Skillet Caramelized Apples

🛒Ingredients (Grocery List)

• 3 tbsp Unsalted Butter

• 5 crisp Apples, such as Jonagold, Crispin, or Honeycrisp, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice

• 3 tbsp granulated Sugar, divided

• 1/2 tsp ground Cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp Lemon Zest

• 1/3 homemade or store-bought Apple Cider

• 1/2 tsp Cornstarch, as needed, optional

• 1 tsp Water, optional

🍴Serves: 6

⏰Prep Time: 5 min

⏱️Cook Time: 15 min

🥣Instructions

1. Melt the Butter in a large skillet over medium heat.

2. Add the Apples to the pan and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Sugar.

3. Sauté the Apples, frequently stirring, for 6 to 8 minutes until they just begin to turn tender. Be careful not to overcook, or the Apples will begin to fall apart and become mushy.

4. Sprinkle the Apples with the remaining Sugar, the Cinnamon, and Lemon Zest. Toss the mixture gently and cook over medium heat for an additional 2 minutes until the Sugar begins to caramelize and the Apples are crisp-tender.

5. Transfer the Apples with slotted spoon from the skillet to a serving bowl.

6. Turn the heat up to high and the Apple Cider to the skillet, scraping up any browned bits.

7. Reduce the heat slightly and allow the Cider and the pan juices to simmer for 1 to 3 minutes until the sauce has reduced and thickened.

8. If you want a thicker sauce, dissolve the Cornstarch in a teaspoon of Water and stir the slurry into the sauce. Cook the serving to make sure the Cornstarch is cooked through. If not, it will have a raw, grainy, unpleasant taste.

9. Pour the finished sauce over the warm Apples and serve immediately.

💡Tips

• They caramelized Apples are delicious on their own. They are, of course, perfect to dress up dessert time when placed on top of pound cake and Puff Pastry or used as a filling for pies and tarts.