Classic French

Baked apple with caramel sauce

Name: Baked apple with caramel sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 4 large apples, such as Reine de Reinette, Cox’s Orange Pippin or Discovery; 60g unsalted butter, melted; 60g caster sugar; 1 tbsp water; 50g caster sugar; 80ml apple juice; ½ tsp arrowroot, mixed with a little cold water; 1 tbsp Calvados or cider (optional); 15g pistachio nuts; 10g almond flakes; 15g bread, diced; 15g icing sugar

A truly indulgent dessert.

Prep 15 minsCook 35 minsServes 6

To make this recipe, you need the right kind of apple; not just full in flavour, but it also needs a good texture; otherwise, it might just collapse on baking. My personal favourite for this is the Reine de Reinettes. It’s French (of course!) but has been widely grown in Britain since Victorian times. However, you probably won’t find it in a supermarket, so Cox’s Orange Pippin, Adams Pearmain, Annie Elizabeth, D’Arcy Spice, Discovery and Golden Nobel are all good substitutes here. But, whatever you do, please do not use imported Pink Lady apples.

Ingredients

For the baked apples

4 largeapples, such as Reine de Reinette, Cox’s Orange Pippin or Discovery
60gunsalted butter, melted
60gcaster sugar

For the caramel sauce

1 tbspwater
50gcaster sugar
80mlapple juice
1/2 tsparrowroot, mixed with a little cold water
1 tbspCalvados or cider (optional)

For the garnish (optional)

15gpistachio nuts
10galmond flakes
15gbread, diced
15gicing sugar

Method

1
Preheat the oven (without fan) to 170ºC/Gas 3. Wash the apples and pat dry.
Using a small knife, trim a slice off the base of each apple so that it will sit upright. Now make a small incision through one side of each apple, slightly above and beyond the core.
Push the apple corer up through the base of the apple as far as the incision and then twist it to release the core. (Alternatively, you could leave the apples whole.
)
2
Brush the apples with the melted butter and roll in the caster sugar to coat all over.
Brush the baking dish liberally with butter and sprinkle with sugar, then stand the apples in the dish.
Bake for 35–40 minutes until the apples are tender but still holding their shape.
Set to one side.
3
For the garnish, toss the pistachios, almond flakes and bread cubes in the icing sugar and scatter on a small baking tray.
Toast in the oven for 8–10 minutes until lightly caramelised.
4
While the apples are in the oven, put the water into a large saucepan, spoon the sugar evenly over and let it absorb the water for 1–2 minutes.
Now bring to the boil and cook to a dark golden caramel.
Add the apple juice and bring it back to the boil.
Thicken with the arrowroot, then remove from the heat and stir in the Calvados or cider, if using.
5
Place a baked apple on each warmed plate and pour on the caramel sauce.
Scatter the garnish around.

Chef's Tips

“
"This dish is delicious on its own, or with custard or ice cream." "The power of a fan-assisted oven can be too much for baked apples, causing the skins to split. If possible, switch the fan off and allow the heat to penetrate the apples slowly."

Cooking is always an expression of care and generosity. Enjoy this dish.

Bon appétit!