Apples

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, is there anything better than apple desserts? Here are six yummy apple desserts to try, including Crisco's® Apple Cobbler and Cast-Iron Apple and Blackberry Crumble. Enjoy!

MINI APPLE PIES

This is from Kristina Vanni on The Spruce Eats. Kristina wrote, “These deep fried hand pies are a fun and whimsical way to enjoy a mini apple pie! They are best when served warm with a light dusting of powdered sugar.

“They are shaped like turnovers, with a classic cinnamon and apple filling surrounded by a delicate baking powder pastry crust.”

Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 1 dozen

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Baking Powder Pastry:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup cold unsalted butter

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

Apple Pie Filling:

3 cups sliced, cored, and pared tart apples

2 tablespoons water

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 cups vegetable oil

Powdered sugar

Directions

Gather the ingredients.

Start by preparing the baking powder pastry. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Using a pastry blender or two knives in a criss-cross fashion, cut in the cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the milk and egg.

Gradually stir the egg mixture into flour mixture with fork until just combined and the dough cleans the side of bowl.

On a lightly floured surface, lightly knead for about 1 minute to form a soft dough.

Divide dough in half and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Refrigerate while you prepare the rest of the recipe.

To make the apple pie filling, heat the apples and water, covered, in a medium saucepan to boiling, then reduce heat to low. All to simmer, covered, until apples soften slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove the cover and cook, stirring constantly until liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes.

Stir in the granulated sugar and butter. Cook, uncovered for 3 minutes and then stir in the cinnamon.

Mash the mixture with a fork or potato masher to form a chunky puree. Cover and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

When you are ready to prepare the pies, roll one half of dough 1/8-inch thick on floured surface. Cut out 4-to-5-inch circles with floured cutter. (If you don't have a cutter large enough, you can trace around the edge of an inverted bowl to form the circles.)

Spread some of the apple mixture over half of each circle, leaving a 3/4-inch border.

Lightly brush borders with a little water. Fold the pastry in half and pinch the edges lightly with fingers. Seal the edges with a fork. Turn the pies over and again press the seams with a fork. (Do not pierce the dough). Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

Heat oil in a large skillet to 375 degrees F. Fry the pies, 4 at a time so as to not crowd the pan. Turn the pies once, until they are golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, lift the pies out of the oil and drain on to a paper towel lined plate.

Dust the pies with powdered sugar and serve immediately.

APPLE PIE



I got the original recipe for this from an old Betty Crocker Cookbook, years ago. I've tweaked the recipe a bit; the original called for butter, which mine doesn't, while I add apple cider or apple juice, which isn't in the original. I've also added a few things here and there. Here's the semi-tweaked, now-my-version apple pie.



Ingredients

Crust for a 9-inch two-crust pie

3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 cup all-purpose flour (do not use self-rising flour, but if you must use it, omit salt)

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

pinch of ground cloves

dash salt

6 to 7 cups apples (6 to 8 apples), peeled and thinly sliced

1/4 cup apple cider or apple juice

Directions

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare crust and line pie pan with bottom crust.

Placed cut up apples in large bowl. Add sugar, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and (lastly) apple cider or juice. Mix apples and additions with hands, then pour apples and additions into crust-lined pie pan.

Cover with top crust, cut slits into top crust, then seal edges of crusts. (Note: You can replace top crust with a lattice crust.) Cover top of pie with aluminum foil to prevent excess browning; remove foil last 15 minutes of baking.

Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust.

DOUBLE APPLE PIE

This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “This recipe is a keeper. Gently spiced with cinnamon, tinged with brown sugar and loaded with apple butter, it’s as deeply flavored as an apple pie can be, all covered with a buttery wide-lattice top crust. Although it’s at its most ethereal when baked on the same day you serve it, it’s still wonderful made a day ahead. (Don't let making your own pie crust intimidate you: our pie guide has everything you need to know.)”

Yield: 8 servings; Time: 2-1/2 hours, plus at least 3-1/2 hours' chilling and cooling.

This was featured in The United States Of Thanksgiving and can viewed online here.

Ingredients

For the Crust

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2-1/2 sticks/20 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cubed

4 tablespoons vodka (optional)

1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

For the Filling

3 pounds apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced crosswise (1/8-inch)

1/2 cup granulated sugar, more as needed

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Pinch ground cloves

1-1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

3 tablespoons apple butter

Heavy cream or milk, as needed

Whipped cream, sour cream or crème fraîche, for serving

Preparation

Make the crust: In a food processor, pulse together flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add butter and pulse until mixture forms 3/4-inch pieces. Mix vodka with 4 tablespoons ice water (or use 1/2 cup ice water). Add half the ice water mixture to dough, pulse a few times, then continue adding liquid a tablespoon at a time until dough just comes together (you might not use all the liquid). Dough should be moist, but not wet, and hold together when pinched. If there are visible pieces of butter in the dough, all the better.

