When I was little, we had this really long cutting board. It was probably taller than me until I reached about 5 years old. It had a cutting board side, and then a laminate side that was white with yellow polka dots. There were 2 holes on either end. My parents stored it in between the fridge and the cabinet. When no one was looking, I would slide it out. Drag it into the living room with our braided round 1975 rug, and green sofa. I would prop it up diagonally on the sofa, and slide down it.
Well, wouldn’t you do the same?
So, what happened to that AWESOME cutting board? I have no idea, but I wish I still had it. I had forgotten about until I sat down to tell you about these Apricot Pockets.
I’m so glad I remembered.
My Mom and Dad both did the baking back then. Now a days, my Dad does most of the baking at their house because of my Mom’s arthritis. I asked him if he would be willing to make the “Christmas Pockets” for my upcoming blog tour. He hesitated at first, but came through with flying colors. He brought them over on Thanksgiving, and they turned out just the way I remember them.
Oh, so the cutting board…almost forgot. I remember my parents rolling these cookies out ON THAT CUTTING BOARD. So now you know.
My Dad decided to fill his with apricot preserves because that is his favorite. I also remember my Mom using strawberry preserves back in the day. They are light, crispy, airy, sweet, and tangy. Then they melt in your mouth, and you fall in love. Perfect for Christmas, or any season.
Thanks for making these for us, Dad. I hope we convinced our readers to try them!
Below the recipe, you’ll also find our “Sweets and Treats” blog hop…I hope you will visit all of the special treats we put together for you.
Original recipe found by Mom in Buffalo Evening News 1978
Ingredients
- 1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese (room temperature)
- 1 cup margarine
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 apricot preserves (or strawberry)
- confectioners sugar to roll them in (about 1 cup)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine softened room temp. cream cheese and margarine until well blended in large bowl.
Add flour, mix well.
On lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness.
Cut circles with 2 1/2 in. circle cookie cutter, or use a glass.
Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet.
Repeat until dough is used up.
Put 1/2 teaspoon of filling in each center.
Moisten edges with a little cold water.
Fold in 1/2 and press edges with fork to seal.
Bake 14-16 minutes.
Sprinkle, or roll in confectioners sugar after they have cooled.
*these can be frozen ahead by omitting the confectioners sugar until after you defrost them.
https://redheadcandecorate.com/2014/12/apricot-pockets-33-sweets-treats/
Candy Cane Marshmallow Treats from My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia
Peppermint Chocolate Cream Pie from Domestically Speaking
Cake Mix in a Mug Gift from Cupcakes and Crinoline
Peppermint S’Mores Brownies from Yellow Bliss Road
Chocolate Toffee Bark from Setting for Four
My Favorite Sugar Cookies from Stone Gable
Peppermint Bark Cheesecake Dip from A Pumpkin & A Princess
Christmas Snowman Sundaes from An Extraordinary Day
White Chocoalte Gingerbread Mocha Mix from Twelve O Eight
Rocky Road Candy from A Night Owl
The Original Fantasy Fudge from At The Picket Fence
White Chocolate Macadamia Cranberry Bark from Lemon Tree Dwelling
Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows from Mom 4 Real
Tiger Butter Bark from Uncommon Designs
The Easiest Holiday Cookie Ever from Top This Top That
Christmas Ornament Cupcakes from Sweet Rose Studio
Frosted Peppermint Brownies from Lolly Jane
Carrot Cake Mix Cookies from Sweet C’s Designs
Peppermint Donuts from Yesterday on Tuesday
Gluten Free Rum Cake from Inspiration for Moms
Caramel Popcorn Chocolate Bark from Clean and Scentsible
Andes Fudge from Eclectic Mom Sense
Chocolate Candies from French Country Cottage
Christmas Parfait from Clever Pink Pirate
Salted Caramels from Frenchie
Cranberry Bliss Bars from Food, Folks and Fun
Peppermint Bark Candy from Live Laugh Rowe
Cinnamon Rolls from Unskinny Boppy
Banana Caramel Crunch Bites from Nibbles By Nic
Apricot Pockets from Redhead Can Decorate
Rocky Road Fudge from Ella Claire
Peppermint Chocolate Fudge from Crazy Little Projects
Triple Chocolate Peanut Clusters from Major Hoff Takes A Wife
Christmas Trifle from Town and Country Living
Tags: apricot, apricot pocket cookies, best pocket cookies, Christmas pocket cookies, pocket cookies, strawberry pocket cookies
Posted by
The cutting Board made the trip to Florida and Back, got rid of it a couple years ago, It came from kitchen sink cutout in our new Mobil Home in 1958 while we were still in the USAF at Plattsburg AFB, NY. Love, Dad
These look amazing, Julie! Your Dad rocked it big time. Pinning
p.s. I love the graphic of you on the cutting board 😉
Thanks, MB! XO
Never heard of these but they look incredible!!
