CAN YOU BAKE PIES OR COBBLER WITH HONEYCRISP APPLES?
CAN HONEYCRISP APPLES BE USED FOR BAKING?
It’s September and the apples are rolling in!
Even this early I have already eaten all sorts of varieties (still more to come!) I wanted to take a moment to look at one apple that has been gaining in popularity over the last decade – the Honeycrisp. Honeycrisp has the momentum of a runaway freight train (question is will crash soon – might talk about that in a future post) I first have to state this isn’t my favorite apple.
Please resist the urge to hit the back button on your browser or to completely turn off your smartphone and throw in the toliet. I am just not a fan of the skin. The flavor can still be good, but the quality can vary from apple to apple as would be expected with an apple grown by so many sources some for flavor, some just for profit.
As it is a popular apple I felt I needed to spend more time with it so I can help my readers understand how this apple can be used. Personal feelings are begin set aside for the moment.
The question I am here to address today is can you bake with Honeycrisp? I will answer that question by answering a series of questions. Pull up a chair it’s Q&A time!
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a tree that loaded with Honeycrisp apples in in your backyard?
DO HONEYCRISP APPLES HOLD THEIR SHAPE?
Answer: YES
The most important factor for me when it comes to baking with an apple is can it hold it’s shape when baked. I don’t want to bake a pie and have it filled with applesauce. The Honeycrisp does in fact hold it’s shape and does so quite well. Actually it came out perfectly in terms of texture.
[irp posts=”16709″ name=”What is the Difference Between a Cobbler and a Crisp?”]
ARE HONEYCRISP TOO SWEET TO BAKE WITH?
Answer: NO
When baking with an apple you want some tartness. Since you will be adding sugar either to the apples or the topping or both, you want to balance out that sweetness. Honeycrisp does have enough in the way of tartness to satisfy this requirement.
DO BAKED HONEYCRISP APPLES HAVE GOOD FLAVOR
Answer: YES
Again not being my favorite apple, I think there are apples out there that bake up with better flavor, the Honeycrisp does retain some good flavor when baked. I was pleased with the results.
THE FINAL VERDICT – CAN YOU BAKE WITH HONEYCRISP?
Answer: YES
Honeycrisp meets all the criteria for a baking apples, so feel free to use them in any apple baking application. The best baking apples typically come in October, so having Honeycrisp around to use in early September is a nice perk as they aren’t a lot of good baking apples at the start of the primary season.
Delicious Ways to Use Honeycrisp Apples
What makes Honeycrisp apples so darn delicious? Well, there are a few factors in play here: The Minnesota-born variety has a balance of sugar and acid, which gives it a sweet-tart flavor that seems to please everyone. It’s also refreshingly crunchy and crisp with an unparalleled juiciness. Basically, Honeycrisp apples are pretty much perfect. If you find yourself with an abundance of Honeycrisp apples (lucky you!), put your bounty to good use with one of our favorite Honeycrisp recipes — whether you’re in the mood for something sweet or savory, you’ll find a new fall favorite in this irresistible collection.
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Chai Apple Pie
A homemade chai spice mix makes traditional apple pie even cozier. It “will have your whole house smelling like the holidays,
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Apple Crumble Coffee Cake
Can’t decide between an apple crumble or a coffee cake? With Chef John’s mash-up dessert, you don’t have to choose! “It’s like baking a crumb-topped coffee cake on top of another coffee cake,” he says.
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Healthy Apple and Kale Salad
This Honeycrisp apple and kale salad is as delicious as it is nutritious. Pomegranate seeds add color and flavor, while a light lemon-thyme dressing is the perfect finishing touch.
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Chef John’s Apple Dumplings
Unpeeled Honeycrisp apples are cored and stuffed with a brown sugar mixture, wrapped in pie dough, and roasted to tender perfection.
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Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal
“Breakfast really doesn’t get any cozier than this warmly spiced baked oatmeal,” according to recipe creator and Allrecipes Senior Editor Darcy Lenz, who says this is a great make-ahead option.
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Sweet Potato and Cinnamon-Apple Bake
Buttered sweet potatoes and Honeycrisp apples are seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg, then baked until fragrant and tender.
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Apple Tomato Salsa
This sweet and savory salsa, made with Honeycrisp apples and fresh-from-the-vine tomatoes, is fantastic served with homemade tortilla chips.
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Apple Butter Recipe
Made with two types of apples (Honeycrisp and Granny Smith), this fruit butter is fantastic spread over toast or eaten with a spoon.
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Autumn Squash Soup
Butternut squash soup is sweetened with a Honeycrisp apple. Almond milk and coconut oil keep this recipe vegan-friendly.
