Two Quick and Easy Apple Recipes

Two Quick and Easy Apple Recipes

It’s been quite the week. Over the weekend I co-hosted a 24-hour playwriting contest for the playwright development centre I’m involved with. While my co-host and I ensured the entrants never ran out of coffee or junk food, a dozen writers pounded out scripts on laptops in the Rotunda of Kitchener City Hall — under the watchful eye of a gigantic inflated dung beetle. Really.

You just can’t make this stuff up.

Sleep-deprived, I worked on the soon-to-launch WordPress site and inadvertently imported two years’ worth of posts from a totally unrelated blog. In case you were wondering. Yes, it does take a long time to find and delete 200 entries.

But after it was all done, I took solace in one of my favourite comfort foods. Apples.

And today, I’m thrilled to be talking about this versatile fruit on CTV in Kitchener. If you live between Owen Sound and Windsor, I’m on at noon. And yes, I’m taller in person.

I’ll be covering a couple of quick and delicious recipes. First up is the classic and oh-so-simple baked apple. Notice how it wears its cinnamon stick at a jaunty angle.

Baked-Apple.jpg

And then I move onto the elegant but easy single-serving apple crisp. Or is it crumble? Or Betty?

Apple-Crisp-Creme-Fraiche.jpg

No matter what you call it, it’s tasty. Especially when topped with a dollop of creme fraiche and a swirl of maple syrup.

I’m told I’ll have six minutes, so in case I run out of time, here are the recipes I plan to cover.

Apple season’s just begun. If peaches and tomatoes are anything to go on, you know I can be obsessive. So tell me. How do you like your apples?

Simple Baked Apples

Printable recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 baking apple per person (Cortland, Northern Spy, Ida Red)
  • cinnamon sticks
  • maple syrup (optional)
  • dot of butter (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Wash and core the apples.
  3. Place in a baking dish so they aren’t touching.
  4. Put a sliver of cinnamon in the hole. If you like, add a dot of butter or 1 tbsp maple syrup.
  5. Bake until soft, about 25 to 40 minutes depending on the size of the apple.

Individual Apple Crumbles

Printable recipe

Ingredients

Crumble Topping

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup large flake oats (or rolled oats, not instant or minute)
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup butter, cold, in chunks

Filling

  • 1 apple per person (Cortland, Northern Spy, Ida Red)
  • cinnamon
  • nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Sift the dry topping ingredients together.
  2. Cut in cold butter until it resembles small peas.
  3. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  4. Wash, peel, core and chop the apples.
  5. Toss apple pieces with a sprinkling of cinnamon and nutmeg, if desired.
  6. Fill each single-serving, oven-proof dish with 1 apple’s worth of pieces.
  7. Sprinkle crumble over the apples. (Any leftover crumble topping can be frozen until next time).
  8. Bake 30 minutes or until crumbs are golden brown and the apples are bubbling.
  9. Serve warm.

No Comments
  • Christine
    Posted at 08:41h, 01 October

    Mmmm, these look delish, Charmian — good luck on TV today. Perhaps there will be an online link to share too?!

  • Anja
    Posted at 09:32h, 01 October

    These look fabulous! I must try the recipe this weekend! Congratulations on your television appearance!

  • Divawrites
    Posted at 09:43h, 01 October

    I cut, peel and core my apples and then I bake them with the brown sugar and cinnamon. hmm, might just have to make some today. It's certainly THAT kind of weather.

  • Sophie
    Posted at 11:25h, 01 October

    I so love the 2 recipes!! Happy times for me because it is apple season!!

    MMMMMMMMM,…just lovely!

  • Cheryl
    Posted at 12:11h, 01 October

    You'll be a star today. Can't wait to see a clip.

    One of my favorite breakfasts is raisin toast with a slathering of peanut butter and a thick slice of green apple. The apple isn't cooked, but the combination hits the spot every time.

  • The Diva on a Diet
    Posted at 16:20h, 01 October

    Yes, I did notice how that baked apple is wearing its cinnamon stick at a jaunty angle. Charming!

