Fall is the best time of year to enjoy apples. Pick some up at an orchard near you, and try these delicious, easy to make recipes with Braeburn apples.
Whether it’s plain, a la mode, with whipped cream, smothered in cream, crumble topped, or even topped with melted cheese, we Americans love our apple pie. Now that apple season is upon us, try baking one of your own with delicious Braeburn apples.
Although traditional “Red Delicious” apples have been around much longer, they do not hold up exceptionally well in cooking. A newer variety that does, and is increasing in popularity is the Braeburn.
The Braeburn is a cultivar of apple that is firm to the touch with a red vertical streaky appearance. They are medium to large in size. Braeburn apples have a unique combination of sweet and tart flavor. They are grown from late April to mid October, but like most apples are available almost all year through the use of controlled atmosphere storage.
The Braeburn is thought to be a cross between Granny Smith and Lady Hamilton, and they are great for baking.
Perfect Apple Pie
- Store-bought crust or homemade pie crust (see recipe below)
- 6 cups Braeburn apples, peeled, cored and sliced
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Heat oven to 425°F (210°C). Place 1 pie crust in ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate. Press firmly against side and bottom. In large bowl, gently mix apples with flour, cinnamon, salt and lemon juice. Spoon into pie crust in plate. Drizzle with honey. Top with second crust, and crimp edges of crusts together to seal. Cut slits or shapes in several places in top crust. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until apples are tender and crust is golden brown. Cover edge of crust with foil after first 15 to 20 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning. Cool before serving.
Pie Crust
If you are a seasoned baker, you may wish to make a traditional (and more flaky) crust by cutting butter or shortening into the 3 cups of flour. For novice pie crust makers, we recommend the easier to make recipe below.
- 3 cups flour
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 4 teaspoons sugar
- 1 cup oil
- 4 tablespoons milk
Mix dry ingredients together with a fork. Make a well in the center and add the oil and milk. Mix together and form into two balls. Roll or press one ball into the pie plate, coming up just over the sides. Roll out second ball to use as top crust.
Easy Homemade Caramel Apples
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine
- 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- Dash salt
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 10 Braeburn apples
Melt butter in a pan on stove; add brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a full boil (10 to 12 minutes). Stir in sweetened condensed milk. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until small amount of mixture dropped into ice water forms a firm ball or candy thermometer reaches 245°F (120°C) -- about 20 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
Dip apples into caramel mixture and place on wax paper. Garnish if desired, with peanuts, white chocolate, M&M’s or candy corn.
