Food - Apple Picking

Yes dear one's it's THAT time of year again!  It's apple picking time!

I LOVE apple picking but we somehow always manage to pick too many!  Here are a few recipes [plus tips and tricks] so you won't feel overwhelmed if you happen to have too many apples.

NOTE:  These are all rustic recipes.  Meaning that they are very easy, little cooking skill is required and they're super yummy!


Pie Crust

Honestly, I suggest that you buy pie crust from the supermarket!!  If you really feel moved to make it from scratch, here's a good recipe.

Apple Tart (can be sugar free)

This apple tart recipe has been in my family since forever.  It's easy to make with any fresh or frozen fruit.

3-4 Apples (any kind)
2 Tablespoons sugar (optional)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1 pie crust

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Core and seed the apples. You can peel them if you like but you really don't have to make the effort. Sprinkle the apples with cinnamon and sugar (optional). Lay a pie crust flat on a cookie sheet. Center fruit in the middle of the crust. Fold up the edges of the crust and bake. SO EASY!!!

Bake at 350 degrees until crust is brown and fruit is tender.

Baker's note: depending on the apples, you could make this dessert without any added sugar.

Homemade Apple Sauce (can be sugar free)

6-8 Apples (any variety)
1/4 water
sugar (optional)

Chop and core apples. (you can peel them if you like, but it's not necessary). In a large pot with a lid combine the apples and the water. Cook over medium heat (with lid on the pan) until the apples are soft. Stir. Add sugar and or cinnamon if you like.

Chef's note: The longer you cook the apples the softer they will be. For chunky apple sauce check the texture every 5 minutes or so.

Chef's Note: "check texture" is fancy talk for "stir". Your apples may appear to be chunky but they'll break apart easily when stirred. To check the texture of your apple sauce give the mixture a good stir and see what you've got!



Skillet Apple Pie

Skillet apple pie is an easy caramel apple pie that you make in 1 pan.

4-5 apples (chopped or sliced, core removed)
1/3 c. butter
1/2 c. sugar (brown or white)
2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 t. cinnamon
1 pie crust

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix sugar, flour and cinnamon in a bowl. Melt butter in a skillet. Remove from the skillet from the heat. Add the apples to the skillet. Stir the apples in butter until all apples are coated. Sprinkle apples with sugar mixture.

Top apples with 1 pie crust. Cut vents (slits) into the crust.

Bake at 350 degrees until crust is brown and apples are tender.

Enjoy!

Freezing Apples

Great news - apples freeze well!  Chop and core apples (peel if you like).  Place the apples in freezer safe bags and freeze.  

You can use frozen apples for all of the recipes on this page!

PRO TIP:

You can use any of these recipes for fresh or frozen fruit.  Feel free to try these recipes with berries, peaches, nectarines, apples or plums.

For more recipes from the Mocha Moms, click here!