Apple Desserts
I've always associated apples (and Apple Desserts) with autumn. To that end, here are six yummy Apple Desserts to get you througoh the day, including Apple Empanadas and Baked Apples. Enjoy!
APPLE PIE
I got the original recipe for this from an old Betty Crocker Cookbook, years ago. I've tweaked the recipe quite 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 also added several other changes to this, changing it to the way my family loves it. Here's the tweaked version of apple pie.
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.
ORCHARD-FRESH BAKED APPLE PIES
This was in the October 2007 issure of Vegetarian Times, page 67. It begins, "Topping baked apples with pastry turns a basic fall dessert into a signature dish. Choose the biggest, roundest apples you can find to have as much room for filling as possible." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/orchard-fresh-baked-apple-pies/.
Ingredients
6 large red apples, divided
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tbs. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. ground allspice
1/2 17.3-oz. pkg. frozen puff pastry (1 sheet), thawed, cut into 4 3-inch circles
2 Tbs. soymilk
1 Tbs. sugar
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice 1/2-inch off tops of 4 apples. Scoop out centers of apples, leaving 1/2-inch shell. Place scooped-out flesh in bowl. Peel and thinly slice remaining 2 apples. Add to bowl, and toss with brown sugar, cornstarch, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and 1 Tbs. water. Stuff apples with filling; place on baking sheet.
Place puff pastry circles on top of apples. Brush with soymilk, and flute edges with fork. Combine sugar and 1/4 tsp. cinnamon in bowl, and sprinkle over pastry tops. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until apples are tender.
VIENNESE APPLE STRUDEL
This was in the October 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 40. It begins, "Spicy, tender apple varieties such as Winesap, Rome, Empire, and Gala are best for this quick-cooking treat." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/viennese-apple-strudel/.
Ingredients
1/2 cup raisins
2 large apples, peeled and coarsely chopped (about 3 cups)
3 Tbs. flour
2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbs. light brown sugar
2 Tbs. granulated sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
6 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat large baking sheet with cooking spray. Place raisins in small bowl, and cover with boiling water. Soak 5 minutes to plump, then drain.
Toss together raisins, apples, flour, lemon juice, and brown sugar in bowl, and set aside.
Stir together granulated sugar and cinnamon. Place 1 phyllo sheet on work surface, and lightly coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Top with second phyllo sheet. Repeat with remaining phyllo and sugar.
Spoon apple mixture into center of phyllo sheets, leaving 2-inch border on all sides. Tuck end borders over apple mixture, then loosely roll into a log. Place seam side down on prepared baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray, and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar. Bake 35 minutes, or until golden brown. Slice on diagonal into 8 portions, and serve.
APPLE EMPANADAS MINI TACO BOWLS
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Old El Paso™ brings our Tex Mex take on the perfect fall apple cinnamon taco dessert with these Apple Empanadas Mini Taco Bowls. This recipe deep fries our Old El Paso™ Soft Tortilla Mini Bowls to make them warm and crispy and then dusts them with cinnamon sugar for an easy to fill, easy to eat apple pie taco dessert. Delicious Granny Smith apples are spiced and served up with cinnamon sour cream and caramel sauce to make for a warm, delicious end to any taco night."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Makes 20 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/apple-empanadas-mini-taco-bowls.
Ingredients
Vegetable oil for deep frying
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
20 Old El Paso™ Taco Bowls™ mini soft flour tortillas (1 Party Pack)
3/4 cup sour cream
6 medium Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 6 cups)
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup caramel topping
Preparation
In deep fat fryer or heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat at least 2 inches oil to 350°F. Add 3 tablespoons of the granulated sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon to a 1-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.
Place bowls in batches in preheated oil; fry 1 minute on each side, using tongs to turn bowls halfway through, until lightly brown all over. Drain bowls upside down on paper towel-lined cookie sheet until slightly cool; toss 4 bowls at a time in cinnamon sugar to coat. Remove to cooling rack to cool completely.
In small bowl, beat sour cream, remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon with whisk. Set aside.
