BROWN BUTTER APPLE & PECAN CRISP
Serves 8
1.6kg Granny Smith apples, peeled, quartered, cored 1 lemon, halved
75g unsalted butter
½ cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tsp mixed spice
Whipped cream and thick caramel sauce, to serve
Pecan crisp
1 cup rolled oats
80g pecans, finely chopped
⅔ cup rye flour or wholemeal spelt flour ⅓ cup brown sugar
⅓ cup desiccated coconut
100g melted unsalted butter
2 tbsp golden syrup
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tbsp boiling water
1. Cut apple quarters into 2cm wedges and place in a large bowl. Squeeze lemon over them and toss to coat. Place butter in a large non-stick frying pan, over a medium heat, until foaming and turning brown. Add apples and cook, stirring for 2 minutes.
2. Add sugar and water. Cook, stirring occasionally for 10-12 minutes or until apples are tender and syrup thickens. Remove from heat. Spread into a 26cm x 5cm deep oven-proof skillet or 7-cup capacity oven-proof dish. Sprinkle with mixed spice. Set aside.
3. To make pecan crisp, preheat oven to 160°C. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Place oats, pecans, flour, brown sugar and coconut into a large bowl and stir until combined. In a large jug, whisk melted butter and golden syrup.
4. In a separate small jug, dissolve bicarb in boiling water. Add to golden syrup mixture and stir to combine. Add to dry ingredients in bowl and stir until well combined and sticky. Use your hand to press pecan mixture out on prepared tray to a 26cm diameter circle or press to fit the top of the dish you are using. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until beginning to firm, but not hard.
5. Lift pecan crisp from tray and carefully tear baking paper off the back. Place pecan crisp on top of apples and tuck in around edges. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden. Allow to cool slightly to become crisp on top. Serve with cream and caramel sauce.
FINISH OFF THIS delicious FARE sweet WITH A TREAT