Easy Recipes from the Pot Rack – Dec 2023/Jan 2024

If you’re the kind of host who likes to serve your guests something special but you don’t have the time required to spend hours in the kitchen, this fabulous, easy dessert is for you! It looks stunning but doesn’t require a pastry chefs degree. And the martini is just the perfect seasonal cocktail. Cheers!

Apple Rose Ingredients

1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed

2 red apples, no bruises

Juice of half lemon

1 Tblsp flour for the counter

3 Tblsp apricot preserves

1 Tblsp cinnamon mixed with 1Tblsp sugar

Powdered sugar for decorating

Instructions for 6 Apple Roses

  •  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Thaw one sheet of puff pastry to room temperature. Lightly oil a muffin tin.
  • Prepare a bowl half filled with water and lemon juice.
  •  Cut the apples in half, remove the core and cut the apples in paper-thin slices. A mandoline works great! You want to see the red of the skin but it will need to be pliable enough to eventually bend.
  •  Place the sliced apples in the water bath so they don’t discolor. Microwave the apples in the bowl for about 3 minutes, to make them slightly softer and easy to roll.
  •  Place the pastry on a lightly floured counter and roll into a 12×9 inch rectangle. Slice the dough length wise into six 2 inch strips.
  • Spread the apricot jam onto a strip of pastry with a brush. You might need to mix in a bit of water if your jam is too thick.
  • Remove the apples from their bath and blot them dry. Now place them on top of the jam, overlapping each slice just a bit. The red skin of the apple should hang off the pastry by about half. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and fold up the bottom part of the dough. It should go up about half way.
  • Roll your pastry into a tight circle to create your rose. Pinch the end tightly to seal and place each rose in your muffin tin. Do the same for all 6 roses.
  • Bake at 375 º F for about 35-40. Let cool in the tin then sprinkle with powdered sugar to serve. I love the way they look with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and a sprig of mint.

Caramel Apple Martini

Ingredients for 2 Martini’s

4 oz. apple cider

3 oz. vodka

2 oz. butterscotch schnapps

Ice, for shaking

Caramel sauce, for the rim

Sliced apple, for garnish

Instructions

  • Place two martini glasses in the freezer to chill for 15 minutes before serving.
  • Dip the rims of the martini glasses in caramel sauce.
  • Fill a cocktail shaker halfway full with ice. Add the apple cider, vodka, and butterscotch schnapps. Seal and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
  • Divide the mixture between the prepared martini glasses; garnish with apple.