Categories
Recipes

Applesauce Banana Bread

Applesauce is often used as a substitute for fats or sweeteners, as well as an additive for moisture. Using it in this recipe gives this banana bread a sweet moistness without making taste like apples.

Applesauce Banana Bread

Applesauce Banana Bread
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Applesauce Banana Bread

A great snack or part of a weekend brunch.
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 ripe bananas
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1/2 cup of applesauce
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups of bread flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9" x 5" loaf pan.
  • Into a large bowl, slice the bananas. Use an electric mixer to mash.
  • Add the sugar and blend. Let mixture stand for 15 minutes.
  • Add applesauce and eggs. Mix well.
  • Blend in the remaining ingredients.
  • Pour into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 55 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and let stand again for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

Applesauce to the Rescue

A great way to reduce the fat and processed sugar in a recipe is to use applesauce instead. That’s what was done in this recipe. Here are some pointers for doing so in other recipes:

  • In cake, muffin, and quick bread recipes that call for oil or melted butter, you can use applesauce instead. It does not work well if the recipe calls for softened butter.
  • Applesauce does not work well as a substitution in cookies because it can cause them to get mushy or lose their shape.
  • Substitute using a 1-to-1 ratio. For example, in a recipe that called for 1/2 cup melted butter, you would use 1/2 cup applesauce instead.
  • It is best to use unsweetened or homemade applesauce in these substitutions, especially if you are trying to reduce processed sugar!

You need not substitute 100% off of the fat. You can go 50/50 or some other ratio. Experiment to find out which ratio gives you the best results for your recipe.

Homemade Applesauce for Baking

It is easy to make homemade applesauce for use in other recipes! Simply wash, core, and quarter 2 pounds of apples and follow these simple instructions:

  1. Place the apples in a large pot and fill it with water to about an inch deeper than the apples.
  2. Boil until the apples are soft.
  3. With a bit of the cooking water, put them through a blender or food processor.

If you use naturally sweet apples, you can reduce the sugar in the recipe that you use this apple sauce in.

Creative Cooking Tips Banner

Additions to Make this Uniquely Your Own

This recipe is pretty plain. What to spice it up? Here are some ideas for making this banana bread uniquely your own.

  • Add chocolate, caramel or butterscotch chips
  • Add chopped pecans, walnuts, peanuts, or almonds
  • Swirl your favorite jelly, jam or preserves into the batter after pouring it into the pan
  • Add shredded coconut
  • Substitute crushed pineapple for the applesauce
  • Add in some chopped strawberries
  • Mix in some cinnamon or cardomom
  • Add in peanutbutter
  • Mix and match the above sujestions
Categories
Recipes

Apple Crumble

I have a soft spot for Apple Crumble (and Apple Crisp) because it is one of the recipes my teacher used in my first cooking class in high school. However, it can be high in sugar, carbs, and other ingredients that many people today are trying to avoid. So I offer you this treat.

One taste of this delicious dessert and you’ve won’t believe it is both gluten and refined sugar-free. The addition of fresh thyme adds a subtle savory note to the otherwise sweet flavor profile of this classic recipe.

Apple Crumble

Apple Crisp
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Apple Crumble

A gluten- and sugar-free recipe.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword apples, dessert
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 6 large apples, cored, peeled, and sliced
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup real maple syrup
  • 2 Tablespoon 100% apple juice, sugar-free
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Topping Ingredients:

  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup almond flour
  • 1/3 cup almonds, sliced
  • 1/3 cup honey, preferably local
  • 3 Tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

To Serve: (Optional)

  • Vanilla bean ice cream or freshly whipped cream

Instructions

  • Place top oven rack in the center position and pre-heat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8” x 8” baking dish and set it aside.
  • In a large non-reactive bowl, toss apples with fresh lemon juice.
  • Add maple syrup, apple juice, cinnamon, allspice, thyme leaves, and salt. Toss to combine and set aside.
  • In a separate bowl, combine topping ingredients and stir until oats are thoroughly coated and all ingredients are well combined. Set aside.
  • Pour apple mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
  • Spread the topping evenly across the top in a uniform layer, as well.
    Apple Crisp ready to bake
  • Place into the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. If the top layer is nicely browned, cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.
  • Continue baking for another 15-20 minutes or until the apple crisp is nice and bubbling. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool for 5-10 minutes.
  • Serve warm with some vanilla bean iced cream or freshly whipped cream, if desired.
    Apple Crisp with Ice Cream on top

Tip: Choose firm apples, such as Granny Smith or Pink Lady, for this recipe. These varieties will hold up well to the heat of baking without turning to mush. Read my apple tips on the page for Cinnamon Baked Apples.

What is the difference between an Apple Crumble and an Apple Crisp?

