Apple Pie

I have to confess, when I was growing up Apple pie was my least favorite pie. I remember going around telling my family members that I must not be American because I don't like apple pie or baseball {Gasp!!!}.

Nope, my favorites were are pecan pie and football.

Which now I know you're wondering what changed, if anything, because here I am making and sharing a recipe for Apple pie.

I really don't know other than I guess my tastes have changed since I was a kid. Or it could have been that one of my ex-boyfriends loved Apple pie, so I had to swallow my dislike and learn not only how to make it, but to love it too!

Oh, the things we do for love. And even though he’s no longer in the picture, I still love apple pie.

Now I used store bought pie crust because after peeling, coring, and dicing the apples, I just didn't feel like making my own pie crust.

But if you're into that sort of thing, then go right ahead and use your home made pie crust. For me, I'm taking the shortcut and focusing all my energy on the contents of this apple pie.

I think you'll surprisingly love my secret ingredient that makes this pie A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, a little splash of bourbon! Yes, bourbon, because everything's a little better around the Holidays with alcohol!

As you can see my pie vented on its own too, which is ok because it makes for more of a homemade look.

Plus the bourbon gives it a smooth appley (yes, appley as in rich apple flavoring) essence like no other!

All in all, I'm glad I finally learned how to love apple pie. As for baseball, well, why bother when I have football.

Apple Pie

An old fashioned apple pie recipe with a hint of bourbon for a smooth apple flavor.

Prep time: 30 minute
Cook time: 50 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Yield: 1 Apple pie
Ingredients

• 3 lbs. Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 Tablespoons corn starch
• 4 teaspoons bourbon
• 1 double pie crust (store bought or homemade)
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 Tablespoon white sugar

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425F degrees.
2. In a large bowl, mix together lemon juice, brown and white sugars, cinnamon, apple pie spice, nutmeg, sea salt, and 2 teaspoons of bourbon.
3. As you peel, core, and dice your apples, toss them into the bowl with sugar and spices and mix to allow the apples to start macerating.
4. After all the apples are in the bowl, mix together so apples are covered with sugar and spice mixture, and let sit at room temperature for about 1 to 3 hours.
5. You can prepare your pie dough at this time. If using store bought pie crust, remove from refrigerator and bring to room temperature. This helps it roll out easier without cracking (hopefully!).
6. After apple mix has set out, mix together and strain out 1/2 cup of their juices.
7. Add the juice and butter to a small saucepan. Cook over medium to high heat until it becomes thick and syrup-like, about 10 minutes.
8. Combine syrup, cornstarch, and remaining 2 teaspoons of bourbon with apples and mix together.
9. Pour apples into prepared pie shell. Cover with remaining pie shell. Make a few slices in top crust to help vent while baking.
10. Transfer into oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes.
11. After 20 minutes of baking, you might have to place aluminum foil around the edges so pie crust will not burn.
12. After 45 minutes, remove pie from oven and brush with warmed sugar water (recipe below).
13. Place back into oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until pie crust is lightly golden brown.
14. Remove from oven and let cool for 2 to 3 hours.
15. Best served warm and topped with vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on top.

Sugar water

Directions

1. In a small bowl add 1/4 cup water and 1 Tablespoon white sugar.
2. Place in microwave for about 40-50 seconds or until warm.
3. Mix together and brush over pie crust.
4. You will have some remaining so DO NOT brush all of it on pie crust.

Inspired by ~ Pacific Pie Company. Check out their page for alternatives to their Old Fashioned Apple Pie recipe.

 

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Halloween Apples

 

I'm so excited to be sharing today’s recipe, Halloween Apples, and just in time for Halloween! I know it doesn't sound like anything special, but think of melted candy, Halloween sprinkles, and apples.

 

It's like a cupcake, but with apples, and without the cake. So it's healthy for you, right?
 

I love these tombstone sprinkles!

I have to confess, I had so much fun making these because it's, well, so FUN to do! Or maybe I just really get into making my food!
 

