Apple Recipes
Apple recipes, both sweet and savoury, to make the most of either homegrown bounty, or just a few fruits languishing in the fruit bowl. In this post I bring together some of my favourites including scones, tarts, salads, soups, and main courses.
APPLE RECIPES
When I wrote the version of this post that originally appeared in my Substack newsletter, we were just about to head into the main British apple season. So, I thought, what better way to celebrate this versatile fruit than make them the entire focus and include some of my favourite apple recipes?
Looking at the small number of homegrown apples available in supermarkets, it’s hard to believe that Britain once led the world in the number of varieties it grew. According to a survey by the National Trust, England and Wales have seen an 81 percent decline in traditional orchards since the start of the twentieth century.
However, there are hopeful signs of a British apple revival. This can be seen in the birth of the community orchard movement and the growing popularity of Apple Days or Apple Fests. If, during the season, there’s an Apple Day event near you, I highly recommend you go along. You’ll most likely be able to sample some traditional varieties and celebrate the wonderful, versatile apple in all sorts of tasty ways – perhaps cider, cakes, chutneys, and jams. If you have your own apple tree, then you can often take along your own apples to be juiced.
When I went to a local Apple Fest, I must have tried a dozen or more. I brought home three different varieties. The blueish-bloomed Blue Pearmain, Saltcote Pippin (once favoured for its keeping qualities which Australian and South African imports made less valuable), and the Wyken Pippin, yellow, sweet, sharp and dating back to 1700.
FRUIT & VEG BOX SCHEMES
I’ve found that having a fruit and veg box delivery has meant I’ve tried a wider variety of produce than if I’d stuck to supermarkets. Different types of kale and squash I’d never seen before and apples like these Pitmaston Pineapple.
Some say the name comes from a slight pineapple flavour. Others that it’s due to the colour and shape. I’m not sure I could taste pineapple but, sweet with a slight sharpness, they were just right for this Apple Tart.
With a simple shortbread-like base, the thinly sliced apples on top release their juices as they cook, forming a wonderfully chewy crust with toffee apple flavours.
BRAMLEY APPLES
But the British-grown variety I recommend for making my latest apple recipe is widely available. Bramleys are a cooking apple generally picked August to September, although cold storage means you can find them in the shops for much of the year.
More tart than ‘eating’ or dessert apples, Bramleys retain their flavour better after cooking. Although they’re known for breaking down during heating, making them ideal for things like apple sauce, my Apple & Cinnamon Scones are baked in just 15 minutes. Which is perfect for tender, fresh-tasking apple pieces that still hold their shape.
To further demonstrate those properties, I treated my newsletter readers to an exclusive extra: a new savoury apple scone recipe not previously published. But now I can share it with everyone…
CHEESE & APPLE SCONES
Cheese & Apple Scones are a variation on my popular Very Cheesy Cheese Scones and are lovely as a snack or alongside soups. I think the sweet-tart Bramleys are a great pairing with the Cheddar and Parmesan. And who doesn’t like tangy apple with cheese?
As with all scones, handle the dough as gently as possible for the lightest, fluffiest results.
APPLE, CHEESE & WALNUT SAVOURY FLAPJACKS
Sticking with the apple and cheese theme, I think nuts are another ingredient that goes well with them, particularly walnuts.
I make all sorts of savoury flapjacks, sometimes to eat as a snack or in lunchboxes, sometimes as the centre of a vegetarian main meal. And these Apple, Cheese & Walnut Savoury Flapjacks are a real favourite. Protein-rich eggs bind an oat-based mixture that’s lovely flavoured with either celery seeds or fennel seeds.
WALDORF SALAD
Apples and walnuts, along with celery, also feature in a classic Waldorf Salad. In mine you’ll also find plump raisins (substitute halved grapes if you prefer) and a dressing that’s lightened with natural yogurt.
One of the things I love about this simple salad is its crunchiness. It will come to no harm made ahead of time, retaining its satisfying crispy bite for several hours.
APPLE & CINNAMON CAKE
Going back to that local Apple Fest, a gorgeous slice of cake I ate there became the inspiration for my own rustic and homely Apple & Cinnamon Cake. Very simple to make, it’s great for beginners.
There’s no creaming of the butter and sugar, just beat melted butter and eggs into the dry ingredients, and fold in chopped apples. I like to add a topping of sliced apple and a sprinkle of demerara sugar too.
BAKED OAT PUDDING WITH APPLE
Although this is another recipe where I combine apple with cinnamon, there’s no reason you couldn’t swap in another spice like cloves, ginger, or even mixed spice.
Baked Oat Pudding is a super-easy dessert with a lovely soft and fluffy texture plus nutritious oats. Add a jug of custard and you’ve great comfort food.
ONE POT CHICKEN WITH APPLES & CREAMY CIDER SAUCE
One of my very first blog recipes was this chicken dish with apples and cider. Although I’d like to think that both my writing and photography have improved since then, I still think it’s a fantastic dish.
Browned chicken thighs are cooked in a buttery, cider cream sauce, made slightly tart with apples (I used English Cox’s) and smoky with bacon.
SAUSAGE SALAD WITH ROASTED APPLES
A salad I think’s perfect for the turning of summer into autumn is this one with sausage and lightly roasted slices of apple and red onion.
Also in there are crispy homemade garlic and herb croutons, but it’s equally good with little roasted or air fried potatoes. Bringing everything together is a dark, sweet, and tangy honey-mustard-balsamic dressing.
SPICED SPLIT PEA SOUP WITH APPLE & COCONUT
Although split pea soups are often thought of as hearty winter fare this Spiced Split Pea Soup with the refreshing tang of apple is much lighter.
Flavoured with cumin, fennel seed, garam masala and desiccated coconut, you can make it richer with more coconut milk in addition to the finishing swirl on each bowl.
I hope these apple recipes have inspired you to make more of apple season. You’ll find more apple recipes on my blog including:
Tangy Vegetable & Apple Coleslaw
Kale, Spinach, Apple, Celery & Lemon Drink