Warmed hasselback apples with a decadent caramel sauce topped with a meringue crumble is a cold weather dessert sure to please. The earthy taste of the Davidson Plum cuts through the sweetness in the meringue and is a delightful addition of this Australian native food.
Earlier this year I decided I wanted to learn more about cooking with Australian native ingredients. I purchased the Warndu Mai (Good Food) cook book as a starting point. This contemporary Australian cook book is packed with information on native ingredients as well as recipes to guide cooks in incorporating native ingredients to everyday cooking.
I’ve read a number of good books since and am currently making my way through The Oldest Foods on Earth: A History of Australian Native Foods with Recipes to expand on my fledgling knowledge.
The few recipes I’ve tried have delighted me with rich and intense flavours. While adding these ingredients is not second-nature for me yet, I am adding Australian native foods more regularly to my cooking.
Hasselback Apples with Davidson Plum Meringue
Baked apples are such an easy dessert to prepare. The simple step of baking apples with butter and sugar creates a whole new flavour profile. You can keep it really simple and serve with a dollop of your favourite icecream or cream (I recommend Loco Dairy-Free Cream from Coles). Or, add a decadent caramel sauce and top with a vegan meringue flavoured with Davidson Plum and you have yourself a winning Winter dessert.
To make the Davidson Plum meringue, start this recipe a day ahead. There’s very little work but the meringue does need a couple of hours cooking time and it’s best if you can cool it overnight. You’ll find the vegan meringue recipe linked below and also here.
Hasselback Apples with Davidson Plum Meringue
Equipment
- Baking Tray
- Chopsticks or Wooden Spoons
- Small Saucepan
- Small Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- Sharp knife
Ingredients
Hasselback Apples
- 4 Baking Apples Granny Smith, Bramley, Braeburns, Pink Lady, Gala or Golden Delicious.
- 50 grams Non-dairy Butter
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar (55 grams)
- ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 8 Star Anise
Caramel Sauce
- ½ cup Brown Sugar (110 grams)
- 40 grams Non-dairy Butter
Davidson Plum Meringue
- ¼ Portion Vegan Meringue Recipe make one day ahead
- 2 – 3 tablespoons Davidson Plum Powder adjust to taste
Instructions
Davidson Plum Meringue Crumble
- Begin the vegan meringue one day ahead. Preparation time is 25 minutes, cooking time is 2 hours and cooling time 12 hours.
- About a ¼ portion of the vegan meringue recipe is required to make the crumble. Add 2 – 3 tablespoons of Davidsons Plum Powder after all the sugar has been incorporated into the mix.
Hasselback Apples
- Preheat oven to 200° C.
- Line baking tray and set aside.
- Halve and core apples. Place the apple cut (flat) side down and a chopstick on either long side of the apple. The chopstick or wooden spoon handle will prevent the knife slicing all the way through the apple, creating lovely crevices for the caramel sauce to seep into during baking. Each slice should be about 3 – 5mm thick. Repeat with each apple half.4 Baking Apples
- Place a star anise inside the apple and place flat side down on the baking tray. Set aside to prepare the basting mixture.8 Star Anise
- In a small saucepan melt the butter and whisk in the cinnamon and brown sugar until melted and combined.50 grams Non-dairy Butter, ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon, ½ cup Brown Sugar (110 grams)
- Pour ⅓ – ½ of the butter mixture over the apples and pop into the oven. Half way through cooking (about 20 minutes) baste the apples with the reserved butter mixture. Cook the apples until tender.
Caramel Sauce
- Place sugar and non-diary butter in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Consistency of caramel sauce can be thinned by added a splash of water.½ cup Brown Sugar (110 grams), 40 grams Non-dairy Butter
Serve
- Place one portion of hasselback apple on a plate, top with caramel sauce, crumble Davidson Plum meringue and finish with a generous portion of non-dairy cream or icecream.
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know if it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @modernveganguide on Instagram and hashtag it #modernveganguide