Sous Vide "Baked" Apples with Apple Drizzle Syrup and Nut Garnish Recipe

Sally MacColl of SVKitchen.com says summer isn't exactly apple season, but at both farmer's markets and grocery stores many varieties are available year-round.

Here in Central California they've had quite a bit of cool weather from late May through June and into July. For Sally, cool weather means comfort food and baked apples fall right into that category.

Baked apples... aah. They were an old standby dessert her mother often concocted, and a favorite memory was sometimes having leftovers for breakfast. Visions of sweet and syrupy fruit topped with ice cream, or creme fraiche, or thick Greek-style yogurt inspired her to try them sous vide in the water oven.

Every recipe she checked included peeling and coring the apples, however, she wanted them to stand up on the plate, skin on, in the traditional manner. Sally successfully experimented with four different varieties: Pink Lady, Braeburn, Fuji, and Gala. All the apples cooked in 3 hours. The Pink Lady and Braeburn were somewhat tart, while the Fuji and Gala were sweeter, the latter being her favorite.

The apples are delicious straight from the water oven, but if you want to dress them up a bit for company, try the syrup and nut garnish.

Modernist Tools, Ingredients, and Techniques Used

If you would like more information about the modernist techniques, ingredients, and equipment used in the Sous Vide "Baked" Apples with Apple Drizzle Syrup and Nut Garnish you can check out the following.

Sous Vide "Baked" Apples

  • Published: August 23, 2012
  • By Sally MacColl of SVKitchen.com
  • Prep Time: 20 Minutes
  • Total Time: 3 to 3.5 Hours
  • Cooks: 183°F (84°C) for 2.5 to 3 Hours
  • Serves: 6

Ingredients for Sous Vide "Baked" Apples with Apple Drizzle Syrup and Nut Garnish

  • For the Sous Vide "Baked" Apples

  • 6 large apples, stem intact (use a full-flavored variety with dense texture, such as Pink Lady, Braeburn, Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith)
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 6 tablespoons superfine (castor) sugar
  • For the Nut Garnish

  • 20 pistachios, shelled and roughly chopped
  • 3 tablespoon thinly sliced almonds
  • 1 tablespoon confectioners (powdered) sugar
  • For the Apple Drizzle Syrup

  • 4 tablespoons superfine (castor) sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/3 cup apple juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon arrowroot mixed with 1/4 teaspoon cold water
  • 1 tablespoon Calvados or apple brandy

Note: If you prefer a thinner syrup, simply reduce the accumulated juices from the apple cooking bags for a few minutes in a small saucepan over high heat and add a tablespoon of Calvados or apple brandy at the end. Sally preferred the thicker version, whereas her husband preferred the thinner syrup!

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Cooking Instructions for Sous Vide "Baked" Apples with Apple Drizzle Syrup and Nut Garnish

For the Sous Vide "Baked" Apples

At least 3 to 3.5 hours before serving

Preheat the water bath to 183°F (84°C).

Wash the apples and pat dry. If the apples have an uneven bottom and you want to present them "standing," use a small paring knife to trim a slice off the base of each apple so that it will sit upright. (They may already be flat enough to stand without trimming.) With the same knife or an apple corer and working from the base of the apple, carefully remove as much of the core (perhaps halfway up the inside of the apple) as you like, without removing so much that the apple can't hold its shape. Or you can leave the core in if you like.

Prepare three vacuum bags large enough to hold 2 apples each. Brush the inside of each bag with about a tablespoon of melted butter, going 3 to 4 inches up the side. Dust the inside of the bags with about half the superfine sugar. Place the open bags in the refrigerator or freezer for a minute or two to harden the melted butter.

Brush the prepared apples all over with the remaining melted butter. Place the coated apples and the remaining half of the superfine sugar in a large plastic bag and shake to cover the apples evenly with the sugar.

Remove the vacuum bags from the refrigerator, place two buttered-and-sugared apples in each bag, and vacuum seal.

Cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. The apples are buoyant and you will need to be sure that they are completely submerged by weighting them with a rack or something heavy enough to keep them from floating.

For the Nut Garnish

To prepare the optional nut garnish, toast the pistachios and almonds in a saute pan or in the oven until light golden brown and then sprinkle with the confectioners' sugar. Transfer to a strainer to remove any excess sugar. They should be lightly dusted with sugar. Set aside.

For the Apple Drizzle Syrup

To make the optional syrup, stir together the superfine sugar and water in a small saucepan. Heat over high heat until the sugar has dissolved and the liquid begins to bubble all over. (In essence, you are creating a caramel.) Do not move or stir the contents. Watch the pan closely to be sure the mixture does not burn. The liquid will begin to turn a light amber color and once it has all turned an amber color, remove the pan from the flame and carefully add the apple juice. The liquid may want to bubble up in the pan, so have a lid ready to cover the pan once the apple juice has been added. Stir the contents of the pan and return to the burner on medium to medium-high heat. Add the arrowroot-water mixture to the pan, stirring constantly. Boil the ingredients until thickened, remove from heat, and add the Calvados or brandy. The final sauce will be more like a thick syrup than a caramel. Set aside until ready to serve the apples.

For Finishing the Sous Vide "Baked" Apples with Apple Drizzle Syrup and Nut Garnish

Remove the apples from the water oven and transfer them to a serving platter or individual plates. Serve as is, or drizzle with the syrup and sprinkle with the nuts. Top with ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, creme fraiche, or plain Greek yogurt if desired. They are delicious hot or cold or at room temperature. They are extremely versatile!

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Jason logsdon headshot This article is by me, Jason Logsdon. I'm an adventurous home cook and professional blogger who loves to try new things, especially when it comes to cooking. I've explored everything from sous vide and whipping siphons to pressure cookers and blow torches; created foams, gels and spheres; made barrel aged cocktails and brewed beer. I have also written 10 cookbooks on modernist cooking and sous vide and I run the AmazingFoodMadeEasy.com website.
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