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National Apricot Day

Food · January 9

A page about apricots: the small, velvety stone fruit, how it tastes fresh or dried, and simple ways to eat and enjoy it.

National Apricot Day falls on Saturday, January 9, 2027. That is 74 days away.

Apricots are small stone fruits with orange skin, a faint fuzz and a single smooth pit. They belong to the same family as peaches, plums and cherries, and they look a little like a peach that decided to stay compact.

A ripe apricot is soft enough to give slightly under a thumb and smells sweet before you bite it. The flesh is tender and a bit tart, with a flavor that sits somewhere between honey and sunshine on a warm windowsill. Underripe ones are firm and sour, so a day or two on the counter helps.

Fresh apricots have a short season, which is why so many people know them first as dried fruit. Drying concentrates the sweetness and turns the texture chewy. Apricot jam is another common form, and it shows up glazing pastries, tucked into thumbprint cookies and spread on toast.

They also cook well. Halved apricots soften quickly on a grill or in an oven, and they pair easily with savory food like chicken, pork, goat cheese and grains. A handful of chopped dried apricots can change a plain salad or a bowl of oatmeal.

The pit splits easily from a ripe apricot. Run a knife around the seam, twist the halves in opposite directions and the stone usually lifts right out.

Ways to celebrate

• Try a fresh apricot and a dried one side by side.
• Spread apricot jam on toast or warm biscuits.
• Grill or roast apricot halves until soft.
• Add chopped dried apricots to a salad or oatmeal.
• Look for apricots at a local market or grocery store.

Dates

All national days on January 9

Also on January 9

• National Cassoulet Day
• National Static Electricity Day
• Balloon Ascension Day
• National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
• National Word Nerd Day

Categories: Food days