Despite the fact that the recipe for caramelized apples belongs to haute European cuisine, it is used not only by restaurant chefs, but also by housewives in home cooking. This sweet product can be either an independent dessert or a component of a complex dish. There are several variations of its preparation. You can also caramelize a whole apple or fruit slices.
Features of apple caramelization
In addition to the apples themselves, sugar and butter are essential ingredients for caramelization, sometimes sugar can be replaced with honey. Additionally, recipes can use various spices, such as cinnamon and vanillin. Apples for dessert should be selected with a slight sourness.
The proportions of the inclusion of different ingredients depend solely on the method of making caramel and baking the apples. If you need to completely pour the fruit with caramel sauce, you need to take more ingredients. If you need to lightly fry the slices, then less.
The caramelization process itself should be carried out in a bowl with a thick bottom, for example, in a saucepan or in a cast iron pan. Since it is in this case that the effect of simmering products at high heat can be achieved, which means there will be a larger amount of caramel sauce.
How to caramelize apples in a slow cooker
You will need:
- apples - 0.5 kg;
- butter - 50 g;
- granulated sugar - 50 g.
Step by step cooking process
Put butter on the bottom of the multicooker bowl, turn on the Baking program and melt it. Then add sugar to the bowl and wait until it dissolves until smooth.
Prepare the apples, rinse, core and cut into the slices you want. Pour the apple slices into the resulting caramel in a slow cooker and cook until softened and golden brown.
You can serve such caramelized apple slices not only as an ingredient in a cake or pie, but also as a full-fledged dessert for tea.
Caramelized cinnamon apples: a classic recipe
You will need:
- apples - 0.5 kg;
- sugar - 2 tbsp. spoons;
- cinnamon - 1 tsp;
- apple juice - 125 ml;
- ground nutmeg - 1/2 tsp;
- butter for frying.
Cooking process step by step
Prepare apples, rinse, cut into the required slices. Place a skillet over medium heat and add a small amount of butter. After the pan is well heated, gently place the apple slices in the butter.
Stir the fruit slices until the butter stops boiling. Stir with a wooden spoon or spatula only. Then add sugar, cinnamon and grated nutmeg to the pan, mix everything gently again.
Continue simmering the apples, stirring occasionally, until the wedges are slightly softer and appear brownish. This usually takes 10 minutes.
Then place all the wedges in a separate cup so that as little butter and sugar as possible gets into it. Add more apple juice to the pan and turn the heat up. Stir vigorously for another 3 minutes and you will end up with a fragrant sauce.
If you wish, you can replace the apple juice with a few tablespoons of apple brandy. This will add spice to the dessert and will really please the adults.
Caramelizing a whole apple: recipe from the chef
The whole caramelized fruit makes a great dessert in and of itself. But for this you will have to use small apples of a slightly sour variety, for example, ranetki.
You will need:
- apples - 0.5 kg;
- butter - 100 g;
- sugar - 200 g
Cooking process in stages
Place a deep saucepan over low heat. Melt the butter and sugar in it until you get caramel. Rinse the apples and remove the stalks. Place the fruit in a saucepan so that the sauce is completely covered. Cook the caramelized apples for 30 minutes.
Then place the apples nicely on a serving platter and serve. Sprinkle the cinnamon or icing sugar on top of the dish before serving.
How to make a baked caramel apple
You will need:
- apples - 5 pcs;
- butter - 50 g;
- apple juice - 200 ml;
- water - 180 ml;
- sugar - 250 g;
- milk - 125 ml;
- vanillin - 1/2 teaspoon.
Step-by-step cooking process
Prepare a special caramel sauce first. To do this, combine the sugar and water in a separate bowl and pour everything into the skillet. Cook the mixture over medium heat for 15 minutes without stirring. After this time, set the skillet aside from the heat.
Now add butter to the caramel and stir thoroughly until smooth. Then put the pan on the fire again, but now make it very small, add milk to the mixture. Wait until the sauce is thick and add vanillin to finish.
Now start preparing the apples. To do this, cut them lengthwise into 5 pieces. But they should be laid out on a baking sheet already assembled. Top each individual apple with pre-mixed juice and softened butter. Bake the dish for 45 minutes. Pour the caramel sauce over the apples before serving and serve as a separate dish.
How to caramelize dried apples at home
You will need:
- dried apples - 0.5 kg;
- butter - 50 grams;
- granulated sugar - 5 tbsp. spoons;
- cinnamon - 1/2 teaspoon.
Step-by-step cooking process
First, put the oven to warm up to a temperature of 180 ° C.
Before placing dry apples on a baking sheet, they must be prepared. Soak the dried product in water for 10 minutes. Grease a baking sheet with butter.
Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a separate bowl and sprinkle on the apples. Then grate the butter on a coarse grater, and sprinkle everything with it on top. Place the baking sheet in the oven.
After half an hour, the caramelized dried apples will be ready, you will see this after the golden brown crust appears on the slices. The apples turn out to be very interesting, like candy, crispy and aromatic.
Caramelized apples with honey
This quick and easy recipe for a light dessert can be used as a pancake filling or simply as a tea treat.
You will need:
- apple varieties "Simirenko" or "Granny Smith" - 500 g;
- ghee - 40 g;
- light honey - 40 g;
Cooking process
Rinse the fruit, cut it into 4 pieces and remove the core from the apples. Chop them into 5 mm wedges. Melt the butter in a wide skillet. Fry the apples over high heat for 2-3 minutes on each side until soft and light golden brown. Add honey to the pan, stir the apples, keep on fire for 30 seconds and remove. Serve ready-made fruit dessert for tea.
