As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp in the Steel City, there's no better time to celebrate the bountiful harvest of apples. Whether you pick your own apples at Simmons Farm or buy some in the Strip from Sturges Orchards on a Saturday, there are plenty of locally delicious apples around right now. So, roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and let's dive into yummy apple recipes!
Classic Apple Pie
Ingredients:
- 6-8 medium-sized apples (Gala, Honeycrisp, or Fuji)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- A pinch of salt
- 2 pie crusts (homemade or store-bought)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Peel, core, and slice the apples into thin wedges.
- Toss the apple slices in a bowl with lemon juice, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Line a pie dish with one of the pie crusts.
- Add the apple mixture, spreading it evenly.
- Cover with the second pie crust, crimp the edges, and cut a few slits in the top crust.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
- Let it cool slightly before serving.
Apple and Cheddar Grilled Cheese
Photo: David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews
Ingredients:
- 8 slices of your favorite bread
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 local apples, thinly sliced
- 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
- Dijon mustard (optional) Try it with Miller's Banana Pepper Sauce
- Honey (optional) Try it with Pittsburgh Honey's Hot Rod
Instructions:
- Butter one side of each slice of bread.
- Lay out 4 slices of bread, butter side down.
- Place a slice of cheddar on each slice.
- Add apple slices on top of the cheese.
- Top with a second slice of bread, butter side up.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook each sandwich until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted (about 3-4 minutes per side).
- Serve with a side of Dijon mustard or a drizzle of honey for an extra flavor kick.
Hot Butter Rum with Apple Butter
Photo: Meiko and the Dish
Check out this delicious looking cocktail recipe or mocktail sans the rum. You can even try it with Maple Street Jam's seasonal Apple Pie Jam that we have in the shops.
Kristen's Fav: Apple Crisp Stuffed Baked Apples
Photo and Recipe: Kim's Cravings
INGREDIENTS
- 4 medium firm crisp-sweet apples, such as Pink Lady or Honeycrisp (do not use a soft variety like Cortland or McIntosh—they will not hold their shape)
FOR THE CRISP MIXTURE
- 1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats , gluten free as needed
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger
- 1 dash ground cardamom
- 1 dash ground nutmeg
- 1 dash ground cloves
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar or light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped pecans or walnuts, optional
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil or melted butter
FOR SERVING
- vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or Greek yogurt and chopped pecans
INSTRUCTIONS
-
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Wash and pat dry apples.
-
Slice the top 1/4 off the apples and remove the core with a paring knife and a spoon. Widen the cavity just a bit so it can accommodate the crisp mixture.
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In a bowl, mix the crisp ingredients and spoon the mixture into the apples, pushing down slightly to fill the apple completely.
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Set the apples in a baking dish and add about 1/2 inch hot water to the bottom of the dish. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes, or until everything is hot and the apples are tender.
-
Allow apples to cool slightly (only for a couple of minutes) and serve with a scoop of ice cream and chopped pecans. Enjoy!
As the autumn season blankets Pittsburgh in a riot of colors, these apple recipes are perfect for savoring the local flavors.