Cider Poached Apples With Brandy Coconut Cream, Spiced Walnuts, and Apple Cider Syrup

party for breakfast!

Who doesn't like a party for breakfast especially on Christmas Eve?  There are a few steps to making this dessert (or breakfast) happen but they are all really good excuses to get up early, drink lots of coffee, and lounge around in your pyjamas. 

 

poaching apples

Poached Apples

*6 Gala apples 

8-10 cups apple cider (reserve two cups after poaching for making cider syrup) 

2 cinnamon sticks

lemon juice

Core apples (it's worth investing in an apple corer or asking for one for Christmas).  Peel top 1/3 of apple.  Brush peeled portion of apple with lemon juice.  Add 8-10 cups of apple cider to a heavy bottomed pot along with 2 cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil.  Add apples.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Allow apples to cool in cider for approximately 30 minutes.  Remove from cider and serve at room temperature.  

* If you are not using Gala apples be sure that your apples will hold their shape (Macintosh apples for example DO NOT hold their shape.  Hello, apple sauce!).

While you are waiting patiently...

coconut cream

Coconut Cream

1 can full fat coconut milk

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp brandy

1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste

Place can of coconut full fat coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight to separate the thick cream from the milk.  Open the can & scrape out the thick cream.  Add 1 tsp of sugar, 1 tsp brandy & 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste.  Whip until desire consistency is reached.  Return to refrigerator until needed.

* Alternatively you can use 1/3 cup of whipping cream.

spiced walnuts and cider syrup

Spiced Walnuts

1 C walnuts

1 T amber maple syrup

1 1/2 tsp butter, earth balance or coconut oil

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp allspice

Preheat oven to 300 F. Melt butter.  Combine butter, maple syrup, spices and walnuts.  Bake on a baking stone for 8-10 minutes or until crispy.

Cider Syrup

2 cups apple cider

Boil cider until it reaches a syrupy consistency.  This should take 15-20 minutes.  Once it cools you may want to add some reserved apple cider to thin syrup.  You'll want to watch it closely (burnt syrup smells awful and makes washing the pot a bit of an adventure.  So I've heard.).

da, da, da, la... cider poached apples

Merry Christmas!  I hope your holiday is filled with dessert for breakfast and all of your favourite people and things.