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, mix apples, brown sugar, lemon juice, remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon and the salt over medium-high heat. Cook 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until liquid evaporates and apples are tender.
Divide apple mixture among fried bowls; top with cinnamon sour cream, and drizzle with caramel topping.
Expert Tips
Pears can be substituted for apples in this recipe.
Using a candy thermometer/deep frying thermometer helps to ensure correct temperature when frying to give best results.
APPLE-LEMON FRITTERS
This is from the October 2003 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 59. It begins, "These puffy, fruit-filled gems turn breakfast or brunch into a festive meal. Serve them with warmed applesauce, maple syrup or a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. Offer plenty of hot coffee and hot cider."
While the magazine states it makes 4 to 6 servings, the website leaves it at 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/apple-lemon-fritters/.
Ingredients
1/2 cup whole milk or soymilk
3 large eggs
2 Tbs. melted butter or soy margarine
1/4 cup cornmeal
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups (about 1-1/2 apples) diced apples
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbs. lemon zest
1 Tbs. granulated sugar
2 cups vegetable oil for frying, or more as needed
Preparation
Place milk, eggs and butter in large mixing bowl, and beat until well combined. Fold in cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt, and stir until well combined. Fold in apples, cinnamon, lemon zest and sugar.
Heat oil in large skillet or deep saucepan over medium heat. When hot, spoon fritter batter into oil, about 1/4 cup at a time, and fry until golden brown on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from oil, and place on several layers of paper towels to blot excess oil. Repeat until batter is used up.
To serve, place fritters on individual plates, and pass with selection of toppings.
BAKED APPLES
This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Dorie wrote, “I don’t remember my mother at the stove. When asked what childhood dish was my favorite, I’d stammer and come up empty. And then, walking down the stairs in my Paris apartment, I got to the third floor and said out loud to no one: baked apples! My mother made baked apples. Her apples were big Cortlands or Rome Beauties, and she cored and stuffed them with raisins, because my father loved raisins. I also bake with Cortlands or Romes when I can get them, Fujis or Galas when I can’t. I’ll often stuff them with raisins, but I think they’re especially nice filled with bits of dried apple and candied ginger. And I like to baste them with apple cider and honey. They’re good hot or cold, but best served warm and topped with something creamy. Cinnamon (my mom always used too much) is optional.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes, plus cooling.
This was featured in “My Mother’s Best (And Only) Recipe: Baked Apples,” and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020471-baked-apples.
Ingredients
4 large baking apples, like Rome Beauty
2 lemon wedges
2 to 3 dried apple rings, cut into bits
4 tiny pieces crystallized ginger (optional)
3 to 4 teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 cup apple cider or juice
Heavy cream, whipped cream or ice cream, for serving (optional)
Cinnamon, for dusting (optional)
Preparation
Center a rack in the oven and heat to 375. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil, and set a 9- or 10-inch glass pie dish on top.
Cut a small cap off the top of each apple, and set aside. Using a paring knife or corer, core the apples, making sure not to go all the way to the bottom. Cut away and reserve about 1/2 inch of peel around the tops of the apples. Rub the peeled portions of the apples with the lemon, squeezing a little juice into each opening.
Fill each apple with an equal amount of dried apple and ginger, if using, pressing down lightly as needed to push bits into the opening. Pour 1/2 teaspoon honey over the dried fruit in each apple. Cut the butter into 4 pieces, and top each apple with a pat. Pop the caps back on the apples. (It’s O.K. if they teeter). Transfer the apples, lemon wedges and a few of the reserved peels into the pie dish; pour in the cider or juice, and stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons honey. (The honey won’t blend evenly into the cider, and that’s fine.)
Bake the apples, basting occasionally with the cider and honey, until you can poke them with a skewer or the tip of a knife and not meet much resistance, 50 to 70 minutes. Since apples are so variable, check early and often, as you might need more or less time.
Let them cool for at least 15 minutes before serving moistened with a little pan sauce, and if you want, top with cold heavy cream, whipped cream or ice cream and dust with cinnamon. The apples are good warm or at room temperature. They’ll keep, covered, for 2 days in the refrigerator and can be reheated in a microwave.
