Three Delicious Fall Apple Recipes
Fall Apple Recipes
It seems fitting that I am writing a post about apples while experiencing my first Fall in New York City – the ‘Big Apple.’ Fall has always been my favourite season. I begin to unpack my fall wardrobe towards the end of summer and take great joy in seeing all my beloved scarves, sweaters, and boots once again. How comforting the kaleidoscopic colours as far as the eye can see and the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot. What’s better than a walk? All wrapped up against any nip in the air while the sun continues to brighten the skies. Bliss.
Fall also brings along with it a selection of comfort food, dishes to savour that keep you warm as the sun takes longer to rise in the mornings and dashes off to bed early in the evenings. With their sweet scent and crunchy first bite, apples are a staple of Fall. They’re one of nature’s delights and are delicious in their simplest form, straight from the tree, but there’s also so much more than you can do with them.
Check out these fall apple recipes below for some creative, but simple ideas, and treat yourself to a fruity delight when you get home that walk.
Spiced Baked Apples – serves 6
- 6 large eating apples, cored
- 3oz dried mixed fruit (see if you can find some exotic fruits like apricot, mango, and fig)
- 2 fl oz orange juice (you can use brandy if you want an alcoholic version)
- 1oz soft brown sugar
- ½ tsp allspice
- 3 1/2oz butter
- Greek yogurt or ice-cream, to serve
1. Soak the mixed dried fruit in the orange juice for at least 2 hours (or overnight if possible) until most of the liquid is absorbed.
2. Preheat the oven to 300F / 150C / 130C fan.
3. Add the sugar, allspice, and butter to the soaked fruit. Mix well.
4. Spoon the fruit mixture into the holes in the cored apples, pressing down to fill well. Spread a little more butter over the top of each apple.
5. Place the apples onto a baking sheet, cover with tin foil, and bake for 40 minutes.
6. Remove the foil and bake for a further 15-20 minutes until the apples are soft.
7. Serve with Greek yogurt or ice-cream.
Sticky Tarte Tatin – serves 4 to 6
- Ready-made, frozen puff pastry
- 4 large eating apples
- 4 1/2 oz caster sugar
- 3 1/2oz water
- 1oz butter
1. Pre-heat the oven to 350F / 180C / 160C Fan.
2. Peel the apples and cut into quarters. Remove the core and set aside (there is no need to put them in water as they go too mushy).
3. Place the sugar and water in a medium-sized oven-proof skillet or frying pan. Set over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
4. Increase the heat and boil the syrup until it begins to caramelize around the edges, about 5 minutes. Tip – do not stir when it has come to the boil, or the sugar will crystalize. Once it turns
golden brown, you can swirl the pan to even out the caramelization.
5. Add the butter to the caramel and swirl the pan again to distribute it through the caramel. Remove from the heat.
6. Place the apple quarters in a concentric circle around the outside of the pan and lay any remaining pieces in the center, packing them in tightly. The apples must cover the pan’s base – if you need an extra apple to fill any gaps, you can quickly prepare another and pop it in the pan.
7. Place the pan back on the heat for 10 minutes to lightly caramelize the apple. Roll out the pastry to a maximum of ¼ inch thick – it also needs to be about 1 inch wider in diameter than the pan.
8. Remove the pan from the heat and place the pastry over the pan, tucking in the excess pastry around the apples (use a fork as the pan and caramel will be very hot).
9. Prick a few small air holes in the pastry.
10.Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until the pastry is golden and the apples feel cooked when you insert a small knife or skewer into them.
11.Remove from the oven and stand for an hour before placing a large plate over the pan and carefully but quickly flipping it over. I find that using a dish with a slightly curved rim will catch any juices.
12. Slice and serve with yogurt, cream, or ice-cream.
Humble Apple Crumble – serves 4
- 2lb 3½oz cooking apples
- 1 tsp sugar, to taste
- 1 tbsp water or apple juice
- 3½oz plain flour
- 2½oz butter
- 2oz rolled oats
- 3½oz soft brown sugar
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400F / 200C / 180C fan.
2. Wash and dry the apples, cut them into quarters, remove the core and slice each quarter into two pieces. Put them into a large saucepan, taste a slice for sweetness, and add a sugar sprinkling if desired. Add the water or apple juice and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the apples start to soften.
3. Transfer the apples to a shallow oven-proof dish.
4. Blend the flour and butter in a food processor for a few seconds until the mixture looks like crumbs. Stir in the oats and brown sugar and sprinkle over the cooked apples in the dish. Tip – you can also add a sprinkling of seeds to the crumble mixture if you want a little more texture – I like to use pumpkin and sunflower seeds.
5. Transfer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until crisp and golden-brown on top.
6. Serve with ice-cream or custard.
So what are you waiting for? Get down to your local store or farmers market and pick up some delicious local apples and start baking these delicious fall apple recipes! Make sure you don’t miss all our food-related reviews, interviews and posts – subscribe to our weekly newsletter!
With 30 years of general management experience in the global insurance industry and having lived in 4 countries, Jacqui now spends her time between London and New York where she continues to pursue her passion for writing, food, books and travel.
A Reiki practitioner, yogi and huge animal advocate, her home isn’t complete without a furbaby or three. In addition to being a BooknBrunch contributor, she writes for industry publications.
Favourite book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Favourite brunch dish: avocado toast with tomato and chilli
