A simple Christmas dessert recipe combines baked apples, crunchy almond cookies, custard, jam, yogurt, cinnamon, and toasted almonds. This dessert will impress your guests with its wonderful flavors and textures.
Ingredients:
For Baked Apples:
4 medium-sized apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup water
For Crunchy Almond Cookies:
1 cup almond flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg white
For Custard:
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Assembly:
Your favorite fruit jam (apricot or raspberry work well)
Greek yogurt
Toasted almonds, chopped
Instructions:
1. Baked Apples:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Wash and core the apples, leaving a little well in the center for the filling.
In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and ground cinnamon.
Stuff each apple with a mixture of butter and cinnamon sugar.
Place the apples in a baking dish and add the water to the bottom of the dish.
Bake for about 30-40 minutes, or until the apples are tender. Baste them with the juices occasionally.
2. Crunchy Almond Cookies:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, combine almond flour, granulated sugar, almond extract, and egg white.
Mix until a smooth cookie dough forms.
Roll the dough into small balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Gently flatten each ball with a fork.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
Let the cookies cool on a wire rack.
3. Custard:
In a saucepan, heat the heavy cream and milk over medium heat until it's hot but not boiling. Remove it from the heat.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until well combined.
Slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture while whisking continuously.
Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla extract, and let it cool.
4. Assembly:
To assemble, place a baked apple in the center of a dessert plate.
Spread a thin layer of fruit jam inside each apple.
Spoon some custard around the apple.
Add a dollop of Greek yogurt on the side.
Sprinkle the baked apple with toasted almonds.
Serve with a couple of almond cookies on the plate.
Enjoy this delightful Christmas dessert with a perfect balance of flavors and textures!