Let's just say Thor was looking at me and shaking his little feline head. Really all I needed was a witch’s hat and a giant cauldron to set the scene in my kitchen the day I made these!
 

And the best part about making these (other than eating them) is you don't have to have any cooking skills. Well, okay, it wouldn't hurt to know how to operate a microwave.

But that's the extent of cooking skills needed. If you can operate a microwave oven, then you can make these Halloween Apples.

Plus you can decorate 12 apples in under 20 minutes. How's that for time management?

And they're the healthier choice for Halloween treats! Yes, I believe if I tell myself that enough times, then it’s true. They ARE healthy!

 

Halloween Apples

Recipe by Julie Murphy

Halloween inspired apples for a healthier Halloween treat!

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 2 to 3 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Yield: 3 lbs. Halloween apples
Ingredients

• 3 lbs. mini Granny Smith apples, washed well, rinsed, and dried
• 2 - 12 ounces white candy melts
• 1 packet (30 count) Bamboo lollipop sticks
• 2-3 small bottles Halloween cupcake sprinkles

Directions

1. After apples have been washed, rinsed, and dried, remove the stems.
2. Insert lollipop sticks, about 1 inch, into center of apples where stem once was. Set apples with sticks aside.
3. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Set aside.
4. Place 3 small bowls on counter where you will be decorating apples. If no shaker top is on your sprinkle bottle, pour sprinkles into separate small bowls.
5. Place 1 clean spoon near sprinkle bowls.
6. In a medium to large microwave-proof bowl, pour in 1 bag of candy melts. (I found it easier to use 1 bag of candy melts at a time when making my Halloween Apples.)
7. Place into microwave oven and microwave on High for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon every 20 to 30 seconds until all candy melts are melted. Keep in mind, candy melts will not look melted until you stir them and stirring every 20-30 seconds helps prevent burning the candy melts.
8. After candy melts are melted, its time to start dipping the apples.
9. Grabbing apples by the lollipop sticks, insert the apple into the melted candy and spin around the bowl, coating the apple with melted candy. You can use a spatula to cover the area around the stick and cover up any bare spots on the apple.
10. After apples are coated with candy melts, sprinkle with Halloween sprinkles by either sprinkling over the apple or spooning sprinkles over the apple while holding the apple over the bowl.
11. Place candy coated apples on wax paper. Repeat process with remaining apples.
12. Place into the refrigerator to help set the candy coating.
13. Serve at room temperature.

Cinnamon coated apples

I had some remaining apples so I made Cinnamon Coated Apples just for fun! I hope you love these too!

Cinnamon Coated Apples

Recipe by Julie Murphy

Cinnamon coated apples that are a deliciously sweet treat for Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 2 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
Yield: 5 cinnamon coated apples
Ingredients

• 5 mini Granny Smith apples
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup white candy melts
• 1/2 cup cinnamon chips
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 to 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

1. After apples have been washed, rinsed, and dried, remove the stems.
2. Insert lollipop sticks, about 1 inch, into center of apples where stem once was. Set apples with sticks aside.
3. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Set aside.
4. Mix sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Place on counter where you will be decorating apples.
5. Place 1 clean spoon near bowl.
6. In a medium to large microwave-proof bowl, pour in cinnamon chips and candy melts.
7. Place into microwave oven and microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon every 20 to 30 seconds until all candy is melted. Keep in mind, candy will not look melted until you stir them and stirring every 20-30 seconds helps prevent burning the candy.
8. After candy is melted, its time to start dipping the apples.
9. Grabbing apples by the lollipop sticks, insert the apple into the melted candy and spin around the bowl, coating the apple with melted candy. You can use a spatula to cover the area around the stick and cover up any bare spots on the apple.
10. After apples are coated with melted cinnamon, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar by spooning cinnamon sugar over the apple while holding the apple over the bowl.
11. Place candy coated apples on wax paper. Repeat process with remaining apples.
12. Place into the refrigerator to help set the candy coating.
13. Serve at room temperature.        