If you’re a Brit, Aussie, or Kiwi, then you are probably asking this question because in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, the term “Apple Crumble” refers to both. However, here in the United States, as well as in Canada, we make a distinction between the two desserts.

An Apple Crisp, also called an Apple Streusel, is made with a streusel topping. Streusel is made by cutting together a fat, usually butter, some flour, sugar, and more often than not, some cinnamon. The topping is crumbly and sweet. If you use a leavened flour, such as Bisquick (which is my go-to), then it puffs up a little, as well.

An Apple Crumble, on the other hand, has a topping made from rolled oats and brown sugar. In this recipe, I use honey instead — thus removing the refined sugar.

Interestingly enough, if you try to look up the history of the Apple Crumble, you find a lot of information about the Apple Streusel, which was invented in Britain around World War II. Other related dishes include:

  • Apple Cobbler, which has a biscuit topping
  • Apple Brown Betty, which has a buttered bread topping
  • Apple Pandowdy, which has a pastry topping

All are related to the Apple Pie.

From what I could gather in my research — and I’ll have to dig deeper at a later time — is that most of these recipes were created out of something akin to necessity. The cook didn’t have the ingredients to make an apple pie, so they invented something that worked with what they did have. That is how much kitchen creativity happens — taking a look at the ingredients on hand and pulling them together in new ways.

Creative Cooking Tips Banner

Wondering how you can unleash your kitchen creativity on this recipe while preserving its gluten-free and processed-sugar-free qualities. Here are a couple of ideas:

  • Try molasses instead of honey. Molasses is made from brown sugar, so you’ll get a bit of the recipe’s original qualities. However, it will be less sweet than honey or brown sugar.
  • Try a different gluten-free flour. You can substitute almond flour with oat flour, buckwheat flour, cashew flour, or sunflower seed flour. You can also experiment with coconut flour, but it will change the flavor profile significantly enough that you’ll need to play around with other ingredients, as well.
  • Substitute the allspice for cloves. They have very similar flavor profiles.
  • Use another natural syrup instead of maple syrup. Molasses is a good choice. You can also try out honey or agave nectar.
Categories
Recipes

Cinnamon Baked Apples

Ah! The smell of cinnamon and apples wafting from your oven. There’s nothing like it! This tasty cinnamon and baked apples dessert is delicious and satisfying by itself or paired with whipped cream or your favorite frozen yogurt or ice cream.

Cinnamon Baked Apples

Baked Cinnamon Apples
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Baked Cinnamon Apples

This simple dessert is perfect for cold Autumn and Winter nights.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword apples, cinnamon
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (plus extra for greasing)
  • 2 large apples, peeled and diced
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 3 Tablespoons pure maple syrup, divided
  • 3/4 cup almond flour

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a small baking dish with a little butter. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, toss together the apples, cinnamon and one Tablespoon of maple syrup.
  • Pour into the prepared baking dish.
  • Spread apple mixture into an even layer and set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine the almond flour, melted butter, and remaining maple syrup. Stir to combine thoroughly.
  • Evenly spread the mixture over the cinnamon apples.
  • Place in the pre-heated oven and bake until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender, approximately 25 - 30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and cool for a couple minutes before serving.

Best Baked Apples: How to Choose the Apples for Baking

Apples get sweeter and more mild-flavored as they bake, so you want to find apples that are firm and tart. That’s why recipes often call for Granny Smith apples. But they aren’t the only game in town. Here are some others that you can experiment with.

  • Honeycrisp are my husband’s favorite. They aren’t as tart as Granny Smiths, but they are firm and hold up well in the oven.
  • Jonagold are tart and sweet, but they don’t store well. So buy them fresh and bake them soon.
  • Braeburn have an intense flavor that balances well with a lot of cinnamon.
  • Crispin apples are mild-flavored like Golden Delicious but don’t turn to mush when gently baked.
  • Pink Lady apples have an interesting flavor that balances between tart, sweet and acidic. They tend to hold their shape very well in the oven.
  • Winesap can also be a good choice because they pair well with stronger flavor fruits such as figs.

Creative Cooking Tips Banner

There are lots of ways that you can make this recipe your own. Here are some suggestions:

  • Experiment with different kinds of apples. I made a few suggestions above.
  • Have fun with different kinds of fruit. You don’t have to use apples alone or even at all. Mix and match with pears, peaches, or even quince.
  • Try different blends of spices. You can use pumpkin pie spice, which is a mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Cardomom might also be nice.
  • Add some texture to the topping. Add some rolled oats. Or even switch out the almond flour for oat flour, coconut flour or a home-made flour made from nuts and seeds.

Love to bake with apples? Check out The Apple Lover’s Cookbook by Amy Traverso. It’s available on Amazon.

