Apricot Coffee Cake/Muffins

I've always loved dried apricots. One time I bought these dried apricots that had a recipe for muffins on the back of the bag. I tried the recipe and loved it! It combined the apricots with orange juice. Well, I love to add oranges to my baking. I took it a step further and added the rind to the dough mixture  as well as to the orange icing that topped the muffins. After making the recipe a few times I have added several ingredients to make it my own. And now I make it in a bundt pan and call it a coffee cake. It's one of my husband's favorites.  I also took this idea of apricots and oranges to my scone recipe. That's a good one too, but I'll save that recipe for another day. Here is the original-

APRICOT COFFEE CAKE/MUFFINS

1 cup chopped dried apricots

1 cup hot water

1 cup sugar

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup ( 1 stick) butter

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

2 TBLS. orange zest (usually from 1 large or 2 small oranges)

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 TBLS. fresh squeezed orange juice (fresh makes a big difference-just squeeze the oranges you used for the zest)

1/2 tsp. butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1. Soak apricots in hot water for 10 mintues. Drain and set aside.
   
2. In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter until fluffy. (I use my Kitchenaid mixer for this)
   
3. Add sour cream and vanilla. Mix well.
   
4. Add eggs one at a time and mix well.
   
5. Sift dry ingredients: flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda. Add to cream mixture. Mix just enough to combine.
   
6. Gently stir in  apricots, nuts, and half of the orange zest. 
   
7. Pour into greased bundt pan or muffin pan (12 regular size or 6 large).
   
8. Bake coffee cake for 35 to 45 minutes until golden and toothpick inserted comes out clean. Muffins should bake 18 to 2o minutes depending on size.
   
9. Make glaze by combining powdered sugar, butter,orange juice and rind.
   
10. Remove cake/muffins from pan and let cool for 10 minutes. Make glaze and pour over warm cake/muffins. 
    
11. Glaze will set once cake/muffins are cooled.

ENJOY!