Cooking with Apples

We have been using lots of apples lately in our daily meals, so I thought I would share some of the recipes with you.  I have shared these before, but had a request for one of them so I compiled them together here.


We always enjoy this baked oatmeal, but lately we've been adding sliced apples and about a cup of cranberries in the bottom of the dish.  Yummy!!  And did you know that you can freeze those fresh cranberries from the grocery store right in the bag they come in?  A couple of years ago I found the cranberries reduced to 25 cents a bag after Thanksgiving and bought LOTS of them.  I am down to about 4-5 pounds, so I hope to replenish them this year.


Baked Oatmeal  from Beverly Lewis' Amish Heritage Cookbook

1/4 cup cooking oil                                                  1 t. cinnamon
1/2 cup white or brown sugar                                  1 1/2 c. quick or rolled oats
1 egg                                                                        1 c. milk
1 t. baking powder                                                   1/2 t. salt

Beat together all ingredients with mixing spoon; pour into buttered 9 x 13 pan.

Bake at 275 degrees for 30 minutes or until done. 





And this apple cake is so very wonderful!!  This cake freezes well, too, so would a wonderful treat to keep in the freezer for all of those potluck dinners that will be coming up soon.

Washington Apple Cake

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup cooking oil (I used olive oil)

2 cups all purpose flour

2 t. cinnamon

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1 t. vanilla

1 cup chopped walnuts

4 cups thinly sliced pared tart apples (I used Granny Smith)

Beat eggs with a mixer until thick and light.  (I mixed in my Bosch)  Combine sugar and oil;  pour into eggs with mixer on medium speed.  Stir together flour, cinnamon, soda and salt;  add to egg mixture with vanilla.  Beat to mix.  Stir in walnuts.  Spread apples in a buttered 9 x 13 baking dish.  Pour batter over apples, spreading to cover.  (the batter will be thick)  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour.  (I baked mine for about 45 minutes)  Remove from oven and cool.

Make cream cheese icing.  Soften an 8 ounce brick of cream cheese.  Beat until fluffy.  Beat in 1/4 cup melted butter; then beat in 2 cups powdered sugar and 1 t. lemon juice.  Spread over cake.  Cut into squares and serve.  

My mother-in-law introduced me to this recipe many years ago and it has become a must for me at all turkey and dressing meals.  I do omit the pecans as we have allergy issues with nuts!  This exact recipe is also from a former church member.  Church folks sure know how to cook!!

Cranberry Casserole

1 c. peeled raw apples, chopped
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 c. uncooked oatmeal
2 c. fresh or thawed from frozen cranberries
1 stick butter, melted
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Butter a loaf-shaped glass dish. Put a layer of apples, half of each sugar, half of oatmeal, and half of nuts.  Repeat layers.  (Oatmeal is next to top layer and nuts the very last top layer.)  Pour melted butter over all and bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.  Serves 8-10 people.
I use a little less sugar and you can par-bake this and freeze so make your Thanksgiving morning a little less stressful!


I have also started dehydrating apple slices.  I simply slice the apples and then after spreading them out on the trays, I sprinkle them with a little cinnamon sugar and then put them in the dehydrator.  They taste delicious and I already have a half gallon jar stuffed full!  I plan on doing more of these tasty treats this week as well.


And, because I have been buying apples by the case for the last few months making applesauce is always on the agenda.  The other day I bought another 40 pound box for only $12!!  This morning I have cut up 10 pounds of apples and they are cooking up in the slowcooker.  I will do several batches this week and then will spend one afternoon canning it all.  Here is a link to how I make applesauce in the crockpot and a recipe for some of our favorite applesauce muffins.  


I would love to see some of your favorite apple recipes.  Please share in the comments or leave a link to your own blog post.  Thanks!!