Caramelized apples are delicious and very easy to prepare, perfect for those moments when you are in the mood for sweet. The recipes to try are practically endless, as they go perfectly with countless types of snacks, desserts and other types of dishes.
Ingrediants
All recipes:
4 apples
Simple recipe:
- Sugar (muscovado or granulated)
- Butter or margarine
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Prepare the Apples
Step 1. Use a variety of crunchy apples
Make sure you select a type of apple with a sturdy texture so that it stays intact throughout the process. Use strains like Braeburn, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, or Pink Lady. Instead, avoid softer varieties, which may turn to mush during cooking.
Step 2. Peel the apples and cut them into 4 parts
Remove the core. Then, cut the 4 portions into slices about 1.5 cm thick. The slices can in turn be cut into cubes.
If you prefer even thinner slices, cut them so that they are about 6 mm thick. In any case, they should have a thickness that can be worked without risking breaking
Step 3. Prevent apples from oxidizing by making sure you don't expose them to air
If you know there will be some time between preparation and cooking, soak them for 5-10 minutes in a bowl containing 250ml cold water and lemon. To make the solution, mix ½ cup of lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of boiling water. Add cold water until you get a 250ml solution.
Step 4. If you have left the apples to soak or are overly juicy, gently pat them with a napkin to absorb excess water
Upon contact with the boiling butter, the liquid will splash. To avoid the risk of burns, dry the apples as much as possible.
Step 5. Thicken the apples
If you want apples to come with a full-bodied syrup, use cornstarch to thicken them. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of water making it dissolve well. Pour the mixture over the caramelized apples, stir and reduce the heat to low. Cook them over low heat, letting the syrup thicken.
Method 2 of 4: Few Ingredients Recipe
Step 1. Melt the butter
Pour 4 tablespoons of butter into a large skillet. Adjust the flame to medium-high heat. Let the butter melt and wait for it to start bubbling.
Step 2. Once the butter starts bubbling, place the apples in the pan and let them brown for 5 minutes
Turn them often to make them brown evenly.
Step 3. Add the sugar
Brown the apples, add 4 tablespoons of sugar. Mix it with the butter and juice. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the apples from the pan.
Method 3 of 4: Try Other Recipes
Step 1. Thicken apples with whipped cream to make a creamier sauce
- Pour 4 tablespoons of butter into a large skillet and let it melt over medium heat.
- Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and let it dissolve. Repeat the process with another 2 teaspoons of sugar.
- Place the apples in the pan and cook them for about 10 minutes or until they are soft and golden.
- Add 6 tablespoons of whipped cream and stir. Repeat the process with another 3 teaspoons of whipped cream.
- Lower the heat and let it simmer for a couple of minutes, so that the cream thickens.
- Remove the apples from the pan and serve them.
Step 2. Use apple cider vinegar, maple syrup and cinnamon to make a sweet with autumn notes
If necessary, maple syrup can be replaced with equal amounts of sugar and apple cider vinegar can be replaced with equal doses of apple juice.
- Grease a large skillet with 2 tablespoons of canola oil and set the heat to medium.
- Once the oil has been heated, place the apples in the pan and sauté them for 2 to 3 minutes or until they have begun to soften.
- Add 3 tablespoons of maple syrup and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon. Stir for another 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add 1 cup of apple cider and continue stirring as the liquid comes to a boil and reduces, turning into a syrup.
Step 3. Add honey and lemon juice to liven up the syrup
- Heat 4 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
- Add 6 tablespoons of sugar as the butter melts. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Once the mixture starts bubbling, place the apples in the pan, add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and stir.
- Raise the heat to medium heat and brown the apples for about 10 minutes, stirring and turning them constantly to brown them evenly on both sides.
- After 10 minutes, add 6 tablespoons of honey and sauté for another 5 minutes, so that the liquid reduces and turns into a syrup.
Step 4. To make a delicious but healthy snack, replace the butter with coconut oil and sugar with honey
- Heat 4 tablespoons of coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Once the oil has been heated, place the apples in the pan. Let them brown and soften.
- In a measuring cup, mix 4 teaspoons of honey and 4 teaspoons of water.
- Pour the mixture over the apples and stir.
- Continue to brown them until the liquid has reduced and has begun to evaporate.
Method 4 of 4: Serve the Apples
Step 1. Make a peanut butter and caramelized apple sandwich
Spread your favorite peanut butter on the bread, then add the caramelized apples in place of the jam. A caramelized apple yields 2 sandwiches.
Step 2. Garnish oatmeal
In a saucepan, mix ½ cup of rolled oats, ½ cup of water, ½ cup of milk and a pinch of salt. Turn the heat to medium and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn down the heat and let it simmer. Let the soup rest on the stove for 7 minutes before serving. Garnish with a caramelized apple and serve.
Step 3. Serve the caramelized apples with the pancakes
A caramelized apple can be used to garnish 4 pancakes. To make them even tastier, caramelize the apples with a recipe that involves using maple syrup. Another tasty idea: add apple pieces to the pancake batter. Here's how to prepare it:
- Combine the dry ingredients - 1 ½ cup flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 60 g of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon - in a large bowl.
- In a second bowl, mix the wet ingredients, i.e. 1 ½ cup of milk, 2 tablespoons of melted butter, 2 tablespoons of cooked apple puree and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Add an egg to the wet ingredients and beat them. Pour them over the dry ones, beating the batter until smooth and homogeneous.
- Break up an apple and mix it with the batter.
Step 4. Use the caramelized apples to garnish the ice cream
Add them while they are hot. If you love ice cream garnished with a cherry, add ½ cup of dried cherries to the 4 apples just as you caramelize them. For an even creamier topping, follow a recipe that uses whipped cream to caramelize them.
