Spiced Apple Recipes

SPICED APPLE RINGS

Steps:

• Wash apples. Peel and slice one apple at a time. Immediately cut crosswise into 1/2" slices, remove core area with a melon baller and immerse in ascorbic acid solution to keep the apples from discoloring.
• In a 6 quart saucepan, combine sugar, water, vinegar, cloves, cinnamon candies, or cinnamon sticks and food coloring (if using).
• Heat to a boil, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves then lower heat and simmer 3 minutes.
• Drain apples and add to hot syrup, and cook for 5 minutes.
• Fill prepared jars with apple rings and hot flavored syrup, leaving a 1/2" headspace.
• Check for air bubbles and add more liquid if needed to maintain the 1/2" headspace.
• Process pint or quart size jars in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes .
• Adjust time according to your altitude.
• NOTE: This can also be pressure canned. Pressure Canner - Hot pack pints or quarts and process for 8 minutes at the pressure specified according to your altitude and / or style of canner.

SPICED APPLE PIE

Steps:

• For the filling: Cut the apples into 1/4-inch slices and place them in a large bowl. Toss with the lemon juice to keep them from browning. Add the brown sugar, cornstarch, Warm Spice Blend, kosher salt and cinnamon and toss to combine. Mix in the boiled cider syrup and vanilla. Cover the mixture and let it sit at room temperature while you make the pie dough.
• For the pie dough: Add the flour, granulated sugar and kosher salt to a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse to incorporate so that about three-quarters of the mixture is mealy and the rest has some slightly larger, pea-sized bits of butter. Combine the ice water and cider vinegar in a measuring cup. Drizzle the water and vinegar into the food processor and continue to pulse just until the mixture comes together to form a dough. If it seems dry or is having a hard time coming together, add a bit more water, a few drops at a time, until it comes together.
• Turn the dough out onto a clean surface and use your hands to press on any stray crumbs. Divide the dough in half, then divide one of the halves in half again so that you have 3 pieces of dough. Pat each piece into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until ready to roll out for the pie.
• For the assembly: Flour a work surface and roll out the largest disc of dough into a circle just larger than 12 inches. Place it in a 9-inch pie plate and refrigerate. Roll out the 2 remaining dough discs to about 10 inches each. Cut the dough into 2-inch-wide strips for making a lattice top. Set the strips aside.
• Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven (with a pizza stone if you have one) and preheat to 400 degrees F.
• Fill the pie crust with the apples (it will seem like a lot but they bake down!) and pour the juices over it. Distribute the butter over the top. Weave the dough strips together over and under to form a lattice crust over the top. Pinch the edges to seal, trim, fold the edges over and crimp. Give the edges a little hug to make sure they are sitting snugly on the rim of the pie plate; otherwise they could fall off in the oven. Freeze the pie for 15 minutes.
• Brush the lattice with the egg wash, then sprinkle with the turbinado sugar and flaky salt. Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake until the internal temperature reaches 195 degrees F, 45 to 55 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Serve the pie with large dollops of whipped cream.
• Layer the cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg in a medium glass jar and tighten the lid. Shake to combine. Keep on hand to add to your favorite desserts and beverages -- or just toast with butter!

CINNAMON SPICED APPLES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the first 5 ingredients. Place apples in a greased 5-qt. slow cooker; add sugar mixture and toss to coat. Top with butter. Cook, covered, on low 3-4 hours or until apples are tender, stirring halfway through cooking.

OLD FASHIONED SPICED CRAB APPLES

Steps:

• Wash the apples well, and leave the stems intact.
• Gently prick the apples all over with a fork or the tip of a small sharp knife. This is so that they don't burst as they cook.
• Combine the vinegar, water, and sugar in a pot.
• Roll over the cardamom pods with a rolling pin or the side of a wine bottle to gently crack them open. Don't lose any of the black seeds. Add the cardamom (seeds and pods) and cloves to the pan and bring to a boil
• Turn down the heat and add the apples to the pot. Simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of your apples. Use your judgement, you don't want the apples to get soft and mushy.
• Carefully remove the apples from the hot liquid and pack them into your jar or jars.
• Strain the pickling liquid and then pour into the jars, completely immersing the fruit. Let cool and then cap and refrigerate.
• The apples can be canned, as well, for longer storage.
• Makes 1 quart

SPICED APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• For the apples: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch glass baking pan.
• Mix together the apples, granulated sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• For the cake: Combine the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Using a hand-held mixer, beat on medium high until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time until fully combined, then add the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and buttermilk. Beat on low speed until a few streaks remain, then fold together with a rubber spatula until fully combined. (Do not overmix.)
• Sprinkle the bottom of the pan with half of the apple mixture. Spread the batter over the top of the apples. Top the batter with the remaining apples, making decorative rows across the cake. Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Allow the cake to cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar and serving.

SPICED APPLE RINGS- GRANDMA'S

Steps:

• 1. In 12 inch skillet heat all ingredients except apples to boiling. Reduce heat, cover, and let simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors. Red food coloring is optional, but makes these very pretty.
• 2. Meanwhile, core apples (but leave peel on) and slice into 1/4 inch thick rings. Cook half of rings at a time in liquid. Simmer until tender but FIRM, about 3-5 minutes. Dip out first half of apples rings and cook second half in same liquid.
• 3. Discard lemon slices. Place all apple rings in a serving bowl and pour liquid over all. Cover and refrigerate for up to one week. Serve cold as a side dish or appetizer. Great with poultry or pork. Can also be used as a topping for ice cream.
• 4. TO USE AS A GIFT: Arrange apple slices in a half-pint jar. Pour liquid over apples and place a lid on jar. Give with a card indicating that apples must be refrigerated and should be used within one week.

SPICED APPLE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Set pan aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, add butter, sugar, eggs and oil and beat, using a hand mixer, until smooth. Lightly beat in diced apples.
• In a separate mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients (flour, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt) and stir.
• Add the flour mixture to the bowl with the "wet" ingredients and use a rubber spatula to stir together. Stir until just combined and no flour streaks remain.
• Transfer batter to prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
• Let bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then turn bread out onto a wire cooling rack to finish cooling.
• Slice once cool, and serve.

SPICED APPLES

Steps:

• Peel, core, and slice apples.
• Place all ingredients in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 15 minutes, stirring each 5 minutes.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let cool or serve warm.