Filed under Cooking on October 3rd, 2008:
Top 5 Homemade Apple Treats
It’s that time of year again when the air is a little chillier and the trees are a little more colorful. Pumpkins are for sale at every fire station and the scents of cinnamon, cider and pumpkin spice seem to float on the breeze. Yeah, you know what that means – It’s time to take a trip to the apple orchard.
After returning from the apple festivities and picking, you find that you got a little carried away in your excitement and now you have a bounty of apples that you just don’t know what to do with. Well, don’t worry. All those delicious, fragrant apples won’t go to waste. There are plenty of things you can make with apples:
1. Apple Pies
You knew this one would show up on the list. Who can resist a warm slice of apple pie with a little vanilla ice cream on top? You can use a good number of apples to make a few delicious pies for your family and friends. Below are a few of our favorite recipes:
- Traditional Apple Pie by Tyler Florence
- Apple Crumb Pie by Jackie Smith
- Extra Thick Apple Pie by Simply Recipes
2. Apple Potpourri
If you want to add a cozy, seasonal scent to your home, this potpourri will do the trick. You only need a few apples and some spices to make homemade apple potpourri. It also makes for a very inexpensive gift that you can give to friends to get them into the spirit of the season.
3. Apple Butter
Need something to spice up your morning muffin or toast? Make some apple butter too keep on hand or to give to friends as a gift with some freshly baked muffins. Yum! This apple butter recipe is easy to follow, and most of the work is done by your slow cooker. All you need is a few apples, cinnamon, sugar, apple cider and some nutmeg.
4. Homemade Apple Cider
You could pick up a couple of gallons of apple cider while you’re at the orchard. They typically make their own brand of cider. But, making it at home can be a fun activity. This homemade apple cider recipe from RecipeZaar.com is easy to make, and it’s non-alcoholic. You can drink it warm or cold, and if you prefer some kick to your cider, add a little brandy before you drink it.
5. Apple Treats
Apples are best when eaten, so check out the following recipes and apple ideas to make a variety of different treats. Again, these would make great gifts for friends. And, they all utilize a large amount of apples, so you can use up the hoard you brought home from the orchard: