5 Best Apple Varieties for Baking and Desserts
Apple baked goods are a fall/winter classic. Who wouldn't enjoy a fragrant apple pie or crispy apples? apple puffsOr perhaps you prefer airy apple buns dusted with powdered sugar? In any case, to make truly delicious apple pastries, you'll need specific apple varieties. They need to be firm, solid, and shiny to prevent them from turning to jelly during baking. So, which apple varieties are best for aromatic pastries?
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Which apples are suitable for baking?
First, let's say a few words about which fruits are suitable for use in bakingApples should be firm, firm, and shiny. Overripe or blemished apples risk ruining baked goods and turning into mush when cooked.
Moreover, overripe apples have a peculiar floury taste and a loose texture, which certainly do not add quality to the dish.
It's best to choose varieties that aren't too juice-rich. These apples are good for eating fresh and perform well in baking: they don't runny, turn mush, or ruin the flavor of the finished dish. Keep in mind that whether you're making pies, buns, or other baked goods, the apples you choose should retain their rich flavor. Otherwise, the whole point of making apple baked goods is lost.
Years of experimentation and practice have helped housewives determine five main apple varieties that work well as fillings for baked goods.
Granny Smith
It's safe to say this is a culinary classic. This apple variety is ideal for making pies, puff pastries, buns, strudels, and other sweet pastries. These apples have a rich, sweet-tart flavor and firm flesh that retains its shape even when cooked vigorously.
An undeniable advantage of this apple variety is that it can be found for sale year-round, so you can delight your family with a fragrant pie or airy apple pies whenever you want.
The tart flavor of this variety may not appeal to many. So if you're a fan of something sweeter, try pairing these apples. Granny Smith with apples of a different (sweeter) variety in the filling.
Honey Crisp
Unlike Granny Smith, this variety is much sweeter, with a honey-like flavor and a hint of bitterness (which is typical of honey). These apples retain their shape well when cooked and retain their flavor when added to fillings.
Honey Crisp You can safely pair it with Granny Smith if the latter's flavor is too sour for you. This combination gives the filling a harmonious flavor even with little or no added sugar.
Unlike Granny Smith, Honey Crisp is only available for sale for a few months a year – in the fall.
Red Rome
Apples of this variety are characterized by a spherical shape and a bright red skin. Although these fruits have a very pleasant texture and firm flesh, their flavor is not as pronounced as that of the previous varieties.
So, Red Rome apples should be added to baked goods to achieve the desired filling texture. This variety should be paired with other, more flavorful apples.
Golden
Sweet apples with a hint of tartness. These bright yellow-skinned fruits are available for purchase most of the year. They're a great choice for those who love making apple pies and don't want the hassle of finding several apple varieties for the filling.
Golden apples are very aromatic, imparting a unique apple flavor to the filling that's unmatched by any other. However, these fruits also have their drawbacks. For example, they don't hold their shape very well. Therefore, they are best chosen for recipes that require minimal cooking time.
Jonagold
A late-ripening apple variety with red skin and a distinctive, tart, spicy flavor. These fruits are a cross between the Golden and JonathanThey have a firm texture and firm flesh. They're perfect for baking pies or buns. They're a versatile option and easily available in stores.
How to Make Apple Pie Filling
In fact, this recipe apple filling It's not just suitable for pie. It can be modified and used for other apple baked goods:
- Take 3-4 large apples of a suitable variety. Peel and core them. seeds.
- Cut the fruit into thin slices, place in a deep plastic bowl and leave for 5-10 minutes. fridge.
- Place a frying pan over medium heat and melt 50 g of butter in it.
- Place the sliced apples in the heated oil and fry them lightly (this essentially removes excess liquid).
- Add 2 tablespoons of sugar to the filling, stir the mixture and caramelize the apples for a while longer.
- Place the finished filling in a clean glass bowl, let it cool slightly, and then add cinnamon to taste.
- That's it. Now you can add this filling to any baked goods.