*Helpful Hints*

 

- You can use white chocolate chips mixed with vegetable or coconut oil instead of candy melts. Use 1 teaspoon of oil to 1 cup white chocolate chips.

 

All content and images are property of Sweet and Spicy Monkey. Please do not reprint this content without my permission. If you wish to include this recipe on your site, please re-write in your own words and use your own photographs and link back to this post for original recipe.

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Shared with: Savoring Saturdays

Caramel Apple Scones

While everyone else is blogging about pumpkin right now, I thought I'd slow it down a little by not jumping into October just yet. Take some time and savor September by starting with a recipe with that other fall favorite, apples.

Apples are taking a back seat to pumpkin these days. You would think pumpkin is some kind of new Star Wars memorabilia the way others are going ga-ga over it!

Sorry, but pumpkin has been around forever, like back when Christ was really walking the earth days, forever.

Of course, so was the apple, but you don't see people going ga-ga over apples anymore. At least not until you try my Caramel Apple Scones!

These scones remind me of baked apple pie with that cinnamon apple pie flavoring....Mmmm! And if that isn't enough, add in some caramel bits, drizzle caramel sauce over the top and these scones just scream Fall!

So let them eat their pumpkin, I'll get around to making something pumpkin soon. But for now, we're celebrating the upcoming Fall season with apples. And not just apples, but caramel and apples.

Step aside pumpkin....

Caramel Apple Scones

Recipe by Julie Murphy

A taste of Fall in these Caramel and apple scones.

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 10 to 20 minutes

Total time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Yield: 8 scones

Ingredients

• 1 and 3/4 cups + 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 Tablespoon apple pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 5 Tablespoons coconut oil, frozen
• 1 cup canned coconut milk, full fat
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 egg
• 1 and 1/2 cups caramel bits
• 1 baked apple (recipe below)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450F degrees.
2. Prepare cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, add all dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, apple pie spice, and cinnamon.
4. Blend together with a fork.
5. Using your mixer, with correct attachment for dough making, a pastry fork, or using your fingers, work in pieces of frozen coconut oil until dry mixture becomes crumbly.
6. Mix in coconut milk, vanilla, maple syrup, and egg.
7. Using your mixer, knead for about 5 to 10 minutes or until dough is combined.
8. Fold in baked apple (recipe below) and caramel bits. Gently blending in throughout dough.
9. Dough will be sticky. If dough is too sticky, add more flour, 1 Tablespoon at a time until you get desired mix. You don't want dough to be smooth in texture like normal bread dough, as the rough texture helps to give scones their famous scraggly looks.
10. After kneading dough, remove from bowl, and place on a flat, floured surface.
11. Work the dough with your hands for about 1 to 2 minutes.
12. Shape dough into a round shape with your hands. Lightly roll with a floured rolling pin, sprinkling more flour on dough to prevent dough from sticking to rolling pin or surface. You want dough to be at least 1/2 inch thick. The thicker your dough, the higher your scones will rise. But remember, you want your scones baked all the way through with no raw dough in the middle, so not too thick.
13. Tidy up the outside edges with your fingers, keeping in mind you want the edges somewhat rough, since that is the beauty of a scone.
14. Sprinkle flour on the edges of a large knife and cut your dough into pieces, similar to pizza slices.
15. Gently transfer each piece of dough onto your prepared cookie sheet (a pie spatula works great for this), leaving 1/2 inch between each piece of dough.
16. Place into preheated oven and bake for 10 to 20 minutes, or until tops are lightly browned.
17. Remove from oven. Gently loosen scones from parchment paper and let cool.
18. Drizzle caramel sauce over the top before serving.
19. Best served warm with butter, cream cheese, or mascarpone cheese with coffee or tea.

