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Dive into autumn's embrace with our Southern Fall Spiced Apple Treat! These buttery, caramelized fruits pack the perfect punch of cinnamon warmth, making them a cozy, impressive finish to any holiday meal or family get-together.
What You'll Need
- Sliced Apples: 4 cups cut into half-moons - go for Pink Lady, Fuji, or Granny Smith to get that perfect mix of firmness and tang.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Squeezed from 1 regular lemon to stop browning and add a zingy kick.
- Salted Butter: 2 tablespoons to create that nutty, golden-brown base.
- White Sugar: ½ cup (100g or 3.55 oz) to sweeten things up and help make that sticky, lovely coating.
- Dark Brown Sugar: ¼ cup, packed down, for that deep, almost caramel-like sweetness.
- Cinnamon Powder: 1 tablespoon to bring that classic warm spice that works so well with apples.
How To Make It
- Step 1: Get Your Apples Ready
- Cut your apples into ½ inch thick half-moon pieces. Drizzle with fresh lemon juice to keep them looking fresh and add a bit of zing.
- Step 2: Brown Your Butter
- Put the butter in a light-colored pan over medium-low heat and let it melt. Keep stirring as it bubbles up. After about 3 minutes, the bubbling will stop and you'll see it turn a nice golden color with a nutty smell coming off it. That's your brown butter base all ready.
- Step 3: Mix In The Sweet Stuff
- Now that your butter's browned, throw in both sugars and the cinnamon. Mix everything together well. Pop a lid on and let it cook on low for about 2 minutes so all those flavors can mingle together.
- Step 4: Get Those Apples Cooking
- Toss your apple slices into the pan and mix them around to get them all coated in that yummy butter-sugar mix. Let them cook on medium-low for 12-15 minutes, giving them a stir now and then until they soften up and get that gorgeous glazed look.
- Step 5: Get Your Nuts Ready
- In another pan, throw in some chopped walnuts or pecans and heat them up over medium for about 3-5 minutes until they smell amazing. This really brings out their flavor and makes them extra crunchy.
How To Serve & Keep
- These spiced apples taste amazing when they're still warm, topped with some vanilla ice cream or a big spoonful of whipped cream for that hot-cold combo.
- Got leftovers? Just pop them in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Warm them up in a pan or microwave before you eat them again.
- Try putting these tasty apples on top of pancakes, waffles or French toast for a breakfast that'll make you want to get out of bed.
Handy Tips
- Tart apples like Pink Lady or Granny Smith work best because they don't turn mushy and they balance out all that sweetness.
- Want a thicker sauce? Just cook your apples a bit longer so more liquid cooks off and the flavor gets more intense.
- Try adding a dash of vanilla or a sprinkle of nutmeg to mix things up a bit.
Pro Chef Advice
- Julia Child always said to use a light-colored pan when browning butter so you can actually see the color changing and don't end up burning it.
- Ina Garten always toasts her nuts before adding them to sweet treats - it releases their oils and makes them taste so much better.
Why This Works So Well
- It's the perfect warm, snuggly dessert for Thanksgiving or any chilly day hanging out with friends and family.
- You can whip it up super fast with stuff you probably already have in your kitchen.
- There's just something magical about the mix of sweet caramelized apples, warm cinnamon, and that nutty brown butter.
Mix It Up
- Pour in some bourbon or brandy if you want to make it fancy and add more depth.
- Throw in a handful of dried cranberries or raisins while cooking for extra chewiness and sweetness.
- Swap out the brown sugar for real maple syrup to get a different kind of rich sweetness.