There’s nothing more synonymous with autumn than apples (ok, pumpkins are also very autumnal, but they deserve their own conversation).
Whether you simply grab a bag from the supermarket or have the opportunity to pick your own apples — which is an enjoyable excursion for any age — this quintessential cool weather staple is always satisfying.
Although available in stores year-round, most varieties naturally come into season in September, October, and even into early November, making now the perfect time to put those gorgeous reds, greens, and golden yellows to use by means of some classic yet always tasty recipes.
There are literally tons of wonderful recipes out there, but let’s have a look at three traditional desserts that are delightfully nostalgic and pretty quick to prepare too.
Baked Apples
Simple and delicious, this recipe reminds me of childhood and is pure comfort food. Perfect for pleasing just about anyone of any age, baked apples also happen to be a quick dessert that can be prepared in no time at all.
Ingredients:
- 4 Apples (any kind)
- 6 tablespoons of brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of nutmeg
- 6 tablespoons of pecans (or walnuts)
- 6 tablespoons of softened butter
- ½ Cup of water
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Keeping the apples whole and with the peel on, core the center of the apple with a paring knife to create a hollow pit in the center (but try to keep the bottom intact).*
- Place apples right side up in a baking dish.
- Mix Brown sugar, pecans (or walnuts), nutmeg, and cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Add butter to the mixture and combine.
- Scoop mixture evenly into the hollowed-out apples.
- Pour water into the baking dish around the base of the apples.
- Bake for approximately 45 minutes until apples are tender and golden.
- Enjoy warm with a generous scoop of vanilla or caramel ice cream.
*You may want to use a small spoon to help scoop out the apple once you’ve done the initial work with your paring knife.
Apple Crumble
Oh, how I love this recipe. It’s such a classic (and with good reason). Sure, apple pie tastes great, but it’s a heck of a lot more work, and if you ask me, Apple Crumble’s not only easier to prepare but tastes better too. In the summer, I make this recipe with peaches, but now that we’re in the cooler months of the year, apples just fit the bill better and are equally delicious — they’re also just quintessentially a fall and winter fruit in every sense.
Ingredients:
- Filling:
- 5-6 Apples
- 1 Tbsp of Lemon juice
- 6 Tbsp of brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp of cinnamon
- Topping:
- 1 Cup of old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 Cup of brown sugar
- 1 Cup of all-purpose flour
- 12 Tbsp of unsalted cold butter
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Peel, core, and slice apples and place in a large bowl.
- Add in lemon juice, 6 tablespoons of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and combine.
- Place apple mixture into a well-greased baking dish.
- In a separate bowl mix rolled oats, 1 cup of brown sugar, and flour until combined.
- Add in butter, and mix with a fork or by hand until crumbly in texture.
- Evenly spread flour & butter combination over apple mixture, and gently pat-down.
- Bake for 50 minutes until the top is golden brown.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Apple Bread Pudding
This humble recipe is one that sings to my heart. Cheap yet ridiculously delicious, you can’t really go wrong with a straight-forward bread pudding (it’s also a great way to use up bread that’s going a bit stale). But what can you do to take it to the next level? Try incorporating additional flavors such as apples — they go beautifully with the cinnamon and raisins that make bread pudding what it is.
Ingredients:
- 5 Cups of white or brown bread
- 3 Apples
- ¼ Cup of Raisins*
- 1 Cups of Brown Sugar
- ¼ Cup of butter
- 2 Cups of Milk
- 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla extract
- 1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon
- 2 Large Eggs
Sauce:
- Crème Fraîche or Custard Sauce**
*If you’re not fond of raisins, you can opt them out or replace them with chopped pecans (or let loose, and use a bit of both at the same time!).
**You can easily make your own, but I usually just buy a bottle of pre-made Crème Fraîche or a packet of custard powder, which easily allows you to make custard sauce in a snap.
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cut bread into bite-sized cubes and place in a large bowl, then set aside.
- Peel, core, and slice apples into small pieces.
- Combine apples, raisins, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl.
- Heat butter in a pan, and add the apple mixture.
- Cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour apple mixture over cubed bread and combine.
- Dump mixture of bread, and other combined ingredients into a well-greased baking dish.
- In a separate bowl, whisk milk and eggs together.
- Pour milk and egg mixture over the bread.
- Bake for approximately 45-50 minutes until the top is golden, and the pudding is set.
- Serve warm with a liberal amount of Crème Fraîche or Custard Sauce on top.
Delicious, nostalgic, and made in a pinch, these traditional apple recipes are the perfect anecdote to autumn and have been around for generations.
The warmth of cinnamon with the unique sweetness of apples is pure joy and pair perfectly with a decadent side of ice cream, custard, or whipped cream. In fact, these desserts are so good you may want to consider doubling the recipe quantities (trust me — you’ll want seconds!).
