This is a recipe for an elegant, easy and quick apricot sauce that I like to use for Chicken Cordon Bleu. Ready in just a few minutes and perfect for entertaining, learn why this Apricot Brandy Sauce is fit for royalty.
If you’re a regular reader, you’ll remember that before Christmas I went to high tea at Cherokee Castle and Ranch. What a lovely experience and I came home with a great little cookbook written by Tweet Kimball’s Chef and Butler. Tweet was Colorado’s First Lady in cattle ranching, successfully introducing Santa Gertrudis Cattle to Colorado.
She loved to entertain and lived in the stately Cherokee Castle just a few miles south of what is now Highlands Ranch.
High society locals were regularly invited to join her for dinner with world famous people like Winthrop Rockefeller and Princess Anne.
My latest adventure in cooking from this Colorado cookbook, which I’ve come to adore, is this recipe for Apricot Brandy Sauce for Chicken Cordon Bleu.
What an outstanding treat this is. And such an easy recipe for dinner party entertaining.
Especially if you have a good source for pre-made Chicken Courdon Bleu. Which I do. My local specialty and meat market, Tony’s Market on Dry Creek always has it, and I’ve also seen it at King Soopers (Kroeger) … ready to bake.
If you’re going to make it at home I would always trust Tyler Florence and his recipe, or even Taste of Home always seems to a reliable source.
This is an easy apricot sauce that takes this classic Swiss recipe to a new level. Ready in a few minutes, made on the stove top.
Let’s take a look:
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Good Quality Apricot Preserves or Apricot Jam
- Brandy
- Butter
- Lime Juice
That’s all it takes for the big wow factor. The flavors compliment each other so well.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Preserves: Peach Preserves is an excellent substitution for Apricot Preserves.
- Liquor: Substitute bourbon or rum for brandy.
Step by Step Instructions, It’s Easy
- Step 1: In a small sauce pan, over medium heat, melt butter. Add apricot preserves, brandy and lime juice.
- Step 2: Whisk until hot and steamy and well blended. Serve immediately over cooked Chicken Cordon Bleu.
Chicken Cordon Bleu is a classic comfort food where boneless skinless chicken breasts or cutlets are pounded thin, coated in bread crumbs (Panko is good here) and then wrapped around thin sliced ham and Swiss cheese. Swiss in origin, Cordon Bleu refers to the wide blue ribbons worn by the highest members of Knighthood instituted by Henry III of France.
Brandy is a spirit made from distilled wine or other fermented fruit juices. Brandy is not a whiskey as whiskey is distilled from grain. An excellent reference to learn more about Brandy is this article from Total Wine.
Yes. To make this easy chicken meal even easier, make the sauce a couple of days ahead of time. Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container. I like to save Mason style jars for this very purpose. To reheat, simply pour the sauce in a saucepan and use medium low heat to warm it up. Stir occasionally so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
This sauce for Chicken Cordon Bleu is naturally gluten free, however, to make this meal gluten free, you would need to coat the chicken with gluten free bread crumbs.
Tips for Success
- You don’t need expensive brandy to cook with. Save the good stuff for sipping. Choose a standard brandy made from grapes rather than a flavored brandy.
How Else Can I Use Apricot Sauce?
This sauce would also compliment the saltiness of a Grilled Ham Steak, or pair well with Grilled Pork Tenderloin. And if you’re looking for an easier option, simply use it as a glaze for grilled chicken breasts or grilled or fried pork chops.
What Goes With Chicken Cordon Bleu?
Since Chicken Cordon Bleu is somewhat of an elegant dish, I like to keep side dishes simple with a sauteed asparagus, this recipe for Green Vegetable Medley or even a simple Green Salad. Mashed potatoes or Scalloped Potatoes would also be delicious here.
Apricot Brandy Sauce for Chicken Cordon Bleu
The sweet, tangy, boozy brandy sauce is a nice partner for the salty ham, Swiss cheese and chicken. And how fun to tell your dinner guests that Tweet Kimball served this for Princess Anne. I hope you give this simple brandy sauce a try. It’s healthier than a cream sauce and just so easy. Plus it brings such a special feel for a simple dinner.
With a simple side dish of sauteed asparagus with lemon, we thought this was a very nice meal. Let’s take a look:
More Popular Sauce Recipes To Drizzle On Your Next Steak or Chicken
A fair amount of Mexican Food comes out of my kitchen, inspired by Western, Southwestern and Mexican cuisine that Colorado and New Mexico has to share. The sauce that I make most often which elevates any taco, steak or chicken recipe is my recipe for New Mexico Red Chile Sauce. It’s rich, robust and a must make for any home cook looking to make traditional Southwestern food. My favorite way to use it is for New Mexico Style Huevos Rancheros.
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Apricot Brandy Sauce For Chicken Cordon Bleu
Ingredients
- 8 bundles Prepared Chicken Cordon Bleu Bundles Cooked
- 1 small jar Apricot Preserves
- 6 Tablespoons butter
- ⅓ cup brandy regular, peach or apricot flavored
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
Instructions
- Cook Chicken Cordon Bleu according to instructions.
- Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter. Once butter is melted add Apricot Preserves, brandy and lime juice. Cook until hot and well blended. A whisk works well here.
- Drizzle the sauce over cooked cordon bleu's and serve immediately.
Notes
- You don’t need expensive brandy to cook with. Save the good stuff for sipping. Choose a standard brandy made from grapes rather than a flavored brandy.
Nutrition
Apricot Brandy Sauce for Chicken Cordon Bleu …It’s what’s for Dinner.
