Baking Season is in Full Swing with These New Apple Recipes!
Welcome back to baking season. We're not sure if it's the anticipation of holiday celebrations to come, or the nostalgia of helping out in the kitchen when we were children, or just the weather changing, but something about autumn makes us want to bake!And there's nothing more inviting than stepping inside from the crisp fall air to the smell of something sweet baking in the oven.
No matter what the reason, now is the perfect time to get in the kitchen and start testing and preparing recipes for your Thanksgiving and holiday celebrations.
Fall is definitely baking season and Georgia has some real gems this time of year when it comes to fruit that is both versatile and perfect for baking.
Baking season also happens to be the season of the apple.
Apples work so well paired with lots of different flavors and foods, from more traditional sweet spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to savory ingredients from Gruyère and other cheeses, to parsnips or pork!
Apples can also provide a fun outing for the family. Visit your local North Georgia orchard and hand pick your next baking inspiration! This week, we have hand picked two tasty recipes to further inspire your baking sensibilities.
Try them out and let us know what you think! Post your pictures to our Facebook page, or tag us in your Instagram feed using hashtags #BakingSeason and #FarmviewInspiration.
Baked Apple with Cinnamon Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 medium-large apple (Newton or Granny Smith apples provide a slightly tart flavor for savory dishes such as this)
- 1 ounce plain goat cheese, slightly softened
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon sugar
- Large handful raisins (golden or regular)
- Small handful chopped walnuts for garnish
Directions
Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Using a paring knife or an apple corer, carefully core the apple, leaving at least 1½ inches of apple intact on the bottom. Cut around the top of the apple, so the hole is wider at the top of the apple. Then, in a small bowl, combine the goat cheese, raisins and cinnamon sugar. Fill the cavity of the apple with the goat cheese mixture, pushing it down just far enough so the mixture sits right at the top.
In a small dish or ramekin (one that is deep enough so it props up the apple, so it doesn't collapse), place the apple and bake for 30-35 minutes, until goat cheese is starting to melt and apple is getting soft. Top with walnuts and a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar mixture and bake for another 7-10 minutes, until apple is just about to collapse and walnuts are toasted, being careful not to over-bake. Let cool 3-5 minutes. Serve warm.
Recipe source: Simply Organic
Classic Apple Pie
Ingredients
Crust
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, cold
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup vegetable shortening, cold
- 6-8 tablespoons water
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon large granule sugar
Filling
- 6 cups Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced (Golden Delicious or Gala apples are also good for pies)
- 2 heaping teaspoons cinnamon, ground
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 8 heaping tablespoons white sugar, granulated
- 4 heaping tablespoons brown sugar, granulated
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ cup water
Directions
Crust
Cut butter and shortening into small pieces (½-inch cubes) and place them in the freezer. Also place your flour in the freezer. Leave these in the freezer for at least 2 hours prior to beginning the construction of your pie.
Using a food processor, combine the flour, butter, salt, and shortening. Pulse until the mixture resembles corn meal. Slowly add water to the mixture if it is too dry and needs to be moistened. Remove the mixture from the food processor and very quickly form it into dough. Cut the dough in half.
Flatten each half into a circle using a rolling pin. Wrap in saran wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (up to 3 days).
*You can also use pre-made pie crusts
Filling
In a large saucepan over low heat, combine all of the filling ingredients. Stir often. Cook until the apples have softened and the filling has reached the desired consistency (about 20 minutes). Remove from heat.
Constructing your pie
When you are ready to start constructing your pie preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Roll out one of the prepared chilled dough. Transfer it to your pie dish. Lightly press the dough into the sides of the dish.
Add your pie filling. Place the second crust dough on top of the filling. Fold the edges of the crust under and crimp them with a fork. Cut 4-5 holes in the center of your crust for steam to escape.
Whisk together the egg yolk. Brush the top of the pie with the egg yolk and then sprinkle raw (large granule) sugar over the top. Place the pie on a baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Rotate the baking sheet and turn down the heat to 375 degrees. Bake for another 30-35 minutes or until the crust is a deep golden brown.
Allow the pie to fully cool before cutting and serving.