Autumn always makes way for some of our family’s favorite activities. Apple picking being at the top! A few weeks ago we went to Peck and Bushel, a local organic apple orchard to pick apples and try some of their homemade apple cider donuts. Our time there exceeded every expectation, everything they do is beautiful and noteworthy.
Making our way to the orchard we passed by mounds of pumpkins and swung on wooden swings on the oldest of trees. When we arrived at the rows of apple trees we saw a flower garden to our right and a building surrounded by flowers where we would later eat our picnic lunch. The kids were instantly hooked being able to try a tiny yet delicious crab apples and each bite into a different kind of apple was crunchier and juicer than the one before. I knew I wanted some apples for baking but mostly for snacking, so we got lots of Honeycrisps, Cortlands and Riverbelles. Since we went early in the season, we will definitely make our way back, for more apples and cider and donuts.
After bringing home 10+ pounds of apples, I was eager to make apple turnovers, crumbles and toppings. Which is what I want to share with you next!
Saturday mornings are set aside for watching Batman, the 90’s animated version, and making a big breakfast usually involving carbs and sugar. When the seasons change, so does my cooking and baking. Lately I’ve been loving anything and everything apple, caramel and pumpkin, so I figured I would share our favorite simmer apple topping recipe!
This recipe usually is a topping for our dutch baby pancakes, homemade waffles or can be a filling in baked oatmeal or pancakes. It’s simple, easy and adds coziness to any meal. For this blog post I made a dutch baby pancake — I got the recipe from the Magnolia Journal a few years back, and it’s become a staple in our home! For the simmer apple topping, you need:
big dollop of butter
1-2 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 apples (I prefer Honeycrisp but Cortlands are good for baking), sliced and diced
1/2 cup nuts of choice (pecans are our fave for this recipe but almonds or walnuts taste good too), sliced or crushed
nutmeg & cinnamon to taste
to make:
add a big dollop of butter to an already heated pan, add the brown sugar & stir until it’s syrup-y
throw in the sliced apples, let simmer for 5 minutes
add the nuts and sprinkle with spices
let simmer for another 5-10 minutes until it creates a bubbling syrup
serve on top dutch baby (or any other recipe you have)
For added deliciousness, Alexander and I make a seasonal latte to sip while we eat. Our current favorite is a pumpkin spice caramel latte with my homemade pumpkin spice caramel!
Hope you enjoy making these recipes and the rest of this beautiful autumn season!