This Apricot Slice is a no-bake recipe paired with a smooth 3-ingredient lemon infused icing! Using dried apricots and desiccated coconut, this easy slice recipe will soon be on rotation in your household.
A dried apricot slice is one of those recipes that stays classic and will be made for years to come. Although this isn't quite a healthy apricot slice, it's an easy one that uses minimal ingredients. If you have previously loved a coconut and apricot slice or lemon apricot slice, this recipe is the combination of the both of those. The added icing with a hint of lemon really finishes this slice off nicely.
These apricot slices use sweetened condensed milk and butter to stick together the crushed biscuits, dried apricots, and desiccated coconut. The base is soft which pairs beautifully with the creamy lemon icing.
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Easy apricot slice recipes such as this is one to keep on hand and refer back to when you need to make a quick sweet snack, such as this Easy Lemon Coconut Slice, these Healthy Apricot & Tahini No-Bake Granola Bars, Hedgehog Slice, and Almond Slice. These family favorite recipes will become regulars in your households I’m sure. Along with this No-Bake Milo Slice and No-Bake Ginger Slice.
🍑 Why You Will Love This Slice
- No-bake recipe, only requires heating on the stovetop and chilling time in the refrigerator.
- Dried apricots and sweetened condensed milk together create a sweet yet creamy flavor and texture.
- Easy 3-ingredient lemon icing adds the perfect touch and flavor to this apricot coconut slice.
📋 Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Arrowroot biscuits: I use store-bought plain arrowroot biscuits. You can also use plain digestive biscuits. Any plain sweet biscuits will work. Make this slice gluten free by using plain gluten free arrowroot biscuits.
Dried apricots: Dried apricots are typically bright orange in color. However, organic dried apricots are typically dark in color. You can use either, just as long as they’re dried apricots from any brand.
Sweetened condensed milk: If you would like to make this apricot slice dairy free, you can use sweetened condensed coconut milk. I’ve used it many times and love it!
Unsalted Butter: I did use regular butter in this recipe which works great. I have not tried using dairy free butter for this, but if you like to make this completely dairy free, I encourage you to try out dairy free block butter that you can use in baking and cooking and see how it works out.
Desiccated coconut: Desiccated coconut is the best form of coconut to use in this recipe. Shredded coconut or coconut flakes are too large and will alter the texture of the base. If you had to choose between these two if you don’t have desiccated coconut on hand, I’d opt for shredded coconut.
Icing/confectioners sugar: This is powdered sugar, do not use a granulated or caster/superfine sugar for this.
Unsalted Butter: As above for the base, use regular butter or try dairy free block butter for a vegan version of this slice.
Lemon juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice as it’s better than store-bought bottled lemon juice. It will produce a more authentic lemon flavor and you only need 1 medium-large lemon!
🥣 Step By Step Instructions
1) In a food processor or high-speed blender, add the packet of biscuits and process them into a fine crumb. Set biscuits aside.
2) Roughly chop apricots into small pieces, the smaller the better. Set aside.
3) In a medium sized pot, add butter and condensed milk. Place over a low-medium heat and gently warm through until butter has completely melted, stirring occasionally.
4) Turn off the heat and stir through the vanilla.
5) Add coconut and mix until well combined.
6) Add crushed biscuits and chopped apricots. Stir through until well combined.
7) Spoon the mixture into the lined pan and smooth out the top to make it an even layer. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
8) In a small pot, add butter and place over a low-medium heat. Warm through until butter has completely melted, stirring occasionally.
9) Turn off the heat and stir through the lemon juice.
10) Add icing sugar and whisk until well combined and no lumps remain in the icing. It will become thick and smooth the more you mix it.
11) Pour icing over the chilled base and smooth out evenly. Return to the refrigerator to chill for a further 2-4 hours or until the icing has set and is firm to the touch. You can also leave it overnight and slice it the next day. The longer it sets in the fridge, the easier it is to slice.
12) Remove from the pan, slice into squares or rectangles, and enjoy!
💭 Top Tips
Use plain arrowroot biscuits or plain digestive biscuits for the base. Any plain and sweet dry biscuits will work. Make it gluten free with plain gluten free arrowroots too!
Crush the biscuits to a fine crumb in a food processor, high-speed blender or crush them in a zip-lock bag and run a rolling pin over them to crush.
Roughly chop the dried apricots into small pieces using either a sharp knife or a pair of scissors, this doesn’t have to be perfect but the smaller the better. Refer to the image in the post for a visual of my chopped apricots.
Chill the base in the fridge for the required time as it has a soft consistency. It won’t firm up completely but it will hold its shape.
The icing is quite thick so be sure to spread it over the chilled base straight after making the icing.
Store in an airtight container, refrigerated, for 1 week.
Freeze slices in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
💬 FAQ's
Can I roll and shape the mixture into balls?
The mixture before spreading it into the pan is quite soft and on the sloppy side. I would recommend you transfer the mixture into a bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes or longer until you can successfully roll and shape it into balls. If you choose to do this, there is no need to make the lemon icing.
Use a sharp knife to chop the apricots on a chopping board or use a pair of scissors to cut them up into small pieces.
You can try swapping the apricots for other dried fruit such as dried cranberries, sultanas, currants, or dried figs. Be sure to chop them up small or add the sultanas/currants as they are.
🥄 Related Recipes
Recipe Card
Apricot Slice
Ingredients
Base
- 1 packet (200g) store-bought plain arrowroot biscuits or plain digestive biscuits, use gluten free if desired
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 200 g sweetened condensed milk
- 125 g unsalted butter
- ½ cup desiccated coconut
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Icing
- 2 cups icing/confectioners sugar
- 50 g unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice from one medium-large lemon
Instructions
Base
- Line a 9 x 9 inch (22cm x 22cm) square baking pan with parchment/baking paper. Set aside.
- In a food processor or high-speed blender, add the packet of biscuits and process them into a fine crumb. Set biscuits aside.
- Roughly chop apricots into small pieces, the smaller the better. Use either a sharp knife or a pair of scissors. Set aside.
- In a medium sized pot, add butter and condensed milk.
- Place over a low-medium heat and gently warm through until butter has completely melted, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off the heat and stir through the vanilla.
- Add coconut and mix until well combined.
- Add crushed biscuits and chopped apricots. Stir through until well combined.
- Spoon the mixture into the lined pan and smooth out the top.
- Transfer to the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Icing
- In a small pot, add butter and place over a low-medium heat. Warm through until butter has completely melted, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off the heat and stir through the lemon juice.
- Add icing sugar and whisk until well combined and no lumps remain in the icing. It will become thick and smooth the more you mix it.
- Pour icing over the chilled base and smooth out evenly.
- Return to the refrigerator to chill for a further 3-4 hours or until the icing has set and is firm to the touch. You can also leave it overnight and slice it the next day. The longer it sets in the fridge, the easier it is to slice.
- Remove from the pan, slice into squares or rectangles and enjoy!
Rhonda says
So easy, so yum!
Samantha says
Hi Rhonda, I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this easy apricot slice! Thanks for sharing, Sam x