0 from 3 votes
Spiced Poached Apples
Cider poached apples are a tasty & warming snack or dessert. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream for a special comfort food.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 230 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 4 full-sized apples or equivalent in small apples
Syrup:
- 2 cups apple cider
- ½ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 1 by 3-inch strip orange zest
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ½ t ground cardamom
- 2 cloves
Optional Filling & Topping
- your choice of raisins, brown sugar, butter, candied ginger if you core and stuff
- ice cream, whipped cream optional for serving
Instructions
- Prepare your apples according to your chosen method, either halve and core, peel halfway or fully, or core and stuff with dried fruit and brown sugar (see notes).
- Mix your syrup ingredients in a small saucepan. Ideally use a small saucepan that will just fit your prepared apples. Bring the syrup ingredients to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the prepared apples to the pan and simmer for 15-30 minutes until tender and flavorful. If there are parts of the apples that are above the syrup level, turn them periodically so all parts of the apples can absorb syrup.
- When apples are tender and infused with syrup, remove them to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- Remove any whole spices from the syrup with a slotted spoon, then boil on medium high until the syrup is reduced, about 10 minutes.
- Serve the apples with the syrup and optionally ice cream and/or whipped cream.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Depending on your preference and the apples you have available, I have three preparation options for you.
- Halved apples (quartered or in eights for large apples). Here I halved the minis then used a small measuring spoon to remove the core. Larger apples could be quartered or cut in eighths. No peeling needed and super easy!
- Classic Peeled Fruit. Peel the apple either halfway or fully (like a classic poached pear). The exposed apple flesh absorbs the syrup better where it is peeled, though I like the health value and visual appeal of keeping some of the peel.
- Cored and Stuffed Apples. Here the apple is cored, usually with an apple corer, though I used a knife (which was difficult and not recommended), then stuffed with your choice of ingredients. I used candied ginger, raisins, brown sugar, and butter. Then I poached it just like the other apples, but was careful turning to keep the filling intact.
- o o o
- You can also bake a large quantity of apples. Core 12-16 medium apples, then set in a 9 x 13 pan. Mix up a double batch of the poaching ingredients and pour over. Cover the pan with heavy duty aluminum foil and bake at 350 F until tender, about an hour.
Nutrition Information
Calories
230kcal
(12%)
Carbohydrates
60g
(20%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
0.1g
(1%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.2g
Monounsaturated Fat
0.04g
Sodium
8mg
(0%)
Potassium
395mg
(11%)
Fiber
5g
(20%)
Sugar
50g
(100%)
Vitamin A
164IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
25mg
(28%)
Calcium
35mg
(4%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 230
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 230kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 60g | 20% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.04g | 0% |
| Sodium | 8mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 395mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 50g | 100% |
| Vitamin A | 164IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 25mg | 28% |
| Calcium | 35mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.