from Chef Mathew Woolf

Recipe Serves: 4

A Note from Chef Woolf:

The baked apple is a beautiful dish that is fairly simple to make and definitely a show stopper. Baking the apple in puff pastry allows all those wonderful flavors of the filling to penetrate into the apple as it cooks. The streusel adds a great textural component to the dish and the smoked caramel sauce is just enough sweetness to bring the whole dish together – ensuring a perfect balance between the tart apple, flaky pastry and the sweet and smoky caramel sauce.

Apple Ingredients:

• 4 granny smith apples
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 5 tablespoons dried raisins
• 5 tablespoons chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 3 tablespoons diced unsalted butter
• 1 sheet of puff pastry
• 2 egg yolks

APPLE INSTRUCTIONS: 

1. First, peel and core the apples. Place butter in an electric mixer and mix until soft. Then add the brown sugar, raisins, chopped pecans and ground cinnamon and mix until combined. Stuff the mixture into the center of each apple packing tightly. 
2. Once the apples are stuffed, place them on the sheet of puff pastry with the top of the apple directly on the puff pastry. Then cut the puff pastry in a circle around the apple, in about a 5-inch diameter from the apple. Pull the puff pastry up around the apple until it is completely encased. You will need to bunch the pastry at the bottom of the apple to ensure it is even and not a mass of pastry.
3. Chill for 20 minutes in the refrigerator. Once chilled, brush with egg yolk and place back in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
4. To cook the apples, place in the oven at 380 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes. To check that the apple is cooked, insert a cake tester into the side of the pastry making sure the apple is tender and the cake tester goes in with ease. 

Streusel Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 3 tablespoons AP flour
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons chilled diced butter
• Pinch of salt
• 3 tablespoons dried cranberries 

Streusel Instructions:

1. Place the flour in a mixing bowl and add the butter. Rub the butter into the flour using your fingertips until it is completely combined and resembles breadcrumbs. 
2. Add all of the other ingredients, apart from the dried cranberries. Place the mix on a parchment-lined tray and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Turn, mix and turn every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking. Once cooked, allow to cool and mix in the dried cranberries. 

Caramel Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup cream
• 1/4 cup corn syrup 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke

Caramel Sauce Instructions:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and creamy. Cook to your desired consistency. 

To Serve:

Spoon the caramel onto the plate, top with streusel and then place the apple on top. Dust with powdered sugar.