Apple pies are a perfect and simple dessert. There are many filling options that can be prepared quickly. And with the help of spices, you can emphasize the unique taste of apples.
Simple apple filling
The easiest option is to take a few large apples, peel them, remove the middle and chop finely. Basically, you just add a little sugar (this depends on how sweet the apples are) and the filling is done. This option is suitable for quick pies and pies. Such a filling gives off a wonderful aromatic juice in large quantities, so you need to pack the pies as tightly as possible. Three large apples are enough for ten small pies.
You can use honey instead of sugar. Honey should be young and taste simple enough so as not to pull the blanket over itself. It will take less than sugar.
Not a single apple …
To soften the too harsh taste of apples, to reveal their aroma and preserve their color, you can fry them (having previously peeled and finely chopped) in a small amount of butter. It is very important to use a large skillet so that the apples do not sit too tightly on the bottom.
The butter (about fifty grams for three large apples) must be melted in a frying pan, when it warms up well, add the apples there, stirring well, hold on the fire for a couple of minutes, then add granulated sugar (the amount depends on the natural sweetness of the apples) and keep on the fire for another A couple of minutes.
During this time, it is important to stir the mass, but do not press on it, as this will turn the apples into a puree. It is good to add a little cinnamon to this mixture. It is best to use a cinnamon stick, adding it to the apples at the beginning of the caramelization and then removing it. This will add a subtle flavor to your apples. If you do not have a cinnamon stick, but you have the powder of this spice available, add it near the end, but do not overdo it, as cinnamon can clog other smells and tastes.
Apples can be substituted with other fruits such as pears. This heat treatment works well even with peaches or apricots. True, the latter need a little less time to acquire the desired consistency.
A very interesting filling option is a caramelized mixture of apples and dates. For two-thirds of the apples, you need to take a third of the dates. The apples are finely chopped, as in the previous versions, and the dates are pitted and carefully chopped. Then dates are added to melted butter (fifty grams for three large apples) in a frying pan, and after a few minutes - apples.
Due to the sweetness of dates, in this version of the filling, you can get by with a minimum amount of granulated sugar. It is very important to keep the dates over the fire enough to make them soft. You can add a little nutmeg and cloves to such a filling. Apples and dates make an excellent and rather unusual filling for a pie or pies.
