies without chocolate chips that's fine. How about replacing them with some chopped nuts or a different dried fruit.

If you do decide to put nuts in instead, remember some schools are nut-free, so double-check if the kids are going to be taking these to school, and clearly label they contain nuts if you're taking them to a bake sale.

I haven’t got dried apricots can I use fresh?

No, it's best to use dried fruit. If you tried to make these cookies with fresh apricots, the cookie dough would be far too wet and would not bake into lovely crisp cookies.

You can use different dried fruit if you don't have apricots. How about sultanas or chopped dates?

Can I add extra chocolate or fruit to this recipe?

It's best to stay fairly close to the ratios in the recipe otherwise the cookie dough may be overloaded and not bake properly. An extra 25% of each is probably a sensible maximum when it comes to extra fruit or chocolate.

How should I store apricot chocolate chip cookies?

To keep these apricot chocolate cookies fresher for longer, they should be kept in an airtight container.

Once cooled, pop the cookies into a sealed container, and keep them in a cool spot out of direct sunlight. In the cupboard or pantry would be ideal.

Can I leave apricot chocolate chip cookies out on the counter?

These cookies will be ok on the counter for an hour or two but will go stale rather quickly if left out on the side uncovered for too long.

Can I make this cookie recipe ahead?

Yes, you can make these cookies a few days ahead, make sure to cool them completely and store in an airtight container, use a box that the cookies fit snuggly into without loads of excess space, this helps reduce their exposure to air which will make them go stale quicker.

You can also freeze these cookies if you want to make an extra batch for future use.

Can I keep apricot chocolate chip cookies in the refrigerator?

You can keep these cookies in the fridge in a sealed container, if you like, but I find they keep best just in a cool cupboard or pantry.

Can I freeze this apricot chocolate chip cookies?

These apricot and chocolate chip cookies freeze well, and it's a great recipe to double up so that you can have some stored in the freezer for later.

When freezing, make sure the cookies are completely cooled and get them in the freezer on the same day as baking.

Stack your cookies into a sealed freezer bag, or freezer-safe container. You can also wrap them in clingfilm, if you like. Try to get out as much air as possible and wrap them tightly to reduce the risk of freezer burn.

These cookies will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer.

What is the best way to defrost apricot chocolate chip cookies?

These cookies will defrost pretty quickly. You could pop a frozen one in a lunchbox in the morning and it will be thawed out by lunchtime. If you want to defrost a whole batch, just leave the container out on the side for an hour or two.

Once thawed, these cookies need to be eaten within 24 hours, and you can't refreeze any leftovers.

How long do apricot chocolate chip cookies keep?

When stored correctly in an airtight container apricot chocolate chip cookies will keep for up to a week. They can also be frozen and will keep frozen for up to 3 months.

Can I make this recipe in a different quantity?

It's really easy to change the quantities for this recipe if you want to make more or less.

On the recipe card below you'll see the servings shown in the number of cookies. You can click that and a slider with pop up that you can move up and down to get the number of cookies you want to make.

The ingredients will update automatically, keep an eye on the eggs as you move the slider, you will want that to be a whole number, its a bit tricky to get half an egg!

Can I make apricot chocolate chip cookies in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

Yes, you can use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment to cream the sugar and margarine at the start of the recipe until light and fluffy, then beat in the eggs.

When it comes time add the flour, a lighter touch is needed, so either fold the flour in by hand or if you want to use the stand mixer still, only mix briefly on slow until the flour is just incorporated, and again to incorporate the additions.

Can I make apricot chocolate chip cookies with a food processor?

A food processor isn't the ideal tool for the job, but you can make use it if you want to.

Whiz the margarine and sugar in the food processor until cream, then add the egg and blitz again.

The flour and baking powder can then be added before very briefly pulsing to bring the mixture together. You'll need to stir the apricot pieces and chocolate chips in by hand because the food processor would chop them up.

How can I make sure my apricot chocolate chip cookies are perfectly cooked?

These cookies will firm up as they cool so don't be alarmed if they still feel soft when you first get them out of the oven.

They should be baked in 10 minutes at 180C. Let them firm up a little on the tray before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Why did my cookies turn out dry and burned?

This is quite a wet dough. Make sure you added the correct quantities of each ingredient. A missed or mis-measured ingredient can have unpredictable effects on the final bake.

These cookies bake really quickly so it's always best to set a timer. You can also keep an eye on them through the oven door.

The temperature dial on some ovens isn't the most accurate ,so if you find your bakes always turn out burnt or cook more quickly that a recipe suggests, try setting your dial to 10-20 degrees lower next time, or use an oven thermometer to be sure.

Why did my cookies turn out wet and soft?

Remember these cookies will crisp up as they cool, and they only need to be a very pale golden when they are cooked. Straight out of the oven, they might still feel a little soft. Let them firm up a little on the tray before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely and they should be fine.

If they don't firm up within a few minutes as they cool, they are indeed undercooked and need to go back in the oven for a few more minutes.

Make sure the oven is preheated before baking your cookies. They will only be in the oven for 10 minutes, so it needs to be the right temperature the whole time.

This is quite a wet dough, but make sure you added the correct quantities of each ingredient. A missed or mis-measured ingredient can have unpredictable effects on the final bake.

How can I add/change the flavours in these cookies?

Think of the margarine, caster sugar, egg, plain flour and baking powder as the base for the cookies, ready to hold whatever chips you like. Keep the amounts the same as they are for the apricot and chocolate chips, and chop any big pieces down to size.

How about fig and walnut, cranberry and pistachio, or chocolate chip with candied orange peel?

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