Sour Cream Apple Pie

A tasty "upgrade" to a standard apple pie. This dessert is easy to make and tastes yummy! It is a nice change to an all-time favorite.




1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Mix ingredients well in a large mixing bowl. Add two cups of peeled and sliced apples (Granny Smiths work great). Toss apples to coat. Pour into a 9" unbaked pie shell.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with nut topping. Return to oven and bake 10 minutes more.

Nut Topping:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup butter
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix until crumbly.

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Apple Danish Braid

I first tasted this delicious apple bread/dessert at a Pampered Chef party. I immediately tried it at home (with a few alterations) and it has been my "go to" when I need a somewhat fancy dessert or brunch item.

OVEN: 375 degrees

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/3 cup powdered

sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup pecans, chopped (optional - I usually leave out)

2 packages (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls

2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced thin

1 Tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 Tablespoon maple syrup

In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and powdered sugar until well blended. Add egg, mixing until smooth.

Unroll 1 package of crescent dough; do not separate. Arrange longest side of the dough across the width of a 12x15" baking pan/sheet. Repeat with remaining package of dough. Press along the perforations to seal together. On the long sides of the pan, cut dough into strips 1 1/2 inches apart, approximately 3 inches deep, using a pizza cutter. You will have 6 inches uncut in the center for the filling.

Spread half of the cream cheese mixture evenly over the center of the dough. Evenly arrange apple slices over the cream cheese mixture. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the apples. Scoop the remaining cream cheese mixture over the apples. Sprinkle with chopped pecans (if desired).

To braid, lift strips of dough across mixture to meet in the center, twisting each strip one turn. Continue alternating strips to form a braid. Tuck ends under to seal at end of braid.

Bake 25-28 minutes or until deep golden brown.

Remove from oven and brush with syrup.

Makes 10 servings.

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Apple Butter

Apple time is upon us so I'm pulling out all my favorite apple recipes. We'll shortly be making our yearly supply of applesauce, and from some of that sauce we'll create apple butter. This all-purpose product makes a wonderful spread for toast or homemade bread, a great Christmas gift, and a good alternative to peanut butter!

8 cups unsweetened applesauce
4 cups sugar
4 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons nutmeg
2 teaspoons Allspice
2 teaspoons ground cloves (this is the strongest spice, so adjust to preference)
**Combine all ingredients in a large crock pot. Leaving the top off, cook on high for 6-7 hours. Be sure to stir occasionally as a skin will form on top. Ladle hot into pint jars and process at 5 lbs for 10 minutes. Yields about 5 pints.

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Saucy Apple Cake

It was a beef stew kind of day today. Rainy and gray and very chilly. And nothing goes better with beef stew than apple cake with warm vanilla sauce. The rest of the family seemed to think so too as this was about all that was left after dinner this evening!

OVEN: 350 degrees

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups peeled, shredded tart apple
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

In a mixing bowl, cream sugar and shortening. Add egg and mix well. Add the dry ingredients and mix well. Fold in the apples and walnuts. Spread in a greased 8 inch square baking pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until cake tests done.

Vanilla Sauce:

1 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup light cream (I use milk)
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Combine sugar, cornstarch and cream/milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add butter and vanilla; stir until butter is melted. Serve warm over warm cake.

Makes: 9 servings

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Spiced Applesauce Cake

OVEN: 350 degrees

Another great use for applesauce. Cake is not a favorite of ours, but this moist, spicy dessert is an exception to that rule. We enjoy it with or without any glaze or icing.

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup sour cream

1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (I use 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp cloves and 1/2 tsp nutmeg)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 cup currants (optional)
1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup applesauce

Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in egg and sour cream until blended. Stir together the next 7 ingredients and add these alternately with the applesauce to the creamed mixture, beating only until blended.

Place batter into a well-greased 10-inch tube pan and bake for about 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan. Remove to serve. Drizzle with favorite glaze or icing if desired.

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Crunchy Apple Dessert

This delicious treat tastes very much like an apple pie sundae that Friendly's used to serve. We eat it often in the fall, but it's great year-round.

OVEN: 350 degrees

1 1/2 cups Bisquick
1 cup sugar
1 egg

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Mix ingredients together and cut in 2 Tablespoons of butter until crumbly. Reserve 3/4 cup of the crumb mixture. Press remaining into an 8 x 8" baking dish.

Coarsely chop 3 peeled and cored apples. Sprinkle over top of crust. Combine 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, 1 Tablespoon sugar and 1/2 gteaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle over apples. Top with the reserved crumb mixture.

Bake for 25 minutes in a glass dish.

MAKES: 6-8 servings

Serving Idea: Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

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Apple Walnut Muffins

OVEN: 400 degrees

We make this recipe so often we have it memorized! The muffins taste especially good with Potato Soup.

2 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
2/3 cup milk
3 Tablespoons oil
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup coarsely grated, pared apple

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In a medium bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. In a small bowl - beat egg; add milk, oil and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients until flour is moistened. Fold in walnuts and apple. Spoon into greased muffin tin.

BAKE: 20-25 minutes.

Cool on rack.

Serving Idea: Re-heat and melt butter over top for a delicious morning treat.

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