The plain apple is a cook's best friend, especially during the winter months. This fruit is typically in season in the fall, but is also available in abundance during the winter. If you're bored of always eating them plain, why don't you try cooking them? There are many different techniques for cooking them and in the end you will not only have a delicious dish, but a warm and comforting dessert for cold winter or autumn evenings.
Ingrediants
Baked Apples
- 4 large apples
- 50 g of brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 30 g chopped pecans (optional)
- 40 g minced raisins (optional)
- 15 g of butter
- 180 ml of boiling water
Fried Apples
- 4 apples
- 110 g of butter
- 100 g of white or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon
Microwave Cooked Apples
- 2 apples
- 10 g unsalted butter
- 25 g of brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of nutmeg powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Stewed apples
- 700 g of peeled and diced Granny Smith apples
- 100 g of brown sugar
- 60 ml of apple juice or water
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- A pinch of nutmeg powder
- A pinch of salt
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Baked Apples
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 190 ° C
Step 2. Wash the fruit, remove the top portion and core
Use a metal spoon or melon digger to remove the core; the hole should be about 2.5 cm wide and remember to leave an intact thickness on the bottom of about 1.5 cm.
Choose varieties suitable for baking, such as Golden Delicious, Jonagold or Rome Beauty
Step 3. Lightly score the peel
Use a sharp knife and draw a line around the apples for the width sense. Repeat this process several times, near the top, middle and bottom; in this way, you prevent the peel from breaking during cooking.
Step 4. Mix the brown sugar with the cinnamon in a large bowl
If you want to make something a little different than usual, you can also add chopped pecans or raisins.
Step 5. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the four apples evenly
Each fruit should receive about a tablespoon of "seasoning".
Step 6. Put some butter on top of the sugar
Cut it into four equal-sized cubes and place one on each apple. When it melts, the butter mixes with the sugar and cinnamon to make a delicious sauce.
Step 7. Transfer the apples to an ovenproof dish
Add a little water to the bottom to prevent them from burning, the liquid also mixes with the juices released by the fruits and turns into a kind of sauce.
Step 8. Cook the apples for 30-45 minutes
They are ready when the pulp is soft and easy to prick with a fork.
Step 9. Let them cool down a bit before serving
Remove them from the pan and transfer them to a tray with the help of a spatula. If you wish, you can sprinkle them with the juice that has collected in the bottom of the pan.
Method 2 of 4: Fried Apples
Step 1. Prepare the apples for frying
First wash and peel them, then prepare them in one of the following ways:
- Core and cut into circles or slices;
- Cut it into thin wedges;
- Divide them into four parts and then cut them into 1.5 cm thick slices.
Step 2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat
Tilt the pan on all sides as the fat melts, so that you sprinkle it evenly all over the bottom.
Step 3. Mix the sugar and cinnamon in the butter
You can use both white and whole sugar, but the latter gives it a richer flavor. Keep stirring until the ingredients are well incorporated into the butter.
Step 4. Add the apples and cook them over medium-high heat for 5-8 minutes
Turn the fruit often with a spatula or wooden spoon to cook it evenly.
Step 5. Serve the apples while they are still hot
Collect them with a spoon and serve them in a bowl. If you don't want the cup to contain any "sauce" residue, transfer the apples using a skimmer.
Method 3 of 4: Microwave Cooked Apples
Step 1. Remove the tops of two apples and then core them using a spoon or fruit scoop
Try to make a hole 2.5 cm wide and leave an intact layer 1.5 cm thick at the bottom of the apples.
Step 2. Mix the sugar with the cinnamon and nutmeg in a bowl
This way you can be sure that all the fruit will be flavored with the same amount of each spice.
Step 3. Transfer the mixture into the apples using a spoon
Each apple should be flavored with a spoonful of the mixture; if necessary, gently tap the sugar into the hole you made.
Step 4. Add a cube of butter on top of the sugar
As the apples cook, the butter melts and mixes with the sugar to create a sweet sauce.
Step 5. Transfer the fruit to a microwave safe dish and cover it with cling film
Use a tall-sided container, such as a ceramic dish or saucepan. in this way, the juices will not overflow in the microwave.
Step 6. Cook the apples for 3-4 minutes
Remember that each appliance is slightly different, the fruit could therefore be ready even sooner; if the microwave at your disposal is not very powerful, the cooking times may increase. Apples are ready when they are soft.
Step 7. Wait for them to rest for a few minutes before removing the cling film and serving
A lot of steam has formed during cooking, so be careful not to lean over the dish as you uncover it; you should also wait for the fruit to cool down a bit before eating it, as it is very hot.
Method 4 of 4: Stew the Apples
Step 1. Prepare the fruits
Peel them and cut them into four parts; afterwards, remove the core and cut the apples into cubes.
Step 2. Put all the ingredients in a large pot and boil them over high heat
Place the pot on the stove, add the fruit, apple juice, sugar, salt and cinnamon. Stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves and then turn the heat to high, waiting for the contents of the pot to start boiling.
If you prefer a less sweet mixture, you can replace the apple juice with water; remember to always mix the ingredients
Step 3. Simmer the apples over medium heat, putting the lid on the pan, until soft
This may take 25 to 45 minutes, depending on the thickness of the cubes. Stir the mixture occasionally to ensure even cooking.
Step 4. Let the apples sit in the pot for 5-10 minutes before serving
By doing so, you allow all the flavors to blend and the mixture cools down a bit to be enjoyed comfortably.
Step 5. Finished
Advice
- It is always possible to cook apples plain using the methods described without using flavorings and seasonings, such as sugar, butter or cinnamon. However, keep in mind that they are not that flavorful; if the recipe calls for adding water, use it to avoid burning the fruit.
- Keep the apples in a cool place, preferably in the refrigerator, away from foods with an intense flavor; with this procedure the fruits last for 4-6 weeks.
- Serve baked or microwaved apples with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to make them a real treat!
- Use the apples immediately after slicing them to prevent them from turning dark. You can sprinkle them with lemon juice to prevent the oxidation process.
- Pour a mixture of one part lemon juice and three parts water over the fruit slices to keep them from turning brown. Use them within two hours of submerging them in the liquid, or place them in the refrigerator if you want to cook them later.
- If you want to make an apple puree, choose Gala, Granny Smith or Golden Delicious.
- The Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Rome beauty varieties are perfect for baking.