APPLE PIE
I got the original recipe for this from an old Betty Crocker Cookbook, years ago. I've tweaked the recipe quite 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 also added several other changes to this, changing it to the way my family loves it. Here's the tweaked version of apple pie.
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.
ORCHARD-FRESH BAKED APPLE PIES
This was in the October 2007 issure of Vegetarian Times, page 67. It begins, "Topping baked apples with pastry turns a basic fall dessert into a signature dish. Choose the biggest, roundest apples you can find to have as much room for filling as possible." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/orchard-fresh-baked-apple-pies/.
Ingredients
6 large red apples, divided
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tbs. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. ground allspice
1/2 17.3-oz. pkg. frozen puff pastry (1 sheet), thawed, cut into 4 3-inch circles
2 Tbs. soymilk
1 Tbs. sugar
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice 1/2-inch off tops of 4 apples. Scoop out centers of apples, leaving 1/2-inch shell. Place scooped-out flesh in bowl. Peel and thinly slice remaining 2 apples. Add to bowl, and toss with brown sugar, cornstarch, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and 1 Tbs. water. Stuff apples with filling; place on baking sheet.
Place puff pastry circles on top of apples. Brush with soymilk, and flute edges with fork. Combine sugar and 1/4 tsp. cinnamon in bowl, and sprinkle over pastry tops. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until apples are tender.
VIENNESE APPLE STRUDEL
This was in the October 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 40. It begins, "Spicy, tender apple varieties such as Winesap, Rome, Empire, and Gala are best for this quick-cooking treat." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/viennese-apple-strudel/.
Ingredients
1/2 cup raisins
2 large apples, peeled and coarsely chopped (about 3 cups)
3 Tbs. flour
2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbs. light brown sugar
2 Tbs. granulated sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
6 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat large baking sheet with cooking spray. Place raisins in small bowl, and cover with boiling water. Soak 5 minutes to plump, then drain.
Toss together raisins, apples, flour, lemon juice, and brown sugar in bowl, and set aside.
Stir together granulated sugar and cinnamon. Place 1 phyllo sheet on work surface, and lightly coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Top with second phyllo sheet. Repeat with remaining phyllo and sugar.
Spoon apple mixture into center of phyllo sheets, leaving 2-inch border on all sides. Tuck end borders over apple mixture, then loosely roll into a log. Place seam side down on prepared baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray, and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar. Bake 35 minutes, or until golden brown. Slice on diagonal into 8 portions, and serve.
APPLE EMPANADAS MINI TACO BOWLS
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Old El Paso™ brings our Tex Mex take on the perfect fall apple cinnamon taco dessert with these Apple Empanadas Mini Taco Bowls. This recipe deep fries our Old El Paso™ Soft Tortilla Mini Bowls to make them warm and crispy and then dusts them with cinnamon sugar for an easy to fill, easy to eat apple pie taco dessert. Delicious Granny Smith apples are spiced and served up with cinnamon sour cream and caramel sauce to make for a warm, delicious end to any taco night."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Makes 20 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/apple-empanadas-mini-taco-bowls.
Ingredients
Vegetable oil for deep frying
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
20 Old El Paso™ Taco Bowls™ mini soft flour tortillas (1 Party Pack)
3/4 cup sour cream
6 medium Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 6 cups)
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup caramel topping
Preparation
In deep fat fryer or heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat at least 2 inches oil to 350°F. Add 3 tablespoons of the granulated sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon to a 1-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.
Place bowls in batches in preheated oil; fry 1 minute on each side, using tongs to turn bowls halfway through, until lightly brown all over. Drain bowls upside down on paper towel-lined cookie sheet until slightly cool; toss 4 bowls at a time in cinnamon sugar to coat. Remove to cooling rack to cool completely.
In small bowl, beat sour cream, remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon with whisk. Set aside.
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, mix apples, brown sugar, lemon juice, remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon and the salt over medium-high heat. Cook 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until liquid evaporates and apples are tender.