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[two_third_last]

What do top pie bakers do
for pie-baking success?

I’ve researched the best pie-making tips — from ingredients to techniques to tools — and gathered them in this special Top 8 Pie Tips report. Armed with these tips, you’ll make your perfect pie time and time again.

>> Grab your copy of Top 8 Pie-Making Tips Now! <<

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Categories
Creative Cookery

How To Decide What Apple Pie to Make

There are dozens of ways to make an apple pie. Of course, this isn’t much help if you’re looking for a recipe to use right now. So what I’m going to offer in this post are some questions you should ask yourself before you go searching for that recipe. That way, you’ll be able to find the one that is just right for your needs.

How To Decide What Apple Pie to Make

Do you want a shallow or deep-dish apple pie?

The answer to this question will help you determine not only the style of pie that will work best but also how many apples you’ll need.

What kind of crust are you hankering for?

Do you want a traditional pastry crust? What about a crumb crust made out of shortbread or gingerbread cookies?

Do you want a covered or open-faced pie?

Because the apples in your pie can get dried out if you don’t put a cover on them, you may need to make a wetter sauce for an open-faced pie.

If you choose covered, what kind of cover do you want? Full pastry? Latticed pastry? Or something more akin to a cobbler, made with crumbs, brown sugar and butter?

What type of filling do you prefer?

Do you want the purest filling that is nothing but apples and sauce? Or do you want to get adventurous with flavor? Maybe you’d like to try a pumpkin-apple pie? What about a pear and apple pie? Custard and apple pie? Caramel apple pie? There is no limit to the combinations you can create… except that of your imagination.

How will you garnish your pie?

Depending on the flavors you’ve blended, you should select a garnish that not only looks nice but compliments the pie’s flavor mix. Garnishes can range from whipped topping or ice cream to toasted nuts or even mint leaves.

Once you’ve made all these decisions, finding the apple pie recipe you crave should be a whole lot easier.

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[one_fourth] [/one_fourth]
[three_fourth_last] Looking for a few more pie recipes to try? Want to create your perfect, signature pie, but just can’t find the right recipe? Your Perfect Pie just may be the cookbook for you. Breaking down the mystique of homemade pie, this simple cookbook is sure to please. Learn more and grab your copy at CarmasCookery.com/yourperfectpie [/three_fourth_last].

Categories
Recipes

Johnny Appleseed Pie

Johnny Appleseed Pie is my husband’s favorite pie! I make it for his birthday every year.

Below you’ll find both traditional print directions, and photo-illustrated directions. Creative variations are included at the end.

Johnny Appleseed Pie

Ingredients for Johnny Appleseed Pie

Filling

1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
6-8 tart apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced1
1/2 to 1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels

Crust

1 pie crust, uncooked2

Topping

1 cup Bisquick
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 to 1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels

Directions for Johnny Appleseed Pie

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Combine sugar and cinnamon from Filling ingredients. Mix with apples.
  3. Turn into the unbaked pie crust.
  4. Top with semisweet chocolate morsels from Filling ingredients.
  5. In a small bowl, combine the Bisquick and sugar from the Topping ingredients. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over the pie.
  6. Bake until apples are tender, about 45 minutes.
  7. After you remove the pie from the oven, top with semisweet chocolate morsels from Topping ingredients.
  8. Let cool for about 15 to 30 minutes before serving.

Photo Directions

These photographs were taken when I made this pie on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017, for Thanksgiving.

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400 degrees F
Set the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
[/one_fourth]
[one_fourth]
Slice apples and warm refrigerated pie dough to room temperature.
Slice apples and warm refrigerated pie dough to room temperature.
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Roll pie crust into your pie pan.
Roll pie crust into your pie pan.
[/one_fourth]
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Press crust to edges of pan.
Press crust to edges of pan.
[/one_fourth_last]

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Measure cinnamon and sugar into a small bowl.
Measure cinnamon and sugar into a small bowl.
[/one_fourth]
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Mix cinnamon and sugar together well.
Mix cinnamon and sugar together well.
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Add sugar mixture to apples.
Add sugar mixture to apples.
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Mix together until apples are evenly coated with sugar mixture.
Mix together until apples are evenly coated with sugar mixture.
[/one_fourth_last]

[one_fourth]

Place apple mixture into the pie crust.
Place apple mixture into the pie crust.
[/one_fourth]
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Top with chocolate chips.
Top with chocolate chips.
[/one_fourth]
[one_fourth]
Cut butter into Bisquick sugar mixture.
Measure Bisquick and sugar into a small bowl. Cut in butter.
[/one_fourth]
[one_fourth_last]
Top pie with crumble mixture.
Top pie with crumble mixture.
[/one_fourth_last]

[one_fourth]

