Apple Cream Torte Recipe

One of the best things about fall is the abundance of delicious apple recipes that I love finding and making. Of course, I love baking and cooking with pumpkins this time of year too, but there is just something about apple desserts that I find cozy and comforting.

I've never gone apple picking, but judging by all the pics on Instagram I've been seeing, there are a lot of people that do. It's definitely something I want to do one of these days, and preferably in a beautiful orchard with a plaid blanket and gorgeous picnic, and wine, and... ok, so not everything on Instagram is the way it appears, but dang, they make it look so good!

Anyway, back to this delicious Apple Cream Torte that I found in the September issue of Sunset Magazine. A cream torte is like a cross between a cake, a custard, and a Dutch baby, according to the magazine, and I completely agree with them. It's absolutely more custardy than a regular cake, and that's one of my favorite things about it.

The recipe calls for 3-4 thinly sliced apples, and I went with four and think that's the perfect amount for this torte. I love, love, love how the slices of apples bake on top of each other for this gorgeous effect you see when you slice into it. You can use a variety of different apples like Cameo, Fuji, or Gala, and I used Gala just because they are so easy to find. But next time I make this torte I'll try a different kind to see if it makes a difference in taste.

I made this for dessert for my family one night and they all loved it. The recipe is a keeper for sure, and one that I'll be sure to make again and again. If you wanted you could add a little crème fraiche or whipped cream on top, but I thought it was perfect without it.

Recipe for Apple Cream Torte

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs. (3 or 4) tender sweet apples, such as Cameo, Fuji, or Gala 

3 large eggs, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon table salt

powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and generously flour a 9-inch spring form pan. Shake out excess flour and set aside.

Using a paring knife or sharp corer, core apples from stem down through seeds and base to remove in one cylinder. Peel apples and slice crosswise into 1/4-inch rings. Set apples aside.

In a large bowl, using a mixer with whisk attachment, beat eggs and granulated sugar on high speed until pale and slightly thickened , 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium and add cream and vanilla. Beat about 30 seconds more to blend. Add flour, baking powder, and salt and blend on low speed until evenly combined.

Add apples (including any uneven end pieces) to batter and stir gently with a spatula to coat, separating slices. Pour mixture into prepared pan and arrange apples flat.

Bake cake until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into center of cake (rather than an apple piece) comes out clean, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Let cake cool on a rack 20 minutes, then run a slender knife between edge of cake and pan. Remove pan rim and cool cake at least 10 minutes more.

Serve warm or at room temperature, dusting with powdered sugar.

-Post by Patricia



Apple Pancake Breakfast Recipe

As we get deeper into fall, I want to start making more recipes that call for apples. I love apple desserts, and my apple galette has become a family favorite. But apples are so versatile that they can be used for breakfast, dinner, and other kinds of recipes.

This Apple Pancake is easy to make, even on a weekday morning when time is usually short. And with all the cold weather we've been having here in Washington State, it was so nice to have something warm and delicious to eat before going out for the day.

Feel free to use any kind of apples you have on hand. Be sure to slice them fairly thin so that they soften up while baking on top of the pancake.

Toss the apples in cinnamon, brown sugar, and a little melted butter. They smell wonderful already.

After you make the batter, pour it into a ceramic or glass pie dish. Then arrange the apples on top.
Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Recipe for Apple Pancake

Ingredients:

To make the pancake:

3/4 cup flour
3 tablespoons white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

For the topping:

2 apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons melted butter
4 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together the pancake ingredients in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, toss together the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Pour the batter into a well-greased ceramic or glass pie plate. Arrange apples on top of batter.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until pancake is spongy but not wet.

Serves 5-6

*Recipe slightly modified from BBB blog.

Healthy Snacking With Del Monte's Delicious New Fruit Cup Flavors #SmartSnack #CBias

By Patricia

My family has always been big snack lovers. When I was raising my five children, snacks played a very important role in their daily diets. I was always on the hunt for healthy snacks, but they were always something that I had to put together myself, and that was always very time consuming. Times have certainly changed and I love how easy and convenient snacks have become.

I now have small grandchildren that I am lucky enough to spend a lot of time with. As with all children, snacks and treats are a fun and important part of our time together. I love being the Nana that provides treats, but I also want them to eat healthy foods. I felt like I was giving them too many treats, so I decided that I would find snacks that are both healthy and that they would still enjoy.

My family has loved Del Monte fruit for many years, and more recently, the Del Monte fruit cups. I went to Walmart the other day to pick some up, and was happy to discover two new flavors.

I knew Diced Apples & Pears with Caramel flavor would appeal to my grandsons. I like that these fruit cups are one whole serving of fruit per cup, are loaded with Vitamin C, and contain no High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Diced Pears with Vanilla & Spice are the other new flavor of fruit cups I found. These new flavors remind me of fall, so it's the perfect time for them to be coming out.

Del Monte fruit cups are so easy and convenient to eat. They really make a great at home or on the go snack. They are also only 60 calories per serving, and gluten free. #SnackSmart

My five year old grandson has become a snack "expert". After a couple of years in preschool and now being in kindergarten, he knows what snacks he likes and what he doesn't.

He has eaten Del Monte fruit cups before and he has a favorite kind that I try to keep on hand. When I told him this new flavor had caramel in it, he was very happy, so this is the flavor he chose to try.

 

My two year old grandson wanted to try out the Diced Pears with Vanilla & Spice. He's too little to tell me exactly how he feels about them, but he does know what he likes.

After eating one fruit cup he took it upon himself to try and open another one to eat. I'd say he definitely likes these new flavors of Del Monte fruit cups.

I'll be picking up more of these new Diced Pears with Vanilla & Spice, and the Diced Apples & Pears with Caramel flavors.

I tried both kinds myself and I really like them too. I could taste a nice hint of the caramel, and the vanilla and spice were not overpowering, but just right. I do advise shaking them up a little so that all the flavoring is not on the bottom of the cup. Pears are actually one of my favorite fruits and it was nice to enjoy them with these new flavors. I'm very happy to be giving my grandsons snacks that are delicious and healthy for them.

Although I did buy the new Del Monte fruit cups for my grandsons, I like them too, so I tucked a couple in my purse to eat when I am busy and on the go. I love how they are only 60 calories each and just sweet enough so that I will be satisfied eating one instead of grabbing a snack that is loaded with sugar and calories.

If you'd like to know more about these Del Monte fruit cups and other Del Monte products, go to their website. You can also visit them on Facebook and Twitter. If you'd like to see my shopping experience at Walmart, check out my Google+ photo album.

If you would like to try the delicious New Flavors of Del Monte with your family there is a coupon for $0.50 off the product when you buy it at Walmart. Click here to redeem your free coupon.

* I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Del Monte #CBias #SocialFabric All opinions expressed in this post are my own.