Apple Blossom Mold Recipes

BLOOMIN' APPLE

Steps:

• Fill a large, heavy-bottomed pot halfway with oil, attach a deep-fry thermometer to the side of the pot and heat to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set aside.
• Whisk together the cider, flour and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a large bowl until no lumps remain and the batter is completely smooth. Stir together the sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl.
• Slice the apples in half crosswise (not through the stem). Scoop out the core and seeds using a melon baller, being careful not to go all the way through the apple. Have ready a 1 1/2-inch, 2-inch and 2 1/2-inch round biscuit or cookie cutters. Make 3 concentric circles on each apple half starting with the smallest biscuit cutter around the core and then working out with a slightly bigger cutter each time. Press each ring down into the apple but don't go through the skin (you should have 3 rings). This keeps the apple intact. (See Cook's Note.) Flip an apple over and, visualizing a quarter placed on top of the stem in the center, cut slits through the apple about 1/2 inch apart, circling around the quarter. This also keeps the apple intact. Repeat with the remaining apples.
• Use your hands to gently pull apart the outer layers of the apple while keeping the skin intact. This will allow the batter to sink into the cuts and help the apple bloom.
• Sprinkle each apple half with 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon-sugar mixture and let sit for 5 minutes. Stuff the centers with 4 marshmallows each. Place 2 apples at a time in the batter, using a slotted spoon to turn them and evenly coat. Lower each apple cut-side down into the hot oil with the slotted spoon and fry until crispy and golden brown on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Flip the apples over and continue to fry until the apples are tender and golden brown and crispy on the top, 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer with a slotted spoon to the prepared baking sheet to drain. Repeat with the remaining apples, being sure to bring the oil temperature back to 350 degrees F before frying again.
• Meanwhile, stir the caramel sauce and salt in a small bowl until well combined. Dollop each apple with whipped cream and drizzle with the caramel sauce. Serve with the remaining sauce for dipping.

OLD-FASHIONED APPLE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch pan.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll pastry into a large rectangle, about 24 by 16 inches. Cut into 6 square pieces. Place an apple on each pastry square with the cored opening facing upward. Cut butter into 8 pieces. Place 1 piece of butter in the opening of each apple; reserve remaining butter for sauce. Divide brown sugar between apples, poking some inside each cored opening and the rest around the base of each apple. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over the apples.
• With slightly wet fingertips, bring one corner of pastry square up to the top of the apple, then bring the opposite corner to the top and press together. Bring up the two remaining corners, and seal. Slightly pinch the dough at the sides to completely seal in the apple. Repeat with the remaining apples. Place in prepared baking dish.
• In a saucepan, combine water, white sugar, vanilla extract and reserved butter. Place over medium heat, and bring to a boil in a large saucepan. Boil for 5 minutes, or until sugar is dissolved. Carefully pour over dumplings.
• Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes. Place each apple dumpling in a dessert bowl, and spoon some sauce over the top.

2BLEU'S APPLE BLOSSOMS (CHUDLEIGH'S COPYCAT)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.
• FILLING: mix all filling ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside.
• CARAMEL: Heat caramel ingredients over medium heat; Bring to boil, stirring constantly; Let boil for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.
• DOUGH: Mix the flour and oil together in a bowl, and mix in just sufficient cold water to make a firm (but not sticky) dough. Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Then roll out each into a 5-6" disc.
• ASSEMBLY: Place 1/8th of apple filling onto center of each dough round. Fold up edges of dough up towards the center, making a cup around the filling (you could use a jumbo muffin tin for this too). Brush with eggwash.
• To each blossom, sprinkle 1 tsp of rolled oats followed by a drizzle of caramel topping into tops of apple filling. Follow with a light sprinkle all over with sugar in the raw.
• Bake at 400F for 25-30 minutes or until heated through. Cool on wire rack.

APPLESAUCE-BERRY GELATIN MOLD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in cranberry sauce and applesauce. Pour into a 6-cup ring mold coated with cooking spray. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Unmold onto a serving platter.

APPLE BLOSSOM MOLD

Steps:

• Stir boiling water into gelatin in a large bowl at least two minutes until completely dissolved.
• Stir in cold juice.
• Refrigerate about 1 1/2 hours or until thickened, but not completely set.
• Stir in apples.
• Pour into a 6 cup mold that has been sprayed with non stick cooking spray.
• Refrigerate for 4-5 hours or until firm.
• Unmold and garnish.