Apple Beignets Recipes

Steps:

• Place apple slices in a bowl. Sprinkle with sugar and 1/4 cup Calvados and allow to macerate 15 minutes. Make batter by placing sifted flour and salt into a warm bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour. Add the yeast, beer, apple juice and olive oil. Combine to form a smooth batter. Cover the bowl and allow the mixture to stand 4 hours. After this period add a little more beer if necessary and fold in the half egg white stiffly beaten. Heat oil for deep frying. Place macerated apple slices into a small frying basket and then place this basket into the batter. Allow all the apple slices to become well coated in the batter. Drain and then place into the hot oil. Fry the beignets for 3 minutes, or until batter is crisp and golden, drain and dredge in confectioner's sugar and serve accompanied by the apricot sauce. Apricot Sauce: Place apricots into a pan on high heat. Add the butter and allow to melt. Flavor with cinnamon. Pour in Slivovitz and light. When flames have almost died down, add the remaining 2 tablespoons Calvados. Add the grated rind of half an orange, and then stir in the cream. Puree in blender and then pour mixture back into the pan and heat. Whisk in the egg yolk and then place sauce into sauceboat. Serve.

Steps:

• Two hours before serving, combine water and yeast and stir until yeast is completely dissolved. In food processor or by hand, combine yeast, flour, 2 tablespoons oil and salt and mix well. Cover and let stand 2 hours at room temperature. (Mixture should rise slightly and become bubbly.) When ready to serve, begin heating oil for deep frying to 375. Beat egg white until soft peaks form. Fold into batter. When oil is ready, using tongs or fork, dip apple slices one by one into batter and drop into oil. Do not crowd. When lightly golden brown on underside, turn and brown on other side. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Work as quickly as possible since beignets are best served hot. Arrange on heated platter and sprinkle generously with powdered sugar.

Steps:

• For the dipping sauce: Because the caramel takes a little while to cook, start by placing the sugar in a large, heavy skillet. Heat the sugar over medium heat, stirring with a fork until it begins to melt. Once it is melted, stop stirring. Cook the sauce, giving the skillet a swirl every now and again, so the sugar melts evenly. Cook until it is dark amber in color, and then remove from the heat. Keep an eye on the sugar because it can go from dark amber to burnt in a blink. Put an oven mitt on the hand you will be using to stir in the ingredients and stand back to avoid splattering.
• Using a wooden spoon, stir in the butter, 2 tablespoons water, the bourbon, vinegar and salt and cook over low heat, stirring to incorporate all the ingredients and scraping up all the caramel from the bottom of the pan. Add the cream, bring to a boil and allow to cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring, and then remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly.
• For the beignets: Set the oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Heat the oil in a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat to 375 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, beat the egg with a fork, stir in the sparkling cider and 1 tablespoon oil until nice and foamy. Cook's Note: Make sure you use a sparkling cider-it makes the batter lighter and fluffier.
• In a large, shallow bowl, stir together the 1 1/4 cups flour and cinnamon if using. Make a well in the center of the flour (similar to the way you would if you were making pasta). Pour the cider mixture into the center of the well. Stir in a circular motion, with the fork slowly dragging in and incorporating the flour. Stir until a lumpy batter forms.
• Put the remaining 1/2 cup flour in a plate or pan. Working in batches of 3, dredge the apple rings in the flour, shaking off the excess, and then dip in the batter to coat, letting the excess drip off. Carefully slip the rings into the hot oil and fry, gently turning over once with a slotted spoon, until golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes total per batch.
• Lay the beignets on a paper towel-lined plate to drain the excess oil. Transfer to a cookie sheet and keep warm in the oven. Return the oil to 375 degrees F between batches.
• Just before serving, dust the warm beignets with confectioners' sugar. Make sure the butter bourbon dipping sauce is warm, then drizzle over the top and serve more on the side.

Steps:

• Place the oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Peel and core the apples and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Pat apple rings dry.
• In a large, shallow bowl, put 1 1/4 cups of flour and make a well in the center. In a small bowl, beat the egg with a fork, stir in the cider and 1 tablespoon oil, and pour into the well. Stir in a circular motion with the fork slowly incorporating flour, and stir until a lumpy batter forms.
• Over medium-high heat, heat 2 inches of oil in a 5 to 6-quart heavy pot to 375 degrees F. Line a cookie plate with paper towels.
• Working in batches of 3, dredge the apple rings in the remaining 1/2 cup flour, shaking off excess, and then dip in the batter to coat, letting the excess drip off, and fry, gently turning over once with a slotted spoon, until golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes total per batch. Lay the beignets on the plate and allow the paper towel to absorb excess oil. Transfer to a cookie sheet and keep warm in the oven. Return the oil to 375 degrees F between batches.
• Just before serving, dust the warm beignets with confectioners' sugar. Make sure the Butter Bourbon Dipping Sauce is warm, and serve on the side.
• In a large, heavy skillet, heat the sugar over medium heat, stirring with a fork until it begins to melt. Once it is melting, stop stirring and cook, swirling the skillet occasionally so the sugar melts evenly. Cook until it is dark amber in color, and then remove from the heat. Put an oven mitt on the hand you will be using to stir in the ingredients and stand back to avoid splattering. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the butter, water, bourbon, vinegar, and salt and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until caramel has dissolved. Add the cream and bring to a boil and allow to cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring, and then remove from heat. Allow to cool down.;

Steps:

• Make the beignets: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, bring the apple cider to a boil, then cook until reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and let cool.
• In a liquid measuring cup or medium bowl, whisk together the water, granulated sugar, and yeast. 3. Let sit for 10 minutes, until foamy.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the reduced apple cider, eggs, salt, 2 teaspoons apple pie spice, the evaporated milk, and melted butter.
• Add the yeast mixture to the egg mixture and stir to combine.
• Add half of the flour and stir with a wooden spoon to incorporate. Add the remaining flour and stir until the dough comes together in a ball.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth, about 10 minutes.
• Grease a clean large bowl with nonstick spray and place the dough in the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place for at least 2 hours, until the dough has doubled in size.
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and remaining tablespoon of apple pie spice. Set aside.
• Make the caramel: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, bring the apple cider to a boil and cook until reduced by half, about 10 minutes.
• Add the brown sugar to the reduced cider and continue cooking until the sugar dissolves completely and the mixture turns a deep amber color, about 5 minutes.
• Add the heavy cream and whisk quickly to incorporate. Gradually add the cubed butter and whisk to melt completely. Whisk in the salt, then remove the pot from the heat. Cover with a lid to keep warm until ready to serve.
• In a large pot, heat the canola oil over medium heat until it reaches 350°F (180°C). Place a wire rack over a baking sheet and set nearby.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 12-inch (30 cm) square. Cut the dough into 36 2-inch (5 cm) squares.
• Working in batches, fry the dough squares in the hot oil until light golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to the wire rack and immediately dust with the apple pie spice sugar.
• Serve the beignets warm with the cider caramel alongside for dipping.
• Enjoy!