Baked Apple - single serving

Recipe by Julie Murphy

Baked cinnamon apples.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 60 minutes
Total time: 70 minutes
Ingredients

• 1 apple
• 1 teaspoon organic brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• dash nutmeg
• dash apple pie spice
• dash ground cinnamon
• 2 Tablespoons water
• dash pink Himalayan salt

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
2. Prepare small baking dish by spraying with a non-stick cooking spray or lightly wiping down with coconut oil. Set aside.
3. Wash apple and rinse. Remove core and seeds from apple. If you prefer skinless apples, remove the skin at this time.
4. Cut apple into small pieces. Place into small mixing bowl.
5. Combine remaining ingredients with apple pieces and mix well.
6. Pour into prepared pan. Cover with aluminum foil.
7. Bake for 1 hour at 350F degrees or until desired texture. I prefer my apples a little softer since we're adding them to the scones. You can always remove the apples from the oven earlier if you prefer a little crunchier apples.
8. Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature before adding to scone mixture.

 

All content and images are property of Sweet and Spicy Monkey. Please do not reprint this content without my permission. If you wish to include this recipe on your site, please re-write in your own words and use your own photographs and link back to this post for original recipe.

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German Apple Puff Pancake

I love pancakes and I love trying different recipes for pancakes. Recently my mom shared a recipe with me for a German apple pancake that you make in a skillet. I couldn't believe it either, a pancake you make in the oven?! I've never heard of such a thing and knew I had to try it.

This recipe is a copycat version of the German Apple Pancake from The Original Pancake House near Chicago. My mom can’t remember where she got this recipe as she collects many recipes from magazines, newspapers, and friends. But if you (the author) happens to read this, Thank you very much for sharing!

Once my mom sent me the recipe, I couldn't wait to make this "oven pancake". It's easy to make and only takes about 20 minutes to bake.

This pancake will keep tummies happy for most of the day and makes for a delicious breakfast whenever you want something different than ordinary pancakes.

I apologize for the photos as I snapped away with my iPhone as I was making it and I couldn’t wait to eat it once it was baked.

German Apple Puff Pancake

Serves 2

 Ingredients

 1 large Apple - Fuji, Braeburn, or Delicious Red apples work great

3 Tablespoons of butter, unsalted

3 Tablespoons granulated sugar

1 and ½ teaspoons cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon Apple pie spice

3 large eggs

½ cup buttermilk

½ cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon sea salt

1 - oven proof skillet, at least 8 inches wide

Directions

Preheat oven to 425F degrees.

In a small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

Slice apple into 1/4 inch thick slices. If you prefer, you can cut the peel off. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, add eggs, buttermilk, flour, and salt. Mix together until batter is smooth. Set aside.

In a oven proof skillet that's at least 8 inches wide, add butter and melt over medium heat on stove top.

After butter melts, add apple slices and sauté for about 5 minutes or until they soften and become light golden brown on both sides.

After sautéing apples, spread them evenly around bottom of skillet, turn off heat, and pour batter over apples.

Place skillet into oven and bake for about 18-20 minutes. Important not to open oven door during baking. Turn on oven light to see if it's done. The pancake should no longer appear wet on top.

Remove from oven and let sit for a couple minutes.

Use a butter knife to loosen edges of pancake. Invert over a large plate or parchment paper. Pancake should come out of skillet. If apples stick, just loosen with a spatula and place on top of pancake.

Can serve with butter and heated maple syrup with a sprinkling of chopped walnuts (as shown above), powdered sugar, lemon wedges and butter, or just eaten as is.

*Helpful hints*

- I used my 12 inch cast iron skillet to make this recipe. If you use a smaller skillet, you will get a thicker puff pancake.

- If you want to make this pancake for more than just 2 servings, check out this site, where they have the directions for baking the German Apple Puff Pancake for 4 and 6 servings. Their recipe is different, but basically you just double the ingredients for more servings.

All content and images are property of Sweet and Spicy Monkey. Please do not reprint this content without my permission. If you wish to include this recipe on your site, please re-write in your own words and use your own photographs and link back to this post for original recipe.

