Since yesterday’s apple cake post, I’ve had apples on the brain. It’s no wonder, since I do happen to live in apple country! I got to thinking about all the delicious ways to use apples in recipes and then I realized that some of my favorite apple creations can be found in The Blooming Platter Cookbook: A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes by Betsy DiJulio, published by Jon’s company, Vegan Heritage Press.
I love the creative ways Betsy takes us through the seasons using fresh produce. Give my love of all things apple, some of my favorite recipes in the book are in the Autumn section, with recipes such as Apple Brandy Cake with Pecan-Praline Frosting; Apple Tart with Peanut Butter Streusel; Braised Cabbage, Apples, and Potatoes; Cabbage, Apple, and Caraway Salad; and, my personal favorite, Baked Apples Baklava with Cider Sauce (recipe below).
If you don’t have The Blooming Platter Cookbook, do yourself a favor and order a copy – it’s worth it for the butternut squash recipes alone! And while you’re at it, enter this giveaway to win a copy, too. (it makes a great gift!)
Cookbook Giveaway: To celebrate this season (and all seasons!), I’m giving away a copy of The Blooming Platter Cookbook: A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes. For a chance to win, just leave a comment at the end of this post naming your favorite fall ingredient. That’s it! The contest closes on Sunday 10/7 at midnight, and a winner will be announced on this blog on Monday, October 8. For extra chances to win, do one or all of the following and leave an extra comment telling me what you did:
1) Follow me on Twitter.
2) Follow Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook.
3) Share the link to this giveaway on your own Twitter, Facebook page, or blog.
Good luck! Be sure to check back on Monday to see if you’ve won! And now here’s that recipe….
Baked Apples Baklava with Cider Sauce
Baked apples are one of the wonders of autumn. In this dessert, tender stuffed apple halves are wrapped up like a beautiful package in buttery phyllo dough. The Cider Sauce adds just the right contrast in texture, temperature, and tartness. They are as scrumptious for breakfast or brunch as they are for dessert. This recipe is from The Blooming Platter Cookbook by Betsy DiJulio.
Apples:
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon natural sugar
1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice
2 teaspoons agave nectar or brown rice syrup
2 large McIntosh or other sweet-tart red apples
Juice of one lemon
1/ 4 cup vegan margarine
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon natural sugar
16 sheets phyllo dough, approximately 8 x 13 inches each, thawed
Cider Sauce:
3/4 cup apple cider
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup agave nectar or brown rice syrup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick, halved
Optional Garnish:
Cinnamon stick halves
Chopped walnuts
Apples: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. In a small bowl, combine the walnuts, sugar, apple pie spice, and agave nectar and set aside. Remove the stems of apples and slice in half lengthwise. Using a melon baller, remove the core of the apples in two scoops to make a generous compartment for the filling. Rub the cut surface of the apples with lemon juice. Press one-fourth of walnut filling into each hollowed out compartment. Combine margarine and olive oil in a small bowl. Unroll the phyllo dough and cover it with plastic wrap and a damp towel. Remove one sheet of dough to a flat work surface and brush lightly with margarine-oil mixture. Repeat with three more sheets. Place the apple half, filling side up, in the center of the stacked phyllo. Bring up one corner of the dough over the filling, then the opposite corner. Repeat with the remaining corners, smoothing as you go, to make a tight package. Brush on a little more margarine-oil mixture and place the apples, flat side down, on a baking sheet or stone. Brush the top with a little more of the margarine-oil mixture, smoothing down the edges of the dough. Repeat with remaining apple halves, filling and dough. Sprinkle each with 1/4 teaspoon of sugar. Bake for 30 minutes.
Sauce: In a 1 quart saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Cool slightly or bring to room temperature to serve. Remove the cinnamon stick halves before serving or use them as two of the garnishes.
Assembly: Arrange the baked apples on dessert plates drizzled with the Cider Sauce and garnished with cinnamon sticks and walnuts, if using.
Yield: 4 servings
{ 163 comments… add one }
Winter squash is my fav! and apples! and corn! and more apples! and more squash! 🙂
I love butternut squash! I am following you on both twitter and facebook!
