French Friday with Dorie
This is a very easy and quick dessert to assemble, but it does require some time in the oven. Two hours to be exact. I sliced the apples very thin and layered them with melted butter and a sprinkling of sugar mixed with ground ginger and a pinch of ground coriander. And I also sprinkled a little zest of orange on each layer. Instead of wrapping the cups in plastic as the recipe suggests, I used Martha Stewart's parchment-lined foil which I love and use quite a bit. Then I put a ramekin on top for weight.
I was really surprised when I unmolded the apples and saw that they had shrunk so much. Even though I had layered the apples to the top of the cup I ended up with a little less than half of a cup of baked apples. After taking them out of the oven, I put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
The cold ice cream with the hot apples was so delicious together. My only regret is that the orange zest overwhelmed the taste of the apples. If I make this again I will omit it. John thought this was just 'okay', but my daughter really liked it and said that it made such a nice, light dessert and loved the layered effect of the apples. John thought that the apples would have been better without the orange zest and cinnamon instead of the ginger. I thought it was good, but wouldn't mind trying it again with the cinnamon.
See what everyone else thought over at French Fridays with Dorie.
Yeah, they did shrink, didn't they? I love the idea of cinnamon, too!
ReplyDeleteWell, this dessert did not work out well for me. Good to learn your thoughts in the event I will try this one again. I kept thinking that the pinch of ground coriander should have been ground cardamom? And, of course, cinnamon is always great with apples...lots better than melted plastic.
ReplyDeleteYour apples look so good with that ice cream!!! I would love to find the Martha wrap...I haven't seen it in my area (North Carolina)
ReplyDeleteOh Elaine, Your apples look so delectable! Love the photo of the ice cream melting over the warm apples! Mine also shrunk…but still made a nice presentation! I really enjoyed the ginger, orange and coriander flavor, however cinnamon would be yummy!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!!
Beautiful apples. They look delicious.
ReplyDeleteWhat tasty and delicious apples :)
ReplyDeleteCheers
Choc Chip Uru
I'm sure I've told you this before, but I love your Jadeite dishes! Ice cream was the perfect topping for these - just lovely.
ReplyDeleteSeeing that pic makes we wish I had turned my apples out onto a plate. Looks delicious that way. Mine shrank tons also.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous round of apples! So pretty!
ReplyDeleteYour apples look great!
ReplyDeleteI made mine with cinnamon instead of Dorie's suggested spices and I loved it.
(They really did shrink huh?! It caught me by surprise when I peeled back the foil)
The amount of shrinkage was a surprise to all of us. I like how they turned a deep color, mine stayed quite pale. It looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteVanilla ice cream... I like that idea.
ReplyDeleteYes, the shrinkage was a surprise. I totally expect it when I make an applie pie, so I don't know why this threw me for a loop.
Parchment foil - interesting idea. I don't think I have seen that before.
I thought these were really good, with the only drawback being the time involved. I love the sound of parchment backed foil - tres cool.
ReplyDeleteWe had identical experiences with this one, Elaine, except I didn't think of the vanilla ice cream. Mine shrunk like yours and I found the orange overpowering. Did you see Susan of Little French Bakery's post? She mounded the apples high above the edge. That must be the trick. I will try it without orange and with other spices though. I really enjoyed the texture of the apples. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteWe were on the same page, Elaine. I turned to Martha for the parchment/foil. It was perfect for this. And, shrinkage is part of the deal, I think, in making this dessert. It's how it is supposed to be. I mixed a little orange zest into the sugar and cinnamon (I don't like ginger very well) and just spread it after I brushed each layer with butter. It worked fine and went faster. I liked this but I will probably leave this labor intentive-dessert to the big boys and pay the big bucks for it!
ReplyDeleteApples and cinnamon do go well together. I like how your apples stayed in one shape.
ReplyDeleteI loved the difference in height, such an interesting technique and result. Ice cream would be lovely with this - good call!
ReplyDeleteThe baked apples look terrific! And now I'm intrigued about this parchment lined foil you mentioned. Martha thinks of everything. Where did you find it?
ReplyDeleteIf I had had some vanilla ice cream, it totally would have wound up on my plate with the apples, but we put ours over oatmeal :)
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a simple, yet elegant, dessert. I'd love to try it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comments, everyone!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shelley. I believe that Safeway is the only store that sells it. That's where I buy mine, but you can get it through Amazon as well. After Martha came out with her wrap, I have noticed that Reynolds now has a parchment lined foil, but I haven't tried it. I really like Martha's.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice combo of apple and cinnamon, excellent work!
ReplyDeleteThat's how I would eat it with a scoop of ice cream!
ReplyDeleteI was in the melted plastic category so will need to revisit this with parchment. And ice cream ! We were also surprised at how much the apples cooked down. The orange zest was a hit in my house but it appears the spices got quite a bit of opinion with the FFWD folks- who used what, substituted, etc. Always an adventure !
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of the ice cream! (and adore your green milk glass!) These apples were wonderful and I can't wait to make them again!
ReplyDeleteElaine, sorry, I am running a bit late with comments from last week but we were sooo busy with the kids...but I definitely wanted to let you know that your apples look so wonderful and delicious with that vanilla ice cream on top that I feel that I should really make this dessert again on the weekend!
ReplyDeleteAnother beauty Elaine-you're killing me with your baked apple desserts tonight and I also love your green dishes-just lovely;-)
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