Apples from your own tree can be an incredibly delicious source of fresh fruit. Whether it’s a sweet desert or something to snack on during the day, making something with apples makes for a great treat. Here are some ways to take advantage of the abundance of apples your tree produces:
Creating Apple Pies is the classic way of taking advantage of your apples. Taking the time to make your own pastry and assembling the pieces together is satisfying and ensures that the pie is fresh and tasty. You can also double the recipe and freeze one pie for later.
Apple Crisp is a great alternative to the traditional pie and is easier to put together. All you need is a few basic ingredients such as oats, flour, butter, and spices in order to make a delicious and crunchy topping for your apples. This is a great way to use any apples that you might have left over.
Apple Sauce is a great item to make with your extra apples. It is a versatile item that can be used with both sweet and savory dishes. Making your own, with spices and other flavourings, ensures that your apple sauce will be tastier than many pre-made bought items.
Apple Chutney is another way to elevate your apples to something new and exciting. Combining flavourings such as shallots and ginger, this chutney not only tastes great but it can also last for weeks in the fridge so it is great for using up extra apples.
Apples are also great for making cider. This is a relatively easy way to make tasty beverages from your own tree. All you need is apples, sugar and yeast and you can be making a range of different ciders at home.
Finally, if you are feeling a little adventurous, you can try your hand at distilling your own apple spirits. This requires a bit of extra knowledge and skill but the result can be a range of fantastic and unique drinks that you can enjoy at home.
Making Apple Pies
Apple Pies are one of the most classic ways of baking with apples. Making the perfect pie requires a couple of essential elements: the perfect flaky and crispy (but not too crispy) pastry and delicious apples. Preparing the skillet is one of the important steps in making your pie. Make sure the skillet is lightly greased to ensure the bottom and sides of the pie don’t stick to the skillet. Pre-oven baking the crust in the skillet for about 5 minutes with some aluminum foil on top will help to make the pastry crisper.
When it comes to picking the apples for your pie, it is important to choose the best apples for baking. Apples that are firm, slightly tart, and have a good flavor are the best for baking pies. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn and Jonagold apples are all great options. When it comes to sweetening the apples, it is important to be careful while adding additional sweetness. Apples already have natural sweetness and too much added sugar will result in a soggy or overly sweet pie.
When it comes to the actual assembly of the pie, it is important to keep the apples as thin as possible. This will help the apples cook faster and make the pie assembly easier. The final step is dusting the top of the pie with cinnamon and sugar. A mix of 3 tablespoons of sugar with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon is enough for most pies. A few thin slices of butter on top of the pie before baking will give you a golden and crisp finish.
When baking the pie, start with a pre-heated oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for about 35-40 minutes. Once done, carefully allow the pie to cool before serving. Enjoy your delicious and homemade apple pie!
Making Apple Crisps
Apple Crisps are a delicious treat that is easy to make. The key is to assemble the right ingredients and make sure the crisp is crunchy and sweet. Begin by picking the right apples, the same apples you would use for a pie work best. Peel, core and cut the apples into small slices and put them in a baking dish.
The crunchiest part of the crisp is the topping. A combination of oats, brown sugar and melted butter is the essential base for a great crisp. A quarter cup of oats will give you the crunchiest results and a quarter cup of brown sugar will make sure that your crisp has enough sweetness. The butter is melted and added to the other ingredients to bind them together. You can also add extra flavorings such as cinnamon for an extra kick.
Cover the apples with the topping and spread it evenly. Make sure to place the topping with even pressure to create small lumps and mounds of crisp. Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 30 minutes. Once the crisp is golden brown and crunchy all the way through, take it out and let it cool before serving. Enjoy your delicious and homemade apple crisp!
Making Apple Sauces
Apple sauces are a delicious and versatile item that can be used with both sweet and savory dishes. Preparing your own applesauce is considerably faster and tastes better than store bought items. Start by choosing the right apples, the same apples you’d use for making a pie. Peel, core and cut the apples into small slices and put them in a pot.
For an easy and tasty applesauce, mix 2 cups of brown sugar and 1 cup of white granulated sugar in the pot. Then, add a teaspoon of cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Introduce 4-5 tablespoons of butter in the pot and place it on the stove on medium heat. Let the mixture cook until the apples become soft and the mixture thickens. This can take about 20-30 minutes.
Once the applesauce is done, let it cool down before transferring to a bowl or a jar. Once it cools down, the sauce will thicken further. You can also blend the applesauce with a blender to get an even smoother texture. Enjoy your delicious homemade applesauce.
Making Apple Chutney
Apple chutney offers a great way to enhance the natural flavors of apples with spices and other ingredients. Start by choosing the right apples and cut into cubes. Place them in a pot and dissolve one and a half cups of white grape vinegar and one and a half cups of white sugar in the pot.
Then, add a quarter cup of lemon juice, one small chopped shallot, 4 chopped cloves of garlic, 2 tablespoons of freshly grated ginger, one teaspoon of ground cloves, one teaspoon of curry powder, and a teaspoon of ground mustard. Place the pot on medium heat and let the mixture simmer until all the liquid is dissolved and the apples become tender. This can take about 20-30 minutes.
The mixture will thicken as it cools down. When it’s almost room temperature, you can also mix in some dried cranberries. You can store the chutney in mason jars and it can last up to 2 months in the fridge. Enjoy the delicious and flavorful apple chutney.
Making Apple Ciders
Making cider is one of the easiest ways to use up an abundance of apples from your tree. Start by collecting the apples and wash them individually. Slice the apples in smaller pieces and place them in a large pot. Add one cup of sugar and fill the pot with water just until the apples are completely submerged. Set the pot on medium heat and let the mixture cook until the apples become completely tender and soft.
Once the apples are cooked, let the mixture cool down and blend the apples with a blender. Then, empty the mixture in a large bowl, cover it with a cloth and let it sit for about 5 days so that the mixture ferments. This is the fermentation process during which the yeast turns the sugars into alcohol.
After 5 days, pour the mixture through a cheesecloth and squeeze out the liquid. If the cider is still too sweet, you can add a teaspoon of yeast at this stage. Then, bottle the cider in any bottle you have available and let it sit for about 5 days for a second fermentation period. After 5 days, store the bottles in the fridge so that the cider can cool down. Enjoy your homemade apple cider!
Distilling Apple Spirits
Distilling apple spirits is an advanced way to use up an abundance of apples from your tree. The distillation process is not to be taken lightly and requires knowledge and preparation. Begin by collecting the apples and washing them individually. Slice the apples in smaller pieces and use a juicer or press to extract the apple juice.
Place the apple juice in a large pot and add a teaspoon of yeast. Set the pot on medium heat and let the mixture cook until the yeast ferments the sugars into alcohol. You can test the alcohol level with an alcohol hydrometer to make sure the level reaches 16-18% alcohol by volume.
Once the proper level is reached, the mixture needs to be distilled. Equipment such as stills and moonshine kits are available for this purpose. Distilling will remove the impurities from the mixture and create a pure alcohol base. The distillate should have an alcohol level of at least 40-50%. Note, distilling your own alcohol is illegal in some states and it is important to research your local laws before engaging in any distilling activity.
Once the distillation process is complete, you can add flavourings to the mix and adjust the levels of sweetness and tartness. Allow the mix to condensate before transferring it to bottles. The spirit should now be ready to enjoy. Cheers and enjoy your homemade apple spirit!