I did the following:
1) Followed on Twitter.
2) Followed Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook.
3) Shared the link to this giveaway on Facebook .
Apples are definitely my favorite ingredient! I also love butternut squash, but I hate preparing it. I’d rather someone else do the work for me. 🙂
Hands down, my favorite fall ingredient is apples.
Apples!
Followed Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook.
I am following you on twitter
My favorite fall ingredient is definitely pumpkin!
I also shared the link on Twitter!
Hi Robin, my favorite Fall ingredient is Elephant Garlic! O my goodness. I love baking it and squishing it on french bread with balsamic vinegar. Or just as is.
Not sure if that is an exclusive fall ingredient, but I can only get it here in Calif. in the fall and during the holidays.
Thank you for the chance to share this.
Paris
Oh there are so many fall ingredients I love. I think I will say cinnamon. I realize cinnamon can be used and bought anytime of year, really, but there is something about the warmth of cinnamon that I just totally crave during fall months.
I love pumpkin and apples.
I follow you on Twitter
I “like” Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook
Acorn squash has always been my favorite. But not to long ago you turned me on to kombucha squash. I have learned so much from your posts and books. And I look forward to your new cook book I ordered. It’s on it’s way. Can’t wait! Thanks so much Robin!
Oops sorry. I think it’s spelled kabocha squash. Kombucha is a tea. LOL!
I can’t help it – I love pumpkin! I avoid it the rest of the year because I want to keep it a special flavor for the fall and winter!
Oh, and I follow you on twitter 🙂
I am following on Twitter at @veggieamanda. Thanks for a giveaway!
I did all 3; I followed you on Twitter already, I liked /followed VHP on FB, I tweeted about this giveaway and blogged about it as well! 😉 (I’d looove if I’d win this book! It’s actually one I don’t own yet, which makes me feel guilty because Betsy is such a sweet person!)
My favorite fall ingredient is 100% pumpkin! I love that one can use it in savory as well as in sweet dishes! And the smell is divine too! 😉
I love all things fall, but my favorite is probably squash, with apples coming in right behind it.
I liked Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook. 🙂
I wait all year for butternut squash to arrive in the supermarket!
Shared the link on FB, going to look up/like Vegan Heritage Press on FB. LOVE your recipes, Robin!
My fav’s are pumpkin and apples 🙂
I follow you on FB and will share the link on FB
You recipes are awesome!
Pumpkin!
My favorite fall item are apples. I love baking apple pies. Also root veggies in stews.
I follow on Twitter.
I followed you on twitter
I tweeted about the giveaway.
https://twitter.com/BankruptVegan/status/253895350186819584
I liked Vegan Heritage Press on FB.
My favorite is Acorn Squash and Pumpkins.
I am now following Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook.
I shared this giveaway on FB
You rock Robin!
Is there any substitution for lemon juice…sounds delicious but I am allergic to lemons, limes, grapefruit and oranges 🙁
Jamie, You could just leave out the lemon juice.
I already follow you on twitter and FB. Added Vegan Heritage Press as well and shared the link with a promo for your cookbooks. I’ve been trying recipes in your new Slow Cooker book and have to say I love the Chili with cornbread topping. My husband called it a tamale. lol
My favorite fall food has to be pumpkin anything.
I follow you on twitter.
I have liked Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook.
I love pumpkin!
I love apples – anyway at all but this recipe sounds like a winner.
I moved from the states 22 years ago, NH actually. I missed the smells, flavors and colors of Fall so much!! I would definitely say crisp fresh apples and yummy winter squash are 2 favorites that come to mind. They aren’t very fresh when we get them.
I am following Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook and shared this page there also. I don’t have a Twitter account so I can’t share there 🙁
Apples! I love apple picking, apple cider, crisp apples fresh off of the tree, and apples baked in just about anything!
The apples are at their peak and the wide variety allows for many different ways to use them.
Just “liked” Vegan Heritage Press. I already follow you on twitter!
