Pioneer Woman Baked Apple Food

CINNAMON APPLES

Steps:

• Combine the candies, brown sugar and 2 1/2 cups water in a large saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until the candies and sugar have fully melted, about 10 minutes.
• Add the apples and bring to a boil. Cook until the apples are tender but not mushy, about 5 minutes. Remove the apples with a slotted spoon and transfer to a heatproof dish. Allow the syrup to boil for an additional 5 minutes to thicken and intensify. Pour the syrup over the apples and allow to cool. Transfer to the fridge and chill for at least 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, warm a griddle over medium heat. Butter the griddle and toast the slices of pound cake for about 2 minutes per side, adding more butter as needed.
• To plate, place a piece of pound cake on each plate. Top with a scoop of ice cream and 4 apple slices. Drizzle with additional syrup and garnish with the mint.

NO PIE APPLE PIE

Steps:

• For the apple pie spice: Mix together the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cardamom if using in a small bowl.
• For the apples: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the apple halves core-side down on a flat surface. Before slicing, place chopsticks or wooden spoons on either side of them to make sure you don't cut all the way through. Slice almost all the way to the bottom of each apple half at 1/4-inch intervals, then place them on a sheet pan.
• Mix 1 tablespoon of the butter, 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar, 2 teaspoons of the apple pie spice and the orange juice in a pitcher. Drizzle over the apples, making sure they are well coated and the drizzle goes into the slits. Bake until they are just starting to get tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix together the oats, almonds, salt, remaining melted butter, remaining brown sugar, orange zest and remaining apple pie spice. Sprinkle the oat mixture over the apples, making sure to get some between the slices without breaking the apples. Bake until the topping is slightly crisp and golden, another 10 minutes. Drizzle with honey and serve with ice cream.

FRIED APPLE PIES

Steps:

• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, butter and 1 tablespoon water. Cook, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is bubbling. Add the apples, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and lemon juice. Mix together the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl to create a slurry. Add the cornstarch mixture to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender, about 5 minutes. Pour into a heatproof bowl and let cool completely. You can make this ahead of time and chill in the fridge a day or so in advance if needed.
• To make the pies, roll each biscuit into about a 5-inch circle that is about 1/8 inch thick. Spoon 2 generous tablespoons of the apple filling on each round of dough, just off center. Use your finger and run a little water around the edges to help them seal completely. Fold one half of each circle over onto the other half and seal in the apple filling, forcing out any air that you can. Press the edges together and crimp with a fork. Continue until they're all assembled.
• Heat the oil in a high-sided skillet over medium heat until it reaches 350 degrees F. Fry the pies 2 or 3 at a time for about 5 minutes, carefully turning them halfway through. Remove them to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
• When all the pies are fried, sift the confectioners' sugar over top. Serve with Cinnamon-Caramel Sauce or store-bought caramel sauce.
• Mix the brown sugar, half-and-half, butter and a pinch of salt in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, whisking gently, until it thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in the vanilla, cinnamon and a second pinch of salt and cook another minute to thicken further. Turn off the heat and allow to cool to room temperature before serving. Chill if not using immediately.

APPLE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch pan.
• Peel and core the apples, then cut each into 8 slices. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll piece, then transfer to the prepared pan.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan, then add the sugar and barely stir. Add the vanilla and stir slightly, then pour the entire mixture over the apples. Pour the citrus soda around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake until golden brown and crispy on top, about 40 minutes.
• Serve, spooning some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

APPLESAUCE PANCAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cake flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir together and set aside.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, Applesauce, vanilla, cinnamon and eggs. Slowly drizzle the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, stirring gently with a spoon as you go. Once combined, if the mixture needs more moisture, splash in a little more milk. The batter should be pourable.
• Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-low to low heat. Smear a little bit of butter over the surface and drop tablespoon-sized amounts of batter onto the pan (more if you want larger pancakes). Wait a minute or so, then flip to the other side. The pancakes should be light golden brown and set in the middle.
• Top with butter and drizzle with warm maple syrup.
• Throw the apples, apple juice and lemon juice into a pan and bring it to the boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat and simmer until the apples are soft, about 15 minutes. Stir through the sugar and mix until melted. Add the cinnamon and stir through.
• Puree the mixture in a food processor, blender or food mill. If not using right away, leave to cool and then refrigerate.

APPLE CRISP

Steps:

• For the apples: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with butter.
• Arrange the apple slices in the prepared baking dish in an even layer. In a bowl, mix together the granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt. Sprinkle the mixture over the apples, then pour 1/2 cup water over top.
• For the topping: In a separate bowl, mix the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and a pinch of salt. Stir while drizzling in the melted butter. Sprinkle the topping in an even layer over the apples.
• Bake until the topping is slightly crisp and golden brown, about 43 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature on its own, with ice cream or with frozen custard.

PIONEER WOMAN APPLE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Peel and core apples.
• Cut apples into 8 slices each.
• Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll.
• Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan.
• Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir.
• Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples.
• Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
• Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.
• Then go to confession. Quickly.