Looking for an Apple Dessert Recipe? Disney Just Shared Some!

It isn’t often that Disney gifts us multiple recipes at a time, but it is the season of giving.

Disney has shared a few recipes with us in the past of some of our favorite eats in the parks like this creamy plantain soup and even Tiana’s Gumbo, but now they’re offering a cup of cheer to keep you warm through the holidays with a few of their apple-flavored favorites.

As you find yourself cooking for the holidays and through the rest of the year, you might find that apples could be the perfect ingredient for a few tasty recipes this season. Disney has released a few favorites from the Disney recipe vault and they’ve given us a never-before-shared recipe from Disneyland, too. Now, get ready to put on your Chef’s hat and get to creating some gorgeous desserts, apple butter, and a refreshing cocktail!

Holiday Apple Tart

This recipe from Disneyland is one Disney has never shared before – until now! Usually, the eats at Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace are only available with a dining package, but now, you can enjoy this recipe at home. Their tarts are filled with rich caramel cream sauce, topped with apple filling and warm streusel. You can use a store-bought kind or make your tart shell from scratch either way. And we’ve heard that leftovers — If you have any– can make a great pairing with a cup of coffee the next morning.

Makes 12 Tarts

INGREDIENTS

STREUSEL

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

APPLE FILLING

• 4 large apples
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 5 tablespoons water, divided
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

CARAMEL CREAM

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 6 tablespoons salted butter, cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

APPLE TARTS

• 6 (3-inch) vanilla tart shells

• Holiday sprinkles

DIRECTIONS

FOR STREUSEL:

1. Combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Add cubed butter and use a pastry blender or two knives to cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse sand.
3. Set aside until ready to assemble tarts.

FOR APPLE FILLING:

1. Peel, core, and chop apples into 1/2-inch cubes.
2. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, 3 tablespoons of water, and chopped apples. Cook, stirring occasionally for 4-6 minutes, until the apple begins to soften.
3. Combine cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl. Add to apple mixture and cook until liquid begins to boil.
4. Boil for one minute, then remove from heat. Set aside to cool completely before assembling tarts.

FOR CARAMEL CREAM:

1. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, swirling pan, but not stirring, occasionally until sugar is melted and is a light amber color.
2. Carefully whisk in butter, one cube at a time. Remove pan from heat and slowly stir in heavy cream, whisking constantly until fully incorporated.
3. Add salt and set aside to cool to room temperature.

FOR HOLIDAY APPLE TARTS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place tart shells on a baking sheet.
2. Spoon 1 tablespoon of caramel cream into each tart shell. Add 1/4 cup cooled apple filling to each tart.
3. Top with streusel, covering the top of the apples.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until topping is golden brown.
5. Top with holiday sprinkles before serving.

Cook’s Notes: Tart shells are available at many specialty grocery stores. You can also use your favorite homemade pie dough. Cut dough into 3 1/2- inch circles and place in the bottom of muffin tins. Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, fill, and bake as directed in recipe. 

Apple Butter Cake

This next recipe makes a delicious Warm Apple Butter Cake. Disney’s releasing an “at-home” version of this buttery cake topped with caramelized apples helps you make over a dozen individual cakes. As a side note, if you do not have enough ramekins for this recipe, large muffin tins can be used.

Makes 15 individual cakes

INGREDIENTS

CARAMELIZED APPLES

• 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon sugar

BOURBON CARAMEL GLAZE

• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 tablespoon bourbon
• 1 cup heavy cream

APPLE BUTTER CAKE

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 8 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups plus 1 teaspoon buttermilk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract

Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Dried apple slices, for garnish (optional)

Cranberries, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

FOR CARAMELIZED APPLES:

1. Cut apples into thin slices.
2. Melt butter in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat; add apples and sugar.
3. Cook apples until golden and softened. Set aside to cool.

FOR BOURBON CARAMEL GLAZE:

1. Combine brown sugar and butter in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves.
2. Simmer over medium heat without stirring or touching the pan until the mixture is thick and dark amber, about 10 minutes.
3. Remove pan from heat. Carefully whisk in bourbon and heavy cream. The mixture will bubble vigorously and release very hot steam.
4. Pour caramel into a bowl to cool; set aside.