My favorite fall ingredient is pumpkin! 🙂
I most definitely love pumpkin!! 🙂
I am now following you on Twitter, liked Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook and shared this page on my Facebook page! 🙂
Cinnamon. It is so versatile it can go with so many other amazing fall foods from sweet to savory!
Following you on Twitter and on Facebook
Without a doubt, Butternut Squash!
apples and pumpkins!
I like Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook
Oh yum! Apples are by far my favorite fall ingredient!
Squash of all types! 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!
Followed on Twitter
Followed on Facebook
My favorite fall ingredient is pumpkin. I love all the pumpkin recipes I’ve been seeing on the vegan blogs!
Shared on Facebook!
I follow Vegan Heritage Press on facebook as Janel Myers.
I shared the link to this giveaway on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/janel.myers.5/posts/445752208809811
my favorite winter veggie is squash—-I love almost all types of winter squash; and prepared from plain to combined with apples, potatoes, onions, bread, tomatoes, grains and most anything!
Anything pumpkin! Love sqash and apples
I am in love with any kind of squash. I am also in love with pumpkin and apples.
Following on Facebook
Following on Twitter
Posted link to twitter
Posted link to Facebook
I already follow you on twitter, I shared this on my facebook page and I liked Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook. I would love the cookbook…Thanks
Favorite fall ingredient = acorn squash!
My favorite fall ingredient is butternut squash. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Best of luck! I don’t have this cookbook.
I follow you on twitter. 🙂
I follow Vegan heritage Press on Facebook.
I shared the link for the contest on Facebook.
I too like pumpkin!
oh without question it’s apples…even as a kid I made homemade applesauce. I’ve been addicted to apples ever since I can remember. Many thanks! 🙂
Squash! It’s great that you can keep it around the house for weeks as well!
I follow you on Twitter!! Thanks!
I like Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook.
I also tweeted this giveaway!!
My favorite fall ingredient are apples.
Tough choice – I love fall! But it has to be apples.
I already follow you on twitter – does that count?
I liked Vegan Heritage Press on FB. Thanks for the chance to win the cookbook!
I love including pumpkin in everything during fall!
I’m following on Twitter!
I’ve liked Vegan Heritage Press on facebook!
I tweeted this giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity!
My favorite fall ingredient is either butternut squash or pumpkin; either one is delicious!
There are so many! But since I have to pick one, it will be brussel sprouts!
I am following on Facebook.
It’s spring here! But casting my mind back to autumn (though out autumn I think is nothing like yours), I like sweet potatoes. Do they count as a fall ingredient? They make me think of autumn, but I think they are possibly eternal. Pumpkin is also awesome, but sweet potato rules everything.
I follow you on Twitter.
Hello Robin,
I love delicata squash during Fall. Especially baked with lemon and rosemary, YUM!
Lovely Baklava recipe!
Pumpkin!
Favorite fall ingredient? Just one?? Hmm — I’d have to say kabocha squash.
My faves are roasted fall veggies.
I follow you on Twitter.
I also just linked to the giveaway on Twitter
APPLES! Macintosh, specifically. 🙂
Yay! This looks great, and I think my mom would especially love it.
Oops, I chopped off the end. But I posted this to my blog, and I followed VHP on Facebook.
I love butternut squash this time of year.
My favorite fall item is apple pie
followed you on twitter and liked vegan press facebook
Well geesh, I think my favorite fall ingredient is Fall itself! OR anything I can put in soup 😉 I genuinely look forward to veggie chili, so let’s say squash.
Followed on Facebook
Followed on Twitter
Tweeted
My favorite ingredient is Pumpkin!! I also followed you on Twitter/liked you on Facebook. 🙂
My favorite is definately kale! In fact it is my favorite of all vegetables. I never get tired of eating it.
I follow you on twitter (@vegologi).
And I also follow VHP on facebook.
My favorite fall ingredient is butternut squash. I love it’s versatility.
I follow you on twitter… @hindyg
I follow VHP on facebook
Acorn squash, acorn squash, and more acorn squash!
At the risk of sounding totally cliche, my fave ingredient is definitely pumpkin! Thanks so much for the giveaway 🙂
I follow you on twitter!