    I like my apples anyway I can get them … raw with some sharp cheddar, mixed into my steel cut oats with some crisp pecans and a dusting of cinnamon in the morning, reduced to a luscious homemade applesauce, and especially baked into a crisp, crumble, betty or whatever you want to call it. Just don't call me late for dessert!

    So wish I could have seen you on the telly today. I hope you'll post a clip.

  • The Diva on a Diet
    Posted at 16:20h, 01 October

    Yes, I did notice how that baked apple is wearing its cinnamon stick at a jaunty angle. Charming!

    I like my apples anyway I can get them … raw with some sharp cheddar, mixed into my steel cut oats with some crisp pecans and a dusting of cinnamon in the morning, reduced to a luscious homemade applesauce, and especially baked into a crisp, crumble, betty or whatever you want to call it. Just don't call me late for dessert!

    So wish I could have seen you on the telly today. I hope you'll post a clip.

  • Anonymous
    Posted at 19:02h, 01 October

    Way to go Dear Sister Mine!
    Hope the TV spot went well. If I had know I would have taped it!!
    Personally I leave the skins on when I make apple crisp. A, it gives more fiber/nutrients and B, I'm just too lazy to peel.
    Love,
    Robin

  • Puglette
    Posted at 20:52h, 01 October

    yum! i love baked apples! last year i stuffed dried cranberries and brown sugar into the hole. i topped them off with the pat of butter. delicious! i will have to try the maple syrup. and i can't wait to try the crumble!
    thanks for the recipes!
    :o)
    puglette

  • Anonymous
    Posted at 20:54h, 01 October

    just took apple /oatmeal cookies out of the oven…warm, chewy good!we love honey crisp apples -sliced with a piece of old cheddar cheese…$25.00 1/2 bushel..at market but I scoured around and found sconds-a few marks on the skin but still yummy for $10.00 1/2 bushel…we've been eaing 3 or 4 a day each!then there is apple butter, apple crisp…….so many recipes so little time..

  • Divawrites
    Posted at 21:18h, 01 October

    I made baked apples for dinner tonight with crock pot hamburger soup and even my picky 4 year old ate every bite of the "candy apples" Sometimes, it's all in the branding…and the dollop of whip cream didn't hurt, even if it did come from a can. (I know, Charmian, I know, forgive my transgression from fresh…it's all I had)

  • Christie's Corner
    Posted at 21:35h, 01 October

    Thanks, Christine! And I'm working on the video.

    Anja, thanks and let me know how you like the recipes.

    Divawrites, yes, this is baked apple weather. Brrr.

    Sophie, I love apple season too. The only complaint is winter soon follows.

    Cheryl, you have the most interesting breakfasts. You just might convince me to try eating early one day.

    Diva, you have great apple ideas. I'm now craving apple cheddar soup. And if the video comes my way, I'll post it! Promise.

    Robin, Mom taped it since we don't get the channel. And I like how you mask laziness with nutritional mumbo-jumbo. Well played.

    Puglette, your cranberry variation sounds wonderful. I might try that next time. And trust me, with this cold front moving in, there will be a next time very soon.

    Divawrite (part 2), thanks for the follow up. I'm so thrilled your child ate the apples that I waive the nagging about the tinned cream. Kudos to you for "branding" this so well!

  • Kathy - Panini Happy
    Posted at 00:22h, 03 October

    I definitely plan to bake some apples soon – I used to love them growing up. So tasty, not to mention the wonderful aromas from the oven!

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 08:10h, 03 October

    Kathy, the smell just about drives me nuts. It was so hard not eating that apple before the photo shoot. And the crisp? I made 3 and ate 2 — oink oink.

  • chocolate shavings
    Posted at 09:34h, 03 October

    I’ve been making a bunch of apple recipes on my blog all week (that’s what happens when you go apple picking!). Your recipes sounds great!

  • Cheryl Arkison
    Posted at 09:57h, 03 October

    Ooh, TV. Maybe we can host a show together when Food Network comes calling! Okay, you can have the spotlight…
    Yum!

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 12:52h, 03 October

    I went apple picking last year for the first time in at least a decade. Loved it. Are you doing any chocolate dishes with your apples?

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 12:53h, 03 October

    Now that would be fun. Better start working on our catch phrases.