Southwest Baked Apples With Almond Cream Recipes

APPLE BETTY WITH ALMOND CREAM

Steps:

• Place apples in an ungreased 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker. In a large bowl, combine the bread, brown sugar, butter, extract, cinnamon, cardamom and salt; spoon over apples. Cover and cook on low 3-4 hours, until apples are tender., In a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add the sugar, lemon zest and extract; beat until soft peaks form. Serve with apple mixture.

BAKED APPLES WITH ALMOND BUTTER AND CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Begin by scoring very small thin lines around the sides of the apples using a zester, this is to prevent the apple from exploding while cooking. Remove the cores from 1 end, using a melon baller, making sure not to go completely through the apples.
• To make the mixture, combine the softened butter, sugar, almond powder, and the cinnamon, and mix until all ingredients are combined.
• Stuff the apples with the butter mixture, and cook for 40 minutes.
• While the apples are baking, combine the cream, vanilla, and 2 ounces sugar in a saucepot, and bring to a boil.
• In a separate bowl, combine the egg yolks, remaining 2 ounces sugar, and blend until smooth. Once the cream has come to a boil, temper egg yolks with approximately 1/2 of the cream, making sure to whisk constantly. Return the tempered yolks to the cream mixture. Cook the sauce over low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
• Strain the sauce into a container, and then cool in the refrigerator or in an ice-water bath.
• To serve, plate each warm apple on a dessert plate, and add a drizzle of the cream sauce around and on top of each apple.

BAKED APPLES WITH PRUNES, ALMONDS, AND AMARETTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Toss granulated sugar, 1/2 cup almonds, and 1 Tbsp. butter in a bowl. Spread out on a rimmed baking sheet; bake, tossing once or twice, until nuts are golden brown and sugar is caramelized, 10-12 minutes. Let cool.
• Process prunes, 3 Tbsp. amaretto, 2 Tbsp. brown sugar, 4 Tbsp. butter, a pinch of salt, and remaining 1/2 cup almonds in a food processor until nuts are ground and mixture forms a coarse paste. Transfer to a disposable piping bag or resealable plastic bag.
• Using a paring knife, cut a line around equators of apples, just scoring the skin but not cutting down into the flesh (this will prevent them from bursting during baking). Place each apple on individual squares of parchment paper large enough to form a pouch around apple.
• Snip a 1" hole in pastry bag or one corner of plastic bag and pipe prune mixture into apple cavities to fill. Drizzle with remaining 3 Tbsp. butter, then sprinkle with remaining 2 Tbsp. brown sugar and lightly drizzle with amaretto.
• Gather up parchment paper around each apple and tie tightly closed with kitchen twine. Place parcels on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until apples give no resistance when a skewer is poked into flesh through parchment paper, 35-45 minutes for Macintosh or 50-65 minutes for firmer apples. Let cool slightly, then remove kitchen twine.
• To serve, top apples with caramelized almonds and drizzle with cream.
• Do Ahead
• Apples can be assembled in their parcels 1 day ahead; chill. Apples can be baked 2 hours ahead. Let sit at room temperature. Reheat in a 200°F oven just before serving.

MELE ALLA CREMA (BAKED APPLES WITH CREAM)

Steps:

• Soak 4 ounces of amaretti cookies in the wine until very soft.
• Meanwhile, dissolve sugar in saucepan over moderate heat, stirring.
• In separate saucepan, heat 1/2 cup heavy cream until it boils. When sugar has dissolved and browned, add boiling cream, mixing well. Scrape down sides and corners of saucepan. Let cool.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Whip the remaining 1/2 cup cream until firm. Reserve Y of the whipped cream for decorating. Add the rest to the cooled sauce.
• Fill each apple with the soaked amaretti. Put apples in a greased baking dish and add water to a depth of 1/8 inch. Place in the oven and bake about half an hour, until the apples are tender but still firm.
• Remove from the oven and let cool. Arrange the apples in a deep serving dish. Pour cream sauce over them and pipe reserved whipped cream around them. Crumble the remaining amaretti cookies and sprinkle over all.

APPLE-ALMOND BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small saucepan, bring syrup to a boil; cook 3-5 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half., In a small bowl, mix sugar and cornstarch; whisk in water until smooth. Whisk into reduced syrup. Return to a boil; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Whisk in 2 tablespoons butter until blended. Remove from heat., In a large bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, almond flour and baking soda; cut in cold butter until crumbly. Reserve 1-1/3 cups mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture onto bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Arrange apples over top; drizzle with syrup mixture., Stir almonds into reserved crumb mixture; sprinkle over top. Bake 50-60 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden brown.