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Shared with: Sweet and Savoury Sundays #102, Totally Terrific Tuesday Link Party # 23, Munching Mondays #81

Oatmeal Candy Apple m&m’s Cookies

It’s time to pay homage to the apple:

Oh apple, how I love thee

 

So crisp, tart, and sweet.

 

A round jewel of red or green

 

The perfect gift for any queen.

 

Yet some may use you to disguise

 

Their wicked plots.

 

No poison can destroy your splendor

 

As you will remain the most beautiful of all.
 

By ~ me.

 I don’t know about you, but apples always remind me of the story of Snow White. That beautiful red apple the witch poisons to place Snow White into a deep sleep so she can no longer be the fairest of them all. Who can resist such a beautiful red apple? Not this girl either, Snow White!

Apples also remind me of Fall and Halloween. Odd combination I know, but I think it’s that whole October is apple picking season....Halloween is witching season and is celebrated in October....and then there’s the wicked witch in Snow White, who has that shiny, red apple....all reminding me of apples. Yes, my mind really does work in crazy ways!

With that said, I have a little treat for you (insert evil laugh here…muahaha). And yes, it has apples in it! And not only are there apples in it, but I also added those red, shiny candy apple m&m’s.

So from now on, you too will think of Snow White, Fall, and Halloween when October rolls around each year.

You’re welcome {insert evil smile here}!

Hopefully, you’ll also be making these cookies for all the little “goblins” that may be lurking around this time of year!

By the way, a big congratulations goes out to Leah Sorensen, who won the Annie's Homegrown Giveaway from last week! Congrats Leah and enjoy your goodies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oatmeal Candy Apple m&m’s Cookies

Ingredients

¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

½ cup brown sugar, packed

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 and ½ cups whole wheat flour

1 and ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon sea salt

1 Tablespoon corn starch

2 cups oats (can use either old fashioned or quick cooking)

1 apple, peeled and diced

Peelings from apple

½ cup sweet apple cider

1 package Candy Apple m&m’s

Ingredients for Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

2-3 Tablespoons sweet apple cider

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 375F degrees.

Prepare cookie sheets by spraying with nonstick cooking spray. Wipe off excess spray with clean paper towel. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and corn starch. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add butter and sugars together, beating until creamy. Add in vanilla and eggs until blended. Set aside.

Place ½ cup apple cider into a blender and add apple peelings. Puree for about 1 minute or until peelings are puréed. Add cider puree into sugar and butter mixture and blend together.

Slowly add in flour mixture, mixing well.

Add in oats ½ a cup at a time until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.

Stirring by hand, add candy apple m&m’s until well blended.

Drop dough onto greased cookie sheet, about 1 Tablespoonful, placing 2” apart.

Bake for 11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Remove from oven and let cool for about 2 minutes on cookie sheet before placing onto a wire rack to cool completely.

For Glaze topping

Combine powdered sugar, cinnamon, and apple cider into a small bowl. Mix well with a fork.

After cookies are placed on wire rack, drizzle glaze over tops of cookies.

 Let stand for 1 hour before placing cookies into an airtight container.

Makes about 36 cookies.

Best served with a tall glass of cold milk!

Inspired by ~ Apple-Oat Cookies

*Helpful Hints*

- place a sheet of wax paper under wire rack before drizzling glaze onto cookies to help make clean-up easier.

- All measurements are US

All content and images are property of Sweet and Spicy Monkey. Please do not reprint this content without my permission. If you wish to include this recipe on your site, please re-write in your own words and use your own photographs and link back to this post for original recipe.

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Shared with: Foodie Friends Friday Recipes Linky Party #119, Pin Junkie Pin Party #91, Pretty Pintastic Party #27, Pinworthy Projects Link Party #40, City of Links #43, Freedom Fridays with All My Bloggy Friends #52, Snickerdoodle Sunday #53