The Apples of Your Eye - and Dessert
Apples are a perennial favorite for snacking on, as well as for using in a variety of recipes, especially desserts. The following apple dessert recipes show how great they can be. Check out the Baked Apples, the Caramel Apple Bars, or any of the other yummy appley desserts. Enjoy!
APPLE PIE
I got the original recipe for this from an old Betty Crocker Cookbook, years ago. I've tweaked the recipe a bit, so that the end result is mine.
Ingredients
Crust for a 9-inch two-crust pie
3/4 + 1 tablespoon cup 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
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.
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.
CARAMEL APPLE BARS
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Do you have extra apples but don’t feel like making a pie? Try this easy-to-make bar with layers of brown sugar and oats surrounding apples and melted caramel.”
Ingredients
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup shortening
1-3/4 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4-1/2 cups coarsely chopped peeled tart apples (3 medium)
3 tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 bag (14 ounces) caramels
Directions
Heat oven to 400ºF. Mix brown sugar, butter and shortening in large bowl. Stir in 1-3/4 cups flour, the oats, salt and baking soda. Reserve 2 cups oat mixture; press remaining oat mixture in ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches.
Toss apples and 3 tablespoons flour; spread over mixture in pan. Heat caramels over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted; pour evenly over apples. Sprinkle with reserved oat mixture; press lightly.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender. For 36 bars, cut into 6 rows by 6 rows while warm. Store covered in refrigerator.
The recipe ends with, “Did You Know...
“Rolled oats are whole oats that have been steamed and flattened.
“Quick-cooking oats differ from regular—or old-fashioned—oats in that they’re cut into pieces before being steamed and are rolled into thinner flakes.”
MAPLE-APPLE PIE
This also comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Experience a whole new apple pie taste! Just a touch of syrup adds the sweet familiar taste of maple for a flavorful new twist on a classic dessert.”
Ingredients
Double-Crust Pastry (See Below)
6 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples, (5 medium)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
6 tablespoons maple-flavored syrup
Directions
Heat oven to 425°F. Make Double Crust Pastry.
Mix apples and brown sugar. Turn into pastry-lined pie plate. Drizzle with butter and 3 tablespoons of the syrup. Trim overhanging edge of pastry 1/2 inch from rim of plate. Cover with top pastry that has slits cut in it; trim overhanging edge 1 inch from rim of plate. Fold and roll top edge under lower edge, pressing on rim to seal; flute as desired.
Bake 15 minutes. Make diagonal cuts about 1 inch apart through top crust. Pour remaining syrup over top. Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning; remove foil during last 15 minutes of baking. Bake about 25 minutes or until crust is deep golden brown. Cool.
Double-Crust Pastry
Ingredients
2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons shortening
4 to 6 tablespoons cold water
Directions
Mix flour and salt in medium bowl. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost leaves side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary). Gather pastry into a ball. Divide in half and shape into 2 flattened rounds on lightly floured surface. Wrap flattened rounds of pastry in plastic wrap and refrigerate about 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold, yet pliable. This allows the shortening to become slightly firm, which helps make the baked pastry more flaky. If refrigerated longer, let pastry soften slightly before rolling.
Roll one round on lightly floured surface, using floured rolling pin, into circle 2 inches larger than upside-down 9-inch glass pie plate. Fold pastry into fourths; place in pie plate. Unfold and ease into plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side.
BAKED APPLES
This was in an old Weight Watchers email. Yield: 1 scone/serving. 3 points/scone (old value). I have no idea what the newest points value/scone is.
Ingredients
4 apples, small
1 C applesauce, unsweetened
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 C water
2 C vanilla nonfat yogurt
1/4 ground cinnamon
4 tsp pecans or walnuts, toasted and chopped
Directions
Core apples, leaving bottom intact so they can be filled. Place upright in small glace microwaveable baking dish. Stir applesauce, cinnamon and brown sugar. Spoon mixture into apples. Pour water into bottom of baking dish. Cover dish and microwave at medium for 12 – 15 minutes until apples are soft. Remove from microwave and allow to cool. Spoon yogurt over each apple, garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon & toasted pecans or walnuts.
VERY MERRY CRAN-APPLE PIE
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, "Casual pies with fold-up edges say bring on the flavor and who needs a pie pan or fancy pie edges?!"
Ingredients
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 to 3 tablespoons cold water
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
3 cups thinly sliced cooking apples
2 cups fresh or frozen (thawed) cranberries
1 tablespoon margarine or butter
Directions
In medium bowl, cut shortening into 1 cup flour and the salt, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until crumbly. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and toss with fork until dough forms. Shape dough into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 15 minutes.
Heat oven to 425ºF. Shape dough into flattened round on floured surface. Roll dough into 13-inch circle. Place on ungreased large cookie sheet.
Mix brown sugar, 1/3 cup flour, the apples and cranberries. Mound mixture on center of dough up to 3 inches of edge. Dot with margarine. Fold edge of dough over apples.
