Roasted Apricot and Shortbread Ice Cream Bars: an easy dessert recipe perfect for using juicy summer stone fruit and cold ice cream!

5 from 1 reviews
Roasted Apricot and Shortbread Ice Cream Bars
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
If you love the sharp, tangy taste of apricots, this is the perfect summer dessert for you. Apricots are roasted to sweetness with brown sugar and cinnamon before topping bars made from a shortbread crust and ice cream. I used peach ice cream, but feel free to use whatever flavor you like. I arranged the apricot slices for the photos above, but next time I'd just spoon them with their syrup willy-nilly over the bars. Easy and cute! Be aware before you begin that these bars chill overnight.
Author:
Serves: 9-12
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust Ingredients:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • ice cream (I used peach), softened for about 10 minutes
Roasted Apricot Ingredients:
  • 15 apricots, quartered (I don't bother peeling these)
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 5 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
  1. Make the shortbread. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with a foil sling. Process the flour, powdered sugar, and salt together for a few seconds before adding in the chunks of cold butter. Cut the butter into the flour mixture with about 6-8 pulses or until it looks like small peas. Press the mixture into the baking dish with the flat bottom of a glass or small dish. Bake for 20 minutes or until very lightly browning. Stick it in the fridge to speed up cooling.
  2. When the crust is cool, scoop the softened ice cream (I used most of a half-gallon container) out onto it and spread it evenly. Stick the whole pan in the freezer to chill overnight.
  3. Roast the apricots: Line two baking sheets with foil sprayed with cooking spray. Arrange the apricot quarters in a single layer (I separated mine so they weren't touching) on both baking sheets. Brush them well with melted butter. Mix the brown sugar, regular sugar, and cinnamon together. Sprinkle all of the sugar/cinnamon mixture over the apricots (it'll seem like a lot, but don't skimp). Broil the apricot quarters about 5 inches away from the heating unit for about 15 minutes or until nicely caramelized.
  4. Assemble: Only assemble the bars just before you're ready to serve, or they'll melt, of course! When you're ready to serve, remove the ice cream bars from the pan using the foil sling and slice it into bars. Spoon hot roasted apricots and their syrup over top and serve immediately.

 

Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. This month’s theme is an Ice Cream Social and is hosted by Barbara Schieving who blogs at Barbara Bakes. With summer in full swing, now is the time to get outside and enjoy some ice cream with friends and family!

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats, a theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out.

We have a core group of 12 bloggers, but we will always need substitutes and if there is enough interest would consider additional groups. To see our upcoming themes and how you can participate, please check out the schedule at Creative Culinary or contact Barb for more information.

21 Comments on Roasted Apricot and Shortbread Ice Cream Bars

  1. Lydia @ Suitcase Foodist
    June 30, 2015 at 12:11 am (9 years ago)

    I basically just fell in love over this one. What a way to celebrate Apricot season!

    Reply
  2. Catherine
    June 30, 2015 at 6:56 am (9 years ago)

    Dear Julie, you made me laugh with this one. I have never tried hot yoga. I just don’t think it’s for me…but these apricot bars are for me. In fact, they have my name written all over them. They look delicious! xo, Catherine

    Reply
  3. Elle
    June 30, 2015 at 8:18 am (9 years ago)

    Oh my gosh I so feel your post! I just got back from hot yoga where two girls next to me talked and giggled through a better part of the class, even after the teacher and people around them shushed them. Ridiculous!

    This recipe looks delicious. Not quite apricot season here, but delicious all the same 🙂 I’ll bookmark it for summer.

    Reply
  4. Lauren at Keep It Sweet
    June 30, 2015 at 9:33 am (9 years ago)

    Ha this post makes me love you even more. I love yoga but am actually terrified of hot yoga… at least if I ever try it I’ll know the rules;-)

    Reply
  5. Li
    June 30, 2015 at 10:26 am (9 years ago)

    LOL at your yoga don’ts list. I am the anti-Gumby, so I think we’d get along fine. As long as you share one of these amazing apricot ice cream bars with me after practice!

    Reply
  6. allie@ThroughHerLookingGlass
    June 30, 2015 at 10:50 am (9 years ago)

    I will have to think about trying the hot yoga Julie, but not these shortbread bars. They look absolutely delicious and decadent. And perfect for the 4th of July!

    Reply
  7. heather @french press
    June 30, 2015 at 12:27 pm (9 years ago)

    hot yoga scares me, but knowing that ice cream awaits may make me change my mind!

    Reply
  8. Amy | Club Narwhal
    June 30, 2015 at 3:17 pm (9 years ago)

    Yep, I read the Gumby thing when I was drinking water and snorted it right out 🙂 Too good! These bars look like my every dream come true!

    Reply
  9. Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks!
    June 30, 2015 at 5:42 pm (9 years ago)

    Who are these people who can talk and do yoga? I’m too busy trying not to fall over and break my butt. Heck, I’m too busy being suffocated by my big boobs to look at anyone anyway. (More ice cream please.)

    Reply
  10. Jane, The Heritage Cook
    June 30, 2015 at 8:15 pm (9 years ago)

    The Artist loves apricots and this is definitely going on the “to-make” list! I have never seen this combination before and can’t wait to try it. Beautiful addition to today’s Ice Cream Social!

    Reply
  11. susan // the wimpy vegetarian
    July 1, 2015 at 12:08 am (9 years ago)

    I always look forward to seeing your posts – your photos are so captivating! And I want to make just about every one of your recipes, starting with this one!

    Reply
  12. Barbara @ Barbara Bakes
    July 1, 2015 at 12:15 am (9 years ago)

    I’ve never had roasted apricots. I need to give this a try. Thanks for bringing it to our party.

    Reply
  13. TidyMom
    July 1, 2015 at 10:42 am (9 years ago)

    what a perfect way to fall in love with apricots!! – I can’t imagine doing hot yoga……..but I sure could go for a serving of this ice cream!!

    Reply
  14. Megan
    July 1, 2015 at 10:45 am (9 years ago)

    Roasted fruit is just one of the best things, isn’t it? What a great idea for a different dessert.

    Reply
  15. Heather | girlichef
    July 1, 2015 at 1:39 pm (9 years ago)

    Well, I can’t say I’ve ever done hot yoga (just the name makes me hate everyone)…but I know these awesome ice cream bars would make me see only hearts – yum!

    Reply
  16. Ansh
    July 1, 2015 at 3:13 pm (9 years ago)

    I am with Heather, The name Hot Yoga makes me hate yoga all the more! But I do love your ice-cream bars, so may be I will go do that Shavasana once .. if only it is a requirement to eat these.

    Reply
  17. fabiola@notjustbaked
    July 2, 2015 at 1:06 pm (9 years ago)

    Roasted stone fruit is where it’s at! This looks incredible.

    Reply
  18. Barbara | Creative Culinary
    July 4, 2015 at 12:46 am (9 years ago)

    Roasted fruit is where it’s at; Fabiloa is right. I’m betting it would totally transform the apricots I end up getting, the ones never quite ready for prime time. I love this dessert; with or without hot yoga!

    Reply
  19. Gina | Running to the Kitchen
    July 5, 2015 at 9:25 pm (9 years ago)

    This is amazing. When I’m not shoving peaches in my face, apricots are my other fruit drug of choice and now I need to make this!

    Reply

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