Bake until apples are tender, about 45 minutes. Then remove from the oven.
Bake until apples are tender, about 45 minutes. Then remove from the oven.
[/one_fourth]
[one_fourth]
Top with chocolate chips while still warm.
Top with chocolate chips while still warm.
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[one_fourth]   [/one_fourth]
[one_fourth_last]   [/one_fourth_last]

Johnny Appleseed Pie

Carma's Cookery Creative Cooking Tips

  1. Want a plain apple pie? Simply leave out the semisweet chocolate morsels!
  2. Try using butterscotch or white chocolate morsels instead of the semisweet chocolate morsels.
  3. Want a little more kick to your pie? Add in 1/4 tsp of cloves, mace or allspice to the cinnamon sugar mix.
  4. Toss chopped pecans or walnuts in with the apples for a cruchier texture.
  5. Substitute raisins, yellow raisins or craisins for the semisweet chocolate morsels.
  6. Use half pears and half apples for a more mild flavored pie.
  7. In the filling, instead of cinnamon, use grated fresh ginger, and instead of semisweet chocolate morsels use chopped candied ginger. Then in the topping, replace half the Bisquick with crushed gingersnaps.
  8. Get creative with your crust and make a cinnamon crust. You can find a recipe for it in my book, Your Perfect Pie.
  9. Use a lattice topping instead of the crumble topping.
  10. Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping.
  11. Add in 1/2 tsp ground ginger to the cinnamon sugar mixture of the filling and replace 1/2 cup of the Bisquick with crushed gingersnaps for the topping.
  12. Mix and match any of these suggestions, as well as any ideas of your own!

Notes

  1. If you want to make the slicing task easier, use a apple peeler, slicer and corer. I show you how to use one here.
  2. You can use one you make yourself, one that is pre-made and you roll out onto your pie pan or one that comes already in an aluminum pan. Regardless, I highly recommend using a deep-dish pie pan. I’ve also used a large tart pan.
Categories
Cooking Techniques Tools of the Trade

How To Use an Apple Peeler-Corer

I may not use it all that often, but I love my apple peeler/corer. It may take a little getting used to — there are peculiarities to this gadget. But once you get the hang of it, you can cut your apple peeling and slicing chores in half — if not more. In addition, your apple slices will be more uniform and, possibly, thinner than you could achieve with a knife. If you make apple pie at least once a year, you’ll want to have one of these on hand. In this post and its accompanying video, I show you how to use one.

How to Use an Apple Peeler Corer

What Is an Apple Peeler/Corer?

Pampered Chef apple peeler and corerApple peelers, once called apply parers, are gadgets that peel, slice, and core apples, making this time-consuming kitchen task much quicker and easier.

Most models of apple peeler, slicer, and corer are mechanical in nature, using a crank to push the apple through the device. However, electronic versions also exist.

They first came into demand as early as the 1700s when a growing need for apples as a winter staple for both food and drink became apparent. In order to store this fruit, they needed to be processed and peeling, coring and slicing by hand were cumbersome, slow and, in some cases, wasteful. Therefore inventors started creating a variety of gadgets that would get the job done.

You can learn more about the history of apple peelers at The Virtual Apple Parer Museum and at the Museum of the City of New York.

Varieties of Apple Peeler and Corers

apple peelerApple slicers come in two basic types: One that simply removes the core and slices the apple into eight slices, and one that peels, cores and slices to whatever width you choose. In this post, I’m talking about the latter. The one I have is from The Pampered Chef, which I mount upon their apple peeler stand. You can purchase them separately, or as a set. However other companies make these kitchen gadgets, as well.



How To Use an Apple Peeler-Corer

In this video, I show you how I use my Pampered Chef Apple Peeler-Corer.

close up of Pampered Chef apple peeler and corerStep 1: Mount the peeler to a stand or other fairly stable surface.

Step 2: Choose a firm apple. If there are bruises, it will be more difficult to peel.

Step 3: Place the apple in your peeler. Try to get the two ends of the core as straight as possible so that the three prongs go in the side where the stem was and the coring circle will meet the other end and evenly as possible.

Pampered Chef apple peeler and corerStep 4: Turn the crank so that the apple moves toward the coring circle. I didn’t mention this in the video, but the peeler can be set at different depths so you can get a thinner or thicker slice of the peel. Be sure that it isn’t so thin that much of the peel remains on the apple, or so thick that you waste a lot of the actual fruit.

Step 5: Once the apple is through the coring circle, simply remove your spiral-cut apple and cut at least on one side to create slices.

Step 6: Remove the skin that was peeled off and the core from your apple peeler and you are ready for your next apple.

This Thanksgiving I made two Johnny Appleseed Pies (it’s my husband’s favorite pie). I’ll share the recipe, along with some creative alteration ideas tomorrow.

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