Bake pie 20 minutes. Cover center with 5-inch square of foil to prevent overbrowning. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until crust is light golden brown.
APPLE PIE
I got the original recipe for this from an old Betty Crocker Cookbook, years ago. I've tweaked the recipe a bit, so that the end result is mine.
Ingredients
Crust for a 9-inch two-crust pie
3/4 + 1 tablespoon cup 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
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.
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.
CARAMEL APPLE BARS
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Do you have extra apples but don’t feel like making a pie? Try this easy-to-make bar with layers of brown sugar and oats surrounding apples and melted caramel.”
Ingredients
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup shortening
1-3/4 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4-1/2 cups coarsely chopped peeled tart apples (3 medium)
3 tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 bag (14 ounces) caramels
Directions
Heat oven to 400ºF. Mix brown sugar, butter and shortening in large bowl. Stir in 1-3/4 cups flour, the oats, salt and baking soda. Reserve 2 cups oat mixture; press remaining oat mixture in ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches.
Toss apples and 3 tablespoons flour; spread over mixture in pan. Heat caramels over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted; pour evenly over apples. Sprinkle with reserved oat mixture; press lightly.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender. For 36 bars, cut into 6 rows by 6 rows while warm. Store covered in refrigerator.
The recipe ends with, “Did You Know...
“Rolled oats are whole oats that have been steamed and flattened.
“Quick-cooking oats differ from regular—or old-fashioned—oats in that they’re cut into pieces before being steamed and are rolled into thinner flakes.”
MAPLE-APPLE PIE
This also comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Experience a whole new apple pie taste! Just a touch of syrup adds the sweet familiar taste of maple for a flavorful new twist on a classic dessert.”
Ingredients
Double-Crust Pastry (See Below)
6 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples, (5 medium)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
6 tablespoons maple-flavored syrup
Directions
Heat oven to 425°F. Make Double Crust Pastry.
Mix apples and brown sugar. Turn into pastry-lined pie plate. Drizzle with butter and 3 tablespoons of the syrup. Trim overhanging edge of pastry 1/2 inch from rim of plate. Cover with top pastry that has slits cut in it; trim overhanging edge 1 inch from rim of plate. Fold and roll top edge under lower edge, pressing on rim to seal; flute as desired.
Bake 15 minutes. Make diagonal cuts about 1 inch apart through top crust. Pour remaining syrup over top. Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning; remove foil during last 15 minutes of baking. Bake about 25 minutes or until crust is deep golden brown. Cool.
Double-Crust Pastry
Ingredients
2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons shortening
4 to 6 tablespoons cold water
Directions
Mix flour and salt in medium bowl. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost leaves side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary). Gather pastry into a ball. Divide in half and shape into 2 flattened rounds on lightly floured surface. Wrap flattened rounds of pastry in plastic wrap and refrigerate about 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold, yet pliable. This allows the shortening to become slightly firm, which helps make the baked pastry more flaky. If refrigerated longer, let pastry soften slightly before rolling.
Roll one round on lightly floured surface, using floured rolling pin, into circle 2 inches larger than upside-down 9-inch glass pie plate. Fold pastry into fourths; place in pie plate. Unfold and ease into plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side.
BAKED APPLES
This was in an old Weight Watchers email. Yield: 1 scone/serving. 3 points/scone (old value). I have no idea what the newest points value/scone is.
Ingredients
4 apples, small
1 C applesauce, unsweetened
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 C water
2 C vanilla nonfat yogurt
1/4 ground cinnamon
4 tsp pecans or walnuts, toasted and chopped
Directions
Core apples, leaving bottom intact so they can be filled. Place upright in small glace microwaveable baking dish. Stir applesauce, cinnamon and brown sugar. Spoon mixture into apples. Pour water into bottom of baking dish. Cover dish and microwave at medium for 12 – 15 minutes until apples are soft. Remove from microwave and allow to cool. Spoon yogurt over each apple, garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon & toasted pecans or walnuts.
VERY MERRY CRAN-APPLE PIE
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, "Casual pies with fold-up edges say bring on the flavor and who needs a pie pan or fancy pie edges?!"
Ingredients
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 to 3 tablespoons cold water
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
3 cups thinly sliced cooking apples
2 cups fresh or frozen (thawed) cranberries
1 tablespoon margarine or butter
Directions
In medium bowl, cut shortening into 1 cup flour and the salt, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until crumbly. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and toss with fork until dough forms. Shape dough into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 15 minutes.
Heat oven to 425ºF. Shape dough into flattened round on floured surface. Roll dough into 13-inch circle. Place on ungreased large cookie sheet.
Mix brown sugar, 1/3 cup flour, the apples and cranberries. Mound mixture on center of dough up to 3 inches of edge. Dot with margarine. Fold edge of dough over apples.
Bake pie 20 minutes. Cover center with 5-inch square of foil to prevent overbrowning. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until crust is light golden brown.
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