Apple, Cranberry & Walnut Pie with Apple Crisps

It's beginning to 'smell' a lot like Christmas [humming the tune in my head] in early September in my kitchen. Ahh! the aroma of cinnamon, vanilla bean, apple, cranberry and walnut lingered throughout the day as I prepared my APPLE, CRANBERRY & WALNUT PIE with homemade APPLE CRISPS. Don't you just love the classics? Rich classic flavours with a twist. Not only these pies are made to individual portions shaping like individual gifts, they are served freshly baked out of the oven; each topped with good ole' fashion vanilla ice-cream, caramel syrup and apple crisps.

As I gaze upon my draft, thinking deeper in my thoughts while reading my favourite food-travel blogs, my desire wanting to be just like them grows deeper in my heart. I do feel small at times, yet I think my voice and reflection in my food-o-graphy lies in me, at the same time exposes the person I am in small significant ways.

There were those moments, a lot of times I must say that I suddenly am left wondering alone, not knowing where I am heading to, where things at the far end looked blurry. Then there is that little voice which occasionally pop into my head just like an "A-HA!" lightbulb moment navigating my every action. As I walk further and venture deeper into my thoughts, I naturally end up standing in the kitchen eagerly waiting for an inspiration to pop through. So here I went rummaging the fridge and found a bag of apples, walnuts and some dried cranberry. In the freezer, in a corner of my eye, I noticed a packet of spring roll and to my luck, a small tub of vanilla ice-cream. I knew at that very moment I was going to make my dad's favourite treat. An old fashion Apple Pie. Everything becomes clearer and that is when I basically turned into a machine that works non-stop; peeling, slicing, mixing, stirring; anticipating on the final outcome.

Hang on, rewind back a few steps. As you all may or may not know me, I love to take old fashion treats and jazz them up for a spin. Instead of a regular pie pastry dough, I thought why not use the spring roll wraps. They are light, tasty and crunchy. While I am aware that spring roll is meant to look like a spring roll and deep fried, I took another detour. I melted some butter, glaze my cupcake or muffin pans, then place each spring roll wrap into each mould, gently pressing it down moulding it in a shape of a cup, and baked them in the oven. The spring roll cup would hold the Apple, Cranberry and Walnut filling. To serve, what better way to serve a freshly baked warm Apple, Cranberry Walnut pie with a scoop of good Vanilla ice-cream and garnish it with 2 slices of Apple Crisps. Now is that Christmas in a bite or what?

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Apple, Cranberry & Walnut Pie with Apple Crisps
by Chic & Gorgeous Treats

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* Makes 8 individual pies.
* Apple, cranberry and walnut filling can be made a day in advance.
* Serve with vanilla ice-cream, caramel syrup (optional) and apple crisps.
* Pie is to be served immediately.

  ^INGREDIENTS

Apple, Cranberry & Walnut Filling 5 Macintosh apples, core and cut into small cubes 1/3  cup dried cranberry,  cut into small bite size 1/2  cup walnut, chopped into medium small pieces 1/4  cup brown sugar, packed 1/4  cup caster sugar 1 1/4  teaspoon cinnamon powder 1 1/4  teaspoon vanilla bean paste a knob of butter Pie Cup 8 pieces of 12 x 12 spring roll wrap 1/3  cup melted unsalted butter Apple Crisps 1/2  cup caster sugar 1/2  cup water 3 Macintosh or Paula Red apples, thinly sliced DIRECTIONS 1. To prepare Apple Crisps, preheat oven to 160°C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Prepare another tray with a wire rack seated on top of it, and set aside. 2. Meanwhile, to prepare sugar syrup, in a medium saucepan, bring sugar and water up to a boil until sugar has completely dissolved. Turn heat down to low, allowing the sugar syrup to simmer. Add a few slices of apple at a go, allowing it to sit and cook in the syrup for about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, lay each apple slices apart on a wire rack to allow excess sugar to drip off. 3. Transfer cooled apple slices onto prepared baking tray and bake for about 15 minutes or until the edges of the apple curls slightly or turn light golden brown. Take out from the oven, and allow apple crisps to cool completely. Apple crisps will become crunchy and chewable once it is cooled. To store, place apple crisps in an airtight container. 4. To prepare Apple, Cranberry and Walnut filling; in a skillet over medium heat add a knob of butter. Then followed by apples stirring them gently. Add brown and white sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean paste, and then the chopped walnuts. Cook them by stirring it gently for a couple of minutes. (Apples should only be slightly soft and still have bite to it).  Take it off the heat, and fold in chopped cranberries. Set aside to let filling cool. 5. To bake the pie cups, preheat oven to 180°C. Glaze muffin pan and spring roll wrap with melted butter. Place slices of spring roll wrap apart from one another, skipping a muffin mould. Gently press them down forming into rough cups. The edges should stick out slightly. Bake for about 5 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden in colour. Take it out and fill each of the cups with the pie filling. Transfer it back to the oven and bake for another 5-7 minutes or until it becomes golden brown in colour. Let it cool slightly before transferring onto your plate or platter. To assemble and serve, scoop some vanilla ice-cream and garnish with apple crisps. Serve immediately and ENJOY!

P/S: The Apple, Cranberry & Walnut Pie with Apple Crisps does not require you to make it at Christmas time. Make it anytime day, week or weekend and share it with your family or friends ;).

Have a great week!

xx