Divide apple mixture among fried bowls; top with cinnamon sour cream, and drizzle with caramel topping.
Expert Tips
Pears can be substituted for apples in this recipe.
Using a candy thermometer/deep frying thermometer helps to ensure correct temperature when frying to give best results.
APPLE-LEMON FRITTERS
This is from the October 2003 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 59. It begins, "These puffy, fruit-filled gems turn breakfast or brunch into a festive meal. Serve them with warmed applesauce, maple syrup or a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. Offer plenty of hot coffee and hot cider."
While the magazine states it makes 4 to 6 servings, the website leaves it at 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/apple-lemon-fritters/.
Ingredients
1/2 cup whole milk or soymilk
3 large eggs
2 Tbs. melted butter or soy margarine
1/4 cup cornmeal
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups (about 1-1/2 apples) diced apples
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbs. lemon zest
1 Tbs. granulated sugar
2 cups vegetable oil for frying, or more as needed
Preparation
Place milk, eggs and butter in large mixing bowl, and beat until well combined. Fold in cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt, and stir until well combined. Fold in apples, cinnamon, lemon zest and sugar.
Heat oil in large skillet or deep saucepan over medium heat. When hot, spoon fritter batter into oil, about 1/4 cup at a time, and fry until golden brown on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from oil, and place on several layers of paper towels to blot excess oil. Repeat until batter is used up.
To serve, place fritters on individual plates, and pass with selection of toppings.
BAKED APPLES
This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Dorie wrote, “I don’t remember my mother at the stove. When asked what childhood dish was my favorite, I’d stammer and come up empty. And then, walking down the stairs in my Paris apartment, I got to the third floor and said out loud to no one: baked apples! My mother made baked apples. Her apples were big Cortlands or Rome Beauties, and she cored and stuffed them with raisins, because my father loved raisins. I also bake with Cortlands or Romes when I can get them, Fujis or Galas when I can’t. I’ll often stuff them with raisins, but I think they’re especially nice filled with bits of dried apple and candied ginger. And I like to baste them with apple cider and honey. They’re good hot or cold, but best served warm and topped with something creamy. Cinnamon (my mom always used too much) is optional.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes, plus cooling.
This was featured in “My Mother’s Best (And Only) Recipe: Baked Apples,” and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020471-baked-apples.
Ingredients
4 large baking apples, like Rome Beauty
2 lemon wedges
2 to 3 dried apple rings, cut into bits
4 tiny pieces crystallized ginger (optional)
3 to 4 teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 cup apple cider or juice
Heavy cream, whipped cream or ice cream, for serving (optional)
Cinnamon, for dusting (optional)
Preparation
Center a rack in the oven and heat to 375. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil, and set a 9- or 10-inch glass pie dish on top.
Cut a small cap off the top of each apple, and set aside. Using a paring knife or corer, core the apples, making sure not to go all the way to the bottom. Cut away and reserve about 1/2 inch of peel around the tops of the apples. Rub the peeled portions of the apples with the lemon, squeezing a little juice into each opening.
Fill each apple with an equal amount of dried apple and ginger, if using, pressing down lightly as needed to push bits into the opening. Pour 1/2 teaspoon honey over the dried fruit in each apple. Cut the butter into 4 pieces, and top each apple with a pat. Pop the caps back on the apples. (It’s O.K. if they teeter). Transfer the apples, lemon wedges and a few of the reserved peels into the pie dish; pour in the cider or juice, and stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons honey. (The honey won’t blend evenly into the cider, and that’s fine.)
Bake the apples, basting occasionally with the cider and honey, until you can poke them with a skewer or the tip of a knife and not meet much resistance, 50 to 70 minutes. Since apples are so variable, check early and often, as you might need more or less time.
Let them cool for at least 15 minutes before serving moistened with a little pan sauce, and if you want, top with cold heavy cream, whipped cream or ice cream and dust with cinnamon. The apples are good warm or at room temperature. They’ll keep, covered, for 2 days in the refrigerator and can be reheated in a microwave.
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