Apple harvest time is upon us! Like the wave of zucchini in July, the apple harvest seems to arrive all at once in a massive wave of nature’s candy. Luckily, there are plenty of fun and aesthetically pleasing ways to preserve and enjoy your apples.
Whether you are harvesting sweet or tart apples, there are plenty of ways to enjoy them throughout the rest of the year, and there is no shortage of recipes and ideas online. Juice, chips, pies, jams, jellies and everything in between. Try these four unique recipes to help you make the most of your harvest.
Dried Apple Cinnamon Slices
Dried apple slices are a delicious sweet snack to enjoy throughout the winter, and the crunch is amazing! They are basically sweet apple chips.
Start by slicing as many apples as you can fit into your dehydrator. Place the apple slices in a large bowl and sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over top. Mix well so the slices are evenly coated, then let them sit in the bowl for a couple of hours or overnight.
Once the apples are coated, place them in your dehydrator. Leave some space between the slices so they do not stick together. Save the liquid at the bottom of the bowl because you can use it to make apple cinnamon syrup!
The amount of time the apples need in the dehydrator will depend on your dehydrator and how full it is. Keep checking the slices, and when they can easily snap, they are ready.
Apple Cinnamon Syrup
With the liquid you saved from making the apple slices, you can make a delicious apple cinnamon syrup!
Add the liquid to a saucepan and simmer over low heat, allowing some of the water to cook off. The amount of time you simmer it will depend on how thick you want your syrup to be.
This makes a great sweetener. I like to use it in overnight oats to give them an apple pie flavour. The apples from the tree I pick from are more tart than supermarket apples, but the syrup made from their juices and the added sugar is absolute perfection.
Apple Sauce
The applesauce I make is mostly used in baking to add moisture to whatever I am making, such as cakes and brownies. Applesauce can also be used as a substitute for oil or butter in some baking recipes.
To make applesauce, peel and core your apples well, then blend them in a food processor until smooth. You may need to add a little water, but do so sparingly, adding just a tablespoon at a time. You want the applesauce to remain nice and thick. Optionally add cinnamon powder or sweetener to taste.
Apple Juice
Chop your apples and add them to a blender with a little water. Add just enough water to help the apples blend without making the mixture too thin.
Strain the blended apples through cheesecloth. Do not throw out the strained apple solids! You can use them to make apple leather in the oven.
Pour the juice into large jars and let it sit in the fridge for a couple of days. This gives the small solids time to settle to the bottom. Once you see a buildup at the bottom of the jar, carefully pour the juice into another jar, doing your best not to disturb the solids that have collected at the bottom.
It is important to store your freshly made apple juice in the fridge.
Let us know how these recipes worked for you!