FOR CAKE:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour fifteen (3/4-cup) ramekins; set aside.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
3. Whisk together sugar, eggs, egg yolks, and melted butter in a separate large bowl until well combined.
4. Combine buttermilk and almond extract in a small bowl; set aside.
5. Fold a third of the flour mixture into the egg mixture. Stir in half of the buttermilk mixture. Fold in another third of the flour mixture, then add the remaining buttermilk mixture. Fold in the remaining flour mixture.
6. Ladle 1/2 cupcake batter into each prepared ramekin. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

TO SERVE:

1. While the cakes are warm, carefully remove them from ramekins onto a serving plate.
2. Divide caramelized apples among the tops of the cakes. Spoon bourbon caramel glaze over top of apples and cake.
3. Serve with vanilla ice cream and garnish with dried apple slices and cranberries, if desired.

Apple Tart Tatin

Disney’s talented culinary team at Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera are always looking for inventive ways to reimagine desserts and they’re sharing one of their favorites with us to try at home — the Apple Tart Tatin. The apples used for this dessert can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and will need to be refrigerated until you’re ready to bake them.

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

APPLE TART

• 7 medium Honeycrisp apples
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons water
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 puff pastry sheets, thawed

CHANTILLY

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 vanilla bean, cut in half and seeds scraped
• Pinch salt

DIRECTIONS

FOR APPLE TART:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Peel and core apples, then cut each apple into 9 slices.
2. Place sugar, water, vanilla extract, and lemon juice in a large sauté pan and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes until amber in color. Add room-temperature butter and stir after half of the butter is melted.
3. Add apples and cook for 5-7 minutes until tender, but still firm. Remove from heat.
4. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and place six 4-inch tart pans on the sheet. Evenly divide the apple mixture among the tart pans, making sure to add any syrup from the sauté pan to the tarts.
5. Cut puff pastry to fit the tops of each tart pan and place on top of apples. Pierce each puff pastry 10 times with a fork.
6. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of the tarts and top with a sheet pan to press apples and puff pastry. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. Remove the top baking sheet immediately.

FOR CHANTILLY:

1. Combine heavy cream, powdered sugar, vanilla bean, and salt in a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whip to soft peaks.
2. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

TO SERVE:

Turn warm tarts onto a plate. Serve with Chantilly.

Apple Butter

Apple butter is a favorite past accompaniment at Disney. It can add a sweet, cinnamon kick to your breakfast in the morning on a piece of toast or could be served to spread on warm rolls. This Disney recipe pulled from the vault will make a sizeable portion but could easily be doubled (or tripled) for a thoughtful gift for the holidays.

Makes 1 Pint

INGREDIENTS

6 cups Fuji apples, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup apple juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ice wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 vanilla bean
DIRECTIONS

Place apples, juice, brown sugar, and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover and reduce heat to low. Continue simmering for 20 minutes, until the apples are soft. Remove from heat.
Stir in lemon juice, vinegar, and cloves. Split vanilla bean in half, lengthwise, and scrape out seeds with a knife. Add seeds to the pan.
Puree with a stick blender until smooth.
Return the saucepan to the stove and simmer over low heat, stirring every 5 minutes, for 30 minutes, until a deep amber color forms and apple butter reaches the desired thickness.
Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove any excess liquid.
Store in refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Szarlotka (Apple Pie) Cocktail

We promised a well-rounded recipe release finished with a refreshing cocktail, and here it is! You might remember this cocktail when it was offered at the Poland festival booth during the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. This apple pie cocktail is simple to make and can be made in a larger batch with little fuss.

Serves 1

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ounce Polish bison grass vodka
• 6 ounces apple cider
• Apple slice, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Pour Vodka and apple cider into a shaker; fill with ice and vigorously shake for 30 seconds.
2. Strain into chilled glass. Garnish with an apple slice.

We wish you all the best in trying out these new (and old) Disney recipes and sharing them with those you hold near and dear to you. Be sure to check back in with us for more Disney news and more at AllEars.net!

We’re Freaking OUT About the BEYONCÉ Cupcake in Disney World

Are you tempted to make any of these Disney recipes before the new year? Tell us which ones you tried in the comments!

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