No fool the cook who serves this delicious dessert!

Ingredients

• ¾ cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 500 grams fresh apricots, halved
• 2-4 tblsp orange or almond liqueur (optional)
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 tblsp custard powder
• 1 cup cream, whipped

Method

1. Stir the water with the sugar together in a saucepan over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add the apricots and poach gently for 5-8 minutes until they are soft. Cool and then lift the fruit from the syrup. Remove the stones, (peel if wished) and puree the fruit with liqueur and sweeten to taste with extra sugar if wished. Cover and chill.
2. Bring the milk to scalding point. Mix the custard powder with a little extra milk and the remaining sugar to a paste and stir into the hot milk. Cook stirring until the custard has thickened. Cover, cool then chill.
3. Whip the cream until it forms firm soft peaks that are not over beaten. Fold in the cold custard and then swirl in half of the apricot puree. Spoon into serving glasses, layering with the remaining fruit puree. Chill before serving.