I like VH on FB!
I tweeted!
My fav fall ingredients are pumpkin and apples!
I follow you on twitter (@mgonyeo)
I Follow Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook!
My favorite Fall vegetable is Brussel sprouts. Here on Long Island they are decadent after the frost hits them. The above Baklava looks so good, it can’t be legal? Sincerely – Tom
Pumpkin. No question.
APPLES!
Also, I 1) Follow you on Twitter (I’m @vegandaemon) and 2) liked Vegan Heritage Press on FB.
Woohoo! I love your whole foods approach — butternut squash and apples are a match made in Heaven! I also followed the Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook.
Pumpkin is my favorite fall ingredient!
Following you on Twitter, Liked Vegan Heritage Press, and shared giveaway link on FB. I really like your approach and now have several of your cookbooks, including 1000 Vegan Recipes and your Quick-Fix Vegan and Veggie books. Your 1000 cookbook has really helped me transition to vegan cooking. It’s a great learning tool and has helped me figure out how to cook mostly vegan for my family of not-so-committed vegans (while I try to be a committed vegan). I have recommended it to those who are trying to move in the vegan direction. Thank you.
I love brussel sprouts! My mom sometimes gives them to me as a christmas gift, I love them so much!
Wow, that recipe looks fab!
I like apples and squashes this time of year. 🙂
I like VHP on FB.
Apples are Li Angels favorite fruit and this recipe is awesome. Lovely book for give away…
I am following you on Twitter n liked VHP on FB…
LOVE pumpkin! I liked Vegan Heritage Press on FB and followed you on Twitter!
Absolutely it’s apples! Crisp, so many varieties, and then being used in pie? Yes please.
I shared the link on Facebook
Gem Squash! Popular with South Africans, I can’t get enough!
Liked your FB page!
Pumpkin, pumpkin and more pumpkin. During the fall we make pumpkin bread (several varieties), pumpkin soup and I just found a recipe for pumpkin hummus that I was to try out!
I LOVE pumpkin, along with all the wonderful spices that always remind
me of fall like cinnamon and nutmeg. I LOVE FALL!!!!
Pumpkins! Mmm…
Following you on Twitter, Liked Vegan Heritage Press, and shared giveaway link on Twitter and FB. I love Acorn Squash, Pumpkins, hot coco and hot apple cider! New vegan and would love a great cookbook to help me along the path.
I love them all but to name just one favorite fall vegetable would be pumpkin <3
I love sweet potatoes. There’s so much you can do with them.
Robin, I now follow you on twitter, liked VHP on FB. Then tweeted and shared on FB the giveaway link!
I’m hoping I win. I just started my vegan journey. Got your One Dish from the library and I’m a fan –wish me luck 😉
I think it’s really hard to pick a favorite fall ingredient – lots to love – but all kinds of winter squashes are right up there. 🙂
My favorite fall ingredient is butternut squash.
I love the winter squashes — best of all acorn squash.
I already like you on Facebook.
I already follow you on Twitter.
I liked Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook now.
I also subscribed to Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook.
Favorite fall ingredient is PUMPKIN.
This recipe looks amazing! I’m thinking I need to make this for the family Thanksgiving dinner. I am also now following you on facebook 🙂
Apples are my favorite.
I follow Vwgan Heritage Press on Facebook.
I love apples and pumpkins combined together into muffins! This book looks fantastic!
I adore pumpkins and am already looking forward to green cabbage (winter vegetable, for sure)
Pumpkin!
I’m now following you on Twitter. Thanks!
Favorite fall ingredient: squash!!
I like vegan heritage on Facebook
pumpkin
liked on fb
I’d have ot go with pumpkin, because there is so much you can do with it, from soup and risotto, to chunks of it in curries, and of course the sweet, like my mother’s pumpkin bread, which I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid. Oh, and it’s always good when the dog’s tummy is off, too.
Pumpkin and more pumpkin – I just added canned pumpkin to groats to make a breakfast pudding — yum!
Pumpkins & apples, I love the fall harvest.