Apricot Preserve

Apricot preserves are a thick fruit spread with visible apricot pieces suspended in a glossy gel. It tastes sweet with a gentle tang and soft, tender chunks; it spreads smoothly and melts to a shiny glaze when warmed. Cooks use it for toast and pastries, to glaze roast meats, or to make quick sauces; sold in chunky or seedless styles.

Sugar-preserved apricots trace to long traditions of fruit preserving in the Middle East and Europe, spreading widely with home canning and commercial jam-making. Modern preserves combine apricots, sugar, pectin, and acid, cooked to a set and packed for shelf stability.