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Air Fryer Apple Crisp
Recipe creator Kim’s Cooking Now says you can use whatever apples you want to make this air fryer crisp, but she recommends a mix of tart (like Granny Smith or MacIntosh) and sweet (like Fuji or Honeycrisp).
Baked Honeycrisp Apples with Butter Pecan and Brown Sugar Topping
Baked apples featuring one of the most cherished apples of the season—the Honeycrisp. Butter pecan and brown sugar topping make an incredibly delicious treat. If Honeycrisp apples are out of season, you can use any apple variety.
BAKED HONEYCRISP APPLES WITH BUTTER PECAN AND BROWN SUGAR TOPPING
Fall has always been magical to me. Part of that magic is carving out time to create. These beautiful, Honeycrisp Baked Apples are one of the things I’m excited about! Fall desserts are golden and allow you to use your imagination. This season is filled with an abundance of beautiful foods, colors, and textures—and it’s only right that you take advantage of what the season has to offer!
APPLES! APPLES! APPLES!
From festivals to the State Fair to candy apples and even apple picking, I’ve always enjoyed apples during the fall season. I’ve had baked apples as a side dish and I’ve also used apples for filling for pie, but I hadn’t enjoyed them baked whole. Until now. Because it’s fall, HB decided to pick up a plethora of pecans from our local market, so I knew apples and pecans would make the perfect pair and the perfect fall and holiday dessert!
DIFFERENT TYPES OF APPLES
Red Delicious Apples are the most popular of all the varieties originating in the 1800s. They are crispy, sweet, and juicy and vary from solids to stripes. There’s also Fuji, Empire, Pink Lady, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, McIntosh—and of course the beloved Honeycrisp! There may be more varieties, but these are the ones that came to mind. I decided on the juicy, Honeycrisp Apple for this recipe because they are generally limited in availability and harvested in the beginning of September. They are juicy with course flesh and when you bite into it, it will taste like honey to your taste buds. I love apples as a snack but they are so dreamy baked in the oven and even better served with ice cream!
DARK BROWN SUGAR VS. LIGHT BROWN SUGAR
Dark brown sugar and light brown sugar both contain molasses. Molasses gives sugar the dark brown color as well as moisture. You’ll also find that dark brown sugar tastes more like caramel. I’ve made these delicious Baked Honeycrisp Apples with both dark and light brown sugar, and honestly, it’s a toss up. If I had to pick one, I’d go with light brown sugar because 1) I made them using light brown sugar first and 2) the apples are deliciously sweet and the butter pecan drizzle is just a beautiful compliment to this treat. Baked goods are sensitive to moisture so you typically want to use light brown sugar. If you want a deep molasses flavor, you can use dark brown sugar; however, you typically want to stick to what the recipe calls for.
THE BUTTER PECAN + BROWN SUGAR TOPPING
Baked Honeycrisp Apples are delicious baked on their own. But LISTEN! The topping just sets it off. It gives them a crust-like texture (depending on your desired “crust”). There’s something about brown sugar, pecans, and BUTTTAAAA! OH MY WORD! So, so good! You honestly don’t need a lot of filling, just a nice little “cookie” scoop to spoon on top. Serve with ice cream. SO MUCH YES!
TWO WAYS TO CUT/SLICE YOUR APPLES
- Cut your apple in half and remove seeds and core.
- Cut 1/4 top of apple and scoop the core and seeds out to have a space to hold your mixture.
Baked Honeycrisp Apples with Butter Pecan and Brown Sugar Topping
Tenderly baked Honeycrisp Apples with a butter pecan and brown sugar topping.
PREP TIME15 mins
COOK TIME25 mins
TOTAL TIME40 mins
COURSEDessert, Snack
SERVINGS10
INGREDIENTS
- 10 Honeycrisp Apples
- caramel sauce optional
Butter Pecan & Brown Sugar Topping
- 1 cup light brown sugar (or stevia brown sugar blend)
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ⅓ cup melted, unsalted butter
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Slice apples in half and remove the core and the seeds using a spoon.(Make sure you cut an even, thin slice on the side of the apple that will rest on the pan to avoid rocking).
- For the topping: in a mixing bowl, add light brown sugar, flour, chopped pecans, and mix until well combined.
- After your brown sugar, chopped pecans, and flour is blended, add in your melted butter.
- Place sliced apples (with core and seeds removed) on a baking (cookie) sheet.
- Scoop each apple with the butter pecan and brown sugar filling. One cookie scoop is plenty, but feel free to adjust to your liking.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
- Optional: Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
NOTES
- Remember: to keep your apple from rocking back and forth, make sure you slice a thin, even slice off the side of the apple that will rest on the pan to avoid rocking.
- You can take off 1/4 top of apple and remove the core and seeds to create a place for your spooned in mixture.
- Feel free to use a stevia brown sugar blend in the place of regular sugar.