One dank morning this week, the kids and I popped into Bouley Bakery for croissants and coffee. While we were there a new offering caught my eye. There were cinnamon sugar apples, arranged in the French style, half moons, this way then that. Sort of the tarte tatin without the puff pastry.
Lately, since there will be a new class of two year olds in my kitchen in a couple of weeks, I have been thinking about simple snacks to make with them, things that they can take to school, make especially for their classmates when it is their turn to bring a snack, things they can be proud to have helped with, not just a little, but a lot. That’s why these apples drew me in. Since we had already ordered, I am sad to say that I did not get to try them, but they got me thinking.
At home this morning, we tossed local Ginger Gold apples that I had cut up on the mandoline in honey, lemon juice, and a healthy dose of cinnamon. We arranged them artfully but rustically and baked them. Our apartment smells like Fall, that heady mixture of apples and cinnamon melding together.
It is Jewish New Year today, and being in New York, so many people are celebrating with apples and with honey, sweetness for the year ahead. I say amen to that! We all need a little sweetness, don’t we? (And, next year, could someone please teach this shiksa to make a honey cake?)
Honeyed Baked Apple Stacks
*1 lb. apples (choose a good baking apple such as Granny Smith, Ginger Gold, etc.)
*1/4 c. honey
*the juice of one lemon
*1 1/2 t. cinnamon
Big Person: Peel and core the apples. Slice them 1/4-inch thick, making “O” slices. If you do not have a mandoline, slice them with a knife. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F.
Together: Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
Whisk all your ingredients together and throw in the apples. Have your mini-chef gently swirl the apple slices in the liquid.
Make stack on the parchment lined baking sheet. You can top with a little circle of apple if you like, or even a little leaf or apple you cut out of the sliced apple.
Big Person: Slide into the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the apple is soft and starting to dry out slightly.
19/09/2009 at 1:14 am Permalink
Oooooh, I want me some of them apples!
19/09/2009 at 1:55 pm Permalink
I will try soon as we get plenty of apples here … thanks for sharing the recipe !!
19/09/2009 at 1:59 pm Permalink
this is such a good idea. and i love your cake stand! besos! p.s. looove your curse words…
19/09/2009 at 3:41 pm Permalink
ohhhhh delish! i just came from jane's post – are there any triscuits or pickles in these apple stacks?
19/09/2009 at 5:30 pm Permalink
cate
i don't use to like apple stuffs, but if this is good as beautiful… wow… it must be yummy!!!
happy weekend!!
20/09/2009 at 12:42 am Permalink
Yum! These look amazing! I'm going to try them tomorrow. Thank you for your kind words on my blog. I look forward to catching up here on yours!
20/09/2009 at 7:28 am Permalink
…mmm i can smell your mixture !!! Lovely idea to prepare apples… Happy sunday !
20/09/2009 at 8:42 am Permalink
dear cate, thank you so much for your words. i'm happy to know you through your blog. cooking and baking makes me happy. and your apple recipe sounds delicious. wish you a happy day*
20/09/2009 at 9:01 pm Permalink
nice one, I will try it
20/09/2009 at 11:01 pm Permalink
After we go apple picking I am making these!!!!!
21/09/2009 at 2:27 am Permalink
What an easy and awesome idea!!! Apples never looked better
XO
21/09/2009 at 1:37 pm Permalink
What a great idea! I was just thinking this morning of what to do with all the apples we've picked….
21/09/2009 at 2:02 pm Permalink
This is so yummy! And this is apple season, too! Many thanks for this fantastic recipe.
Greetings from London.
21/09/2009 at 2:12 pm Permalink
Awesome idea – they look like little apple cupcakes. We make something similar by coring the apples and slicing them on the mandolin. Then we cover them with some lemon juice, a pinch of brown sugar and cinnamon and lay them on a baking sheet. They bake for a LONG time and turn into apple chips which we eat with some sliced cheddar.
21/09/2009 at 7:22 pm Permalink
Genious! I will definitely try.
21/09/2009 at 8:21 pm Permalink
those look wonderful! my daughter is 16 months, but i think she'll be able to help. we'll try it this weekend.
what a great way to get a little person involved in the kitchen- in our house, it's where we spend most of our time it seems.
22/09/2009 at 9:46 pm Permalink
YUmmy!
23/09/2009 at 6:00 am Permalink
this especially simple and beautiful dessert has already been served at my dinner table and true to my southern roots, they were served with a side of bourbon vanilla ice cream.
23/09/2009 at 7:10 am Permalink
So pretty!!
Ps: I'm loving your cake stand.
24/09/2009 at 4:29 pm Permalink
these look fabulous!!!
05/10/2009 at 10:06 pm Permalink
I can't wait to try these!