Caramelized apples - a recipe for haute European cuisine, which is used not only by professional chefs, but also by ordinary housewives.
There are many variations in the preparation of this dessert. We will consider the most common options further with mandatory step-by-step instructions.
What to choose: whole apple or slices
Anything can be caramelized: both a whole apple and fruit wedges. It all depends solely on the recipe you decide to follow.
If necessary, caramelize the slices, prepare the apple. To do this, the peel of the fruit is carefully cut off, the middle is cut out and it is cut into even, identical pieces.
Thickness is not important here. Although very thin slices can turn into porridge. It is important not to overdo it here.
If you cook a whole apple, it is recommended to choose a medium or small fruit. Do not use a grated or chopped product in a blender.
If desired you can caramelize the slices... Moreover, in this case, it is better to select varieties with a slight sourness. Although you can use whatever you have in stock.
Required ingredients
The essential ingredients for caramelization are apples themselves, butter and sugar... Plus, you can use various spices, for example, cinnamon and vanillin.
The proportions of using one or another component depend solely on the method of making caramel and baking apples.
If you need to completely fill them with caramel sauce, you will need more ingredients. If you just need to fry the pieces, then less.
Talk about what the proportions described must be strictly observed, you can't. Everything is considered approximately. And if it's half a kilo of apples, then you can just prepare a few medium-sized fruits.
Let it be 400 g. Do not take everything literally.
Methods and recipes
There are many ways how to caramelize apples. It all depends on your taste preferences and possibilities. In principle, all recipes are not much different, and the ingredients are the same.
The most common options for creating this dessert will be discussed in more detail below.
It is recommended to caramelize in a bowl with a thick bottom., for example, in a cast iron skillet.
Since it is in this case that you can achieve the effect of simmering at high heat. This means more caramel sauce.
Caramelized apple wedges, simple recipe:
How to caramelize fruit in a slow cooker
To greatly simplify the caramelization process, you can use modern kitchen technologies - multicar.
Moreover, you can consider caramelizing not only pieces, but also the whole fruit. We will consider cooking caramel slices.
Ingredients:
- apples - 0.5 kg;
- butter - 50 g;
- sugar - 50 g
Step-by-step instructions for caramelizing apples in a slow cooker:
- Butter is spread on the surface of the bottom of the multicooker bowl. It must be melted in the "baking" mode.
- Then you need to add sugar and wait until it melts until a homogeneous mass is obtained.
- Apple slices are poured into the resulting caramel, which are prepared until they soften and a golden crust appears.
Such apple slices can be served not only as an ingredient in a pie or cake, but also as a complete dessert. After all, to taste, it is an unsurpassed delicacy that can be prepared at home as easy as shelling pears.
How to caramelize apple wedges
This process will not take you long., but there will be a lot of impressions. Because such a dessert is not only tasty, but also healthy.
Ingredients:
- sliced apples - 0.5 kg;
- sugar - 2 tbsp. spoons;
- apple juice - 125 ml;
- cinnamon - 1 teaspoon;
- nutmeg - half a teaspoon;
- butter - how much is required for frying.
Step-by-step instructions on how to caramelize apples into slices:
- Place a skillet over medium heat and add a small amount of butter.
- Arrange the apple wedges gently after the pan is well heated.
- Stir the pieces with a wooden spoon only until the butter stops boiling.
- Add sugar, cinnamon and pre-grated nutmeg to the pan and stir gently. This should be done until the slices are slightly softer and a brownish tint appears. This will happen approximately in ten minutes.
- Then put all the slices in a separate bowl so that as little butter and sugar as possible gets there.
- And in the pan itself, add more apple juice and make the fire stronger. Three minutes after actively stirring the mixture, you will get a fragrant sauce.
If you want, you can replace apple juice with a few tablespoons of apple brandy... This will add spice to the dessert. And adults will love it.
Caramelizing whole fruit
You can caramelize apples not only with slices, because whole fruit will be a great dessert.
But for this it is worth using small and slightly sour varieties of apples, for example, ranetki.
Ingredients:
- apples - 0.5 kg;
- butter - 100 g;
- sugar - 200 g
Step-by-step instructions for caramelizing a whole apple:
- Place a deep saucepan on the stove over low heat.
- Melt 200 g sugar until caramel is obtained.
- Place the apples in a saucepan so that the sauce covers them completely. It takes half an hour to cook fruit.
- After that, the apples are laid out beautifully on a plate and served on the table. Moreover, the tail of the fruit does not have to be torn off. Even in some restaurants it is reserved for the dessert aesthetic.
Already before serving the dish, you can sprinkle with cinnamon or powdered sugar... Everything is at your discretion.
Caramel Apples Recipe:
Baked apple in caramel
With this recipe you can get baked apples in caramel.
Ingredients:
- apples - 5 pcs;
- apple juice - 200 ml;
- butter - 50 g;
- sugar - 250 g;
- water - 180 ml;
- milk - 125 ml;
- vanillin - half a teaspoon.
Step-by-step instructions for making caramelized baked apples:
- First you need to prepare a special caramel sauce:
- mix water and sugar in a separate bowl and pour everything into a frying pan;
- the resulting mixture over medium heat is recommended to cook for 15 minutes. You don't need to disturb anything. After this time, the pan should be set aside;
- and only then you can add butter, and stir everything thoroughly until a homogeneous mass is obtained;
- put the mixture on the fire again, but now on very slow, and add milk. And it is worth waiting for a while until the consistency of the sauce becomes thick;
- Finally, add vanillin to the sauce.
- Now you can start preparing the apples. To do this, it is recommended to cut them lengthwise into five parts. But they should be already assembled on a baking sheet.
- On top, each individual apple is poured with pre-mixed juice and softened butter.
- It is recommended to bake the dish for 45 minutes.
- Before serving, the apples are poured with caramel sauce and served.
Caramelized Dried Fruit
Apples can be caramelized in any form, even dried ones. And how to do this, we will talk further.
Ingredients:
- dried apples - 0.5 kg;
- butter - 0.05 kg;
- sugar - 5 tbsp. spoons;
- cinnamon - half a teaspoon.
Step-by-step instructions for caramelizing dried apples:
- First you need to preheat the oven to a temperature of 180 degrees.
- Before putting apples on a baking sheet, it is recommended to prepare them. This is if they are dry. Such a product is soaked in water for ten minutes. Whereas a properly dried fruit does not need additional processing.
- The baking sheet is greased with butter.
- Sugar and cinnamon are mixed in a separate bowl. It is recommended to sprinkle with this mixture apples.
- Then he rubs butter on a coarse grater, which is sprinkled on top of everything.
- After half an hour, the dish is ready, which will become visible after the appearance of a golden brown crust on the slices.
You'll get amazing apple slices like lollipops... So crispy and flavorful.
The recipe for caramelizing wedges is also suitable for dried fruit. Therefore, the choice is entirely yours, which of the options is closer to your taste.
A few simple manipulations and you have a real work of art on your table - delicious caramelized apples.
And for this you do not need to suffer for a long time in the kitchen or buy expensive ingredients. All you need is simple use the recipes above and prepare a treat!