You can’t beat good memories and a yummy recipe, these look wonderful Julie!!
xoxo, Tanya
Thanks, Tanya! See you @ the party today 😉
I’ll take a box… or two… or three… these look so tasty Julie! I love apricot anything! Pinning xo
Thanks, Malia you sweet bird! XO
oh what a sweet dad to make the traditional snack! not much into apricot but filling them with strawberry is right up my alley. Happy Holidays
Yes, my Dad is awesome.
Oh yummy, get into my belly!
These look very good, and such a nice classic recipe that isn’t over the top. Or with chocolate. LOL. Can’t wait to try these! Happy Holidays!
Would you be able to substitute butter? Not a huge fan of margarine…
Good question. I would try it! I’m not a fan of margarine either. Please let me know how they turn out! I bet butter will be even better.
Yummy!! I love apricots – these look incredible!! I can’t wait to try them!! Pinned! 🙂 Heather
When I was a kid we always had Florida navel oranges, Palmiers and apricot pastries from our local bakery, “Ole King Cole”, on Christmas morning. We never had those pastries except at Christmas, and they still mean Christmas to me.
My Grandma had a dough board she brought with her from the family farm in middle Georgia (which they sold upon moving to Atlanta, before I was born). I think my grandfather made it for her. She used that dough board continually until her death in 1992. It was an irregular shape but smooth as silk from decades of use. My uncle got it when she died. I miss Grandma, her dough board, and all the wonderful goodies she made with it through the years. I also miss my parents, who are deceased…but I make apricot pastries at Christmas for my family every year. I can’t wait to try these! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been making these cookies that we call pineapple empanada cookies for many years but my quantities are different. My recipe calls for 1 8oz block cream cheese, 4 sticks butter or margarine and 4 cups flour. My family prefers pineapple preserves for filling. They’re always a hit and highly requested year round.
I love apricots! Looks so good and yummy… and I want all of them!
Hi,
I would like to try your Dad’s recipe for the apricot pockets. When you say flour, do you know what kind of flour?
Thank you.
Just regular, all purpose flour.
These apricot pockets I need to make ASAP!
i made these today and they were great!! I used apricot jam in half and blackberry in the other half. My only suggestion would be to use 1/4 tsp of jam instead of the 1/2 tsp recommended. I measured carefully and still had some jam ooze out. Certainly didn’t hurt the taste though! I will definitely make them again!!
These look and sound fantastic, got to add them to the cookie tray this year! Tell your Dad he rocks! Merry Christmas!
Found this when looking for recipes from the Buffalo Evening News. Cool posting, and very cool blog! Merry Christmas from one redhead to another.
Made 5 dozen yesterday, turned out real good, Mom hid them on me, love, Dad, ps I am 82, so I think you can do it.
Looking forward to making and serving it this evening at a get together ?? ?? It looks so good!!!
Got to make some this Xmas, they are the best, not that hard to make, we been making them about 60 years, ps we started when were young. I miss the cutting board also, love to all, Dad in NY.
I’m so happy to finally find this recipe after all these years!! My mom use to make these every Christmas and the recipe was lost in 1998. We grew up outside of Buffalo and they were such a tradition to make every Christmas at our house. These are the best cookies ever!! I’m so excited to to make these for my brother who just mentioned at Thanksgiving how much he loved these and wished we had the recipe! He will be so surprised! My mom always used raspberry jam/jelly to fill them. Thanks again for posting this recipe!!
So cool, Holly!! We used raspberry too!
[…] My family (who’s mostly Polish, Irish, & German) make something similar for Christmas, but they are called pockets, and they are stuffed with preserves. If interested you can find that recipe here: “Apricot Pockets“. […]
Can you use almond flour for this? or does it need to be All-Purpose.
I have never tried almond flour with this recipe, so I don’t know. Maybe worth a try?
Can you freeze these after they’re baked omitting the powdered sugar?
Yes!