by Dylan Bartlett
When autumn comes around each year, Halloween is on everyone’s mind. We all look forward to dressing up with friends and family for a night, especially when there’s a party involved.
The only thing people think about as much as their costume is the food they’ll serve. This Halloween, think outside the box with a seasonal, fruity recipe that’s sure to surprise and delight your guests.
If you’re hosting a Halloween party this year, serve grilled apple crisps alongside your pastries and casseroles. They’re a refreshing take on Halloween food people of all ages can enjoy.
1. What You’ll Need
Plan a trip to the grocery store the day before or the day of Halloween to make these apple crisps. Some of the ingredients may not already be in your pantry.
Fill out a list so you’ll get enough for:
• 3 whole apples (any kind is fine, but Gala work well)
• Lemon juice
• A half-cup of granola cereal
• 1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tablespoon of maple syrup
• 1.5 heaping tablespoons of brown sugar
• A half-stick of salted butter, softened
• Two tablespoons of pecan chips or pecans
• Handful of craisins
Can you feel the fall spirit? You may not be able to resist snacking on the granola on your way home from the store.
Three apples will make six servings, so plan to double the ingredients if you’re baking for a large party.
2. How to Make Them
First, you’ll want to start up your grill and give it time to heat up to 400 degrees. If you have an older grill that doesn’t gauge the temperature for you, you can buy a grill thermometer at most places that sell grilling accessories or online.
While the grill heats up, wash your apples thoroughly and cut them all in half. Using a fine-edged knife, trim a small slice off one side of each of the halves so they can sit flat with the core side facing up.
Remove the core from each half and set them aside on a baking tray. You can also core the whole apple before slicing it in half. Just remember to still slice off a bit of the backside.
Next, take out a large bowl and combine everything that will make the apple filling: the granola, pumpkin pie spice, maple syrup, and brown sugar. Mix well until combined.
Throw in the softened butter, pecans, and craisins. Mix thoroughly again.
Once you have combined the entire mixture, fill each apple with a large spoonful of the filling. It will pile out past the surface of the apple, which is exactly what you want.
After the grill has reached 400 degrees, it’s time to bake. The apples can lay directly on a clean metal grill rack, or you can bake them by putting the baking sheet on something heat-absorbent, like a cast-iron pan.
Close the grill and leave the apples to bake for 30 minutes, or until they’re soft. Serve them warm or leave them out on a table for snacking throughout the night.
3. What to Pair Them With
While grilled apple crisps make a lovely snack for a party, they can also work as a dessert. Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for flavors that will enhance each other.
Grilled apple crisps also go naturally with a well-chosen cheese board. Any cheese that works with sweeter apples will be fine with this dessert. Smoky Gouda will be especially great, as it’ll pick up the charred grill flavor.
You can also go a bit lighter and pair it with angel food cake or pound cake. They’re a softer sweet taste that will fit beautifully alongside the bold sweetness of the brown sugar and maple syrup.
Taste-test this dessert early if you can, so you can enjoy trying it out with different foods before Halloween ever arrives.
Check out the rest of this issue, and all of the issues in October, for more Halloween fun!
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