On a lightly floured surface, gather dough into a ball. Remove a third of the dough and form into a disk. Form remaining dough into a disk. Cover both tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 5 days.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out larger disk to a 12-inch circle. Transfer dough to a 9-inch pie plate. Fold over any excess dough, then crimp edges. Prick crust all over with a fork, then chill crust for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

While dough chills, heat oven to 400 degrees. Line chilled crust with foil or parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes; remove foil and weights and bake until pale golden, 5 minutes more. Cool on rack until needed. (You can bake the crust up to 24 hours in advance.)

Toss apples with sugars, tapioca, spices, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the lemon juice. Fold in apple butter. Transfer apples to crust and press gently to make sure fruit is tightly packed.

Roll out remaining dough disk to a 10-inch round. Use a knife to cut strips 1-3/4 inches wide. Arrange strips over the filling in a lattice pattern. Brush top of crust with heavy cream or milk. Sprinkle with granulated sugar.

Place pie on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil. Bake 15 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking until crust is golden brown and juices are bubbling thickly, about 1 hour 15 minutes more. Let pie cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before cutting. Serve with whipped cream, sour cream or crème fraîche.

CRISCO’S® APPLE COBBLER

This is from that infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, though the poster stated that it's from the Crisco® Cookbook. This begins, “Top this wonderful dessert with whipped cream or ice cream.”

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cooking Time 20 minutes

Serves 8

Ingredients

Filling:

5 medium cooking apples, peeled and sliced

1 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

Topping:

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup CRISCO all-vegetable shortening, or 1/4 CRISCO Stick

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/4 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Heat oven to 400ºF. Spray an 8x8 baking dish with Crisco No Stick Cooking Spray.

Filling:

Place apples in a large mixing bowl. Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg in small mixing bowl. Pour sugar mixture over apples; toss and stir to combine. Pour apples into prepared pan; dot with butter.

Topping:

Food processor method: In a food processor, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Pulse in Crisco All-Vegetable Shortening until coarse crumbs form. In a small bowl, mix egg, milk and vanilla; add to flour mixture and pulse to combine. Drop biscuit mixture in 8 mounds on top of fruit.

Or

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium mixing bowl; cut in Crisco until coarse crumbs form.

Combine egg, milk and vanilla in a small bowl; add to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened. Drop biscuit mixture in 8 mounds on top of fruit.

Bake at 400ºF for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm with cream or ice cream, if desired.

Apple-Cranberry Variation: Add 1 cup fresh cranberries and 1/2 cup additional sugar to the filling mixture. Proceed as directed.

CARAMEL APPLE SNICKERDOODLES

This comes from the Tablespoon newsletter. It begins, “Dulce de leche is the secret ingredients that gives these cookies their gooey hidden center.” Prep Time: 20 min; Total Time: 1 hr 45 min; Servings: 9

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 can (13.4 oz) dulce de leche (caramelized sweetened condensed milk)

1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury™ refrigerated sugar cookies

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon apple pie spice

Directions

Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. Spoon 9 heaping teaspoons dulce de leche on cookie sheet. Place cookie sheet in freezer 1 hour. Transfer remaining dulce de leche to covered container, and refrigerate for another use.

Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or spray cookie sheet. In large bowl, break up cookie dough. Stir or knead in flour until well combined. Form dough into 9 balls. Flatten each ball into 2-inch round; place 1 frozen dulce de leche dollop on center of each round. Shape dough around dulce de leche, sealing to cover completely. In small bowl, mix sugar and apple pie spice. Roll each ball in sugar mixture. Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheet.

Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 3 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

CAST-IRON APPLE AND BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE

This is from Matt Abdoo and was posted on the TODAY Show’s site. Matt wrote, “My dad used to make this for me growing up! Apples from upstate New York are some of the best in the country. They always added the perfect amount of tartness and sweetness to this crispy crumble.

Technique tip: Use your favorite apples for a signature taste and to make it your own.

Swap option: Pears work great and so do peaches! You can also use a 10- by 15-inch baking dish if not using the grill.”

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 12

To view this online, go to https://www.today.com/recipes/cast-iron-apple-blackberry-crumble-recipe-t154818.

Ingredients

Crumble Topping

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 packs (1 cup) apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal

1 cup light brown sugar

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

8 ounces (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, grated

Apple Filling

2 pounds honey crisp apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick

1 pound granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick

1 pint blackberries

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon allspice

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation

Pre-heat oven or grill to 350°F.

For the crumble topping:

In a medium sized mixing bowl combine flour, apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal, chopped pecans, light brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cold grated butter until it forms a coarse crumble.

For the apple filling:

In another large mixing bowl combine the apples with melted butter, flour, corn starch, lemon juice, light brown sugar, salt and spices and toss to fully coat the apples. Next fold in the blackberries and pour the apple mixture into a 12-inch cast iron pan.

To assemble:

Fully coat the top of the apple mixture with the crumble topping and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.

Allow the crumble to cool slightly, and then serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Or chill overnight and serve cold.

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