Children’s Day Special: easy apple dessert for kids

When it comes to making any easy apple dessert for kids, simplicity is key. Apples need a little cooking before being used in dessert and unlike other fruits; they tend to brown quickly which makes it hard to use them in flashy and funlooking desserts. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't make delicious desserts, for instance, take this French apple cake, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you'll get any kid to try it. The same goes for the apple enchiladas, served with a side of dip or whipped cream and any child will love it!

1. Apple Cake

(Serves 8)

Ingredients

• 125 gm allpurpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 115 gm unsalted butter, room temperature
• 130 gm granulated sugar (some extra for sprinkling over the cake)
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp butterscotch syrup
• 2 sweet apples, peeled, cored and cut into ½inch cubes
• Caster sugar (optional), for decorating the cake

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, with the rack placed in the middle of the oven. Then grease a 9inch springform or regular cake pan with butter. For the latter, you'll need to use parchment paper and grease it.
2. Sift and whisk flour, baking powder, and salt, in a small bowl.
3. Add the butter and granulated sugar into another bowl and use an electric mixer with beaters attached to cream, until light and fluffy.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until smooth. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl. Then beat in the vanilla and butterscotch syrup.
5. Next, add the flour mixture in parts and mix it in on low speed until no flour streaks are visible. Fold the chopped apples into the bowl using a spatula.
6. Scrape the batter mixture into the prepared pan and even the top. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar.
7. Bake for 40 minutes, and check with a toothpick inserted into the cake’s center to see if it comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let the cake rest on a cooling rack in the pan itself.
8. Once cool enough to handle, run a knife around the edges of the cake, if using a plain pan. Then invert it on the cooling rack and peel off the parchment place upside up. If you have used a springform pan, dismantle and remove the sides.
9. Using a fine sieve, dust with the caster sugar.
10. Serve the apple cake warm or at room temperature with a vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on the side.

2. Sweet Apple Enchiladas

(Serves 6)

Ingredients

For Apple Pie Filling:

• 4 medium apples (green or golden red), peeled and thinly sliced
• 45 gm butter
• 80 gm granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 60 ml water

For the enchiladas:

Prepared apple filling

• 6 (8 inch) flour tortillas
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon, or more to taste
• 120 gm white sugar
• 120 gm packed brown sugar
• 120 ml water
• 85 gm margarine or butter

Instructions

1. Wash the apples thoroughly and peel them using a peeler or knife. Cut each apple in half, then remove the core.
2. Slice each half into thin, even slices (about 1/8 inch thick) and toss sliced apples immediately with the lemon juice to prevent browning
3. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water until smooth. Set aside.
4. Pick a large saucepan or skillet, around 10 inches, and melt butter in it over medium heat.
5. Add the sliced apples to the pan and sprinkle sugar, and cinnamon, over the apples. Stir to coat the apple slices with butter and spices.
6. Stir every 12 minutes, until the apples start getting slightly translucent around the edges. The apples will soften but still hold their shape.
7. Stir the cornstarch slurry and pour it slowly over the apples while stirring. As the apples cook further, the liquid will begin to thicken and become glossy. Cook for 35 minutes more.
8. Test an apple slice, it should be tender but not mushy and the sauce should be thick and glossy. If too thick, add a tablespoon of water; if too thin, cook for another minute or two.
9. Remove from heat and let it cool for about 1015 minutes before doing the tortillas.
10. Preheat the oven to 180°C and spoon the prepared filling evenly onto all tortillas and sprinkle with cinnamon.
11. Roll up tortillas and place seam side down on a lightly greased 8x8inch baking pan.
12. Bring white sugar, brown sugar, water, and margarine to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring constantly, for three minutes.
13. Pour sauce evenly over tortillas; sprinkle with extra cinnamon on top to taste.
14. Then bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
15. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream on the side.