Divas: It’s apple season (happy dance)

I’ve done something terribly wonderful. Or wonderfully terrible. You pick. Homemade apple pie filling made with fresh apple, wrapped inside crisp, sugary, fried wontons, dipped in salted caramel sauce. A luscious little bite of bliss.

Autumn is my favorite season. You know how excited I get over things like this. But, really! It’s apple season (happy dance). The smell of apples and cinnamon cooking together? Heavenly! Better than any candle or scented oil in the world (happier dance).

I love creating recipes that take inexpensive ingredients and turn them into something grand. Something you can be proud to serve. This one fits the bill.

ONE BITE APPLE PIES

Yield: 24 pieces Time: 1 hour

What You’ll Need:

FILLING:

3 medium apples – I used Honeycrisp but any apple works

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon corn syrup

1 tablespoon flour

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

WONTONS:

¼ cup sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

24-30 wonton wrappers

Vegetable oil – suitable for frying

Here’s How:

Peel and core apples, dice and toss with lemon juice. Place apples in a medium sauce pan. Add the corn syrup, flour, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and stir to combine. Add butter and heat the mixture on LOW heat, frequently stirring for about 15 minutes. Until the apples are softened. Let cool.

Mix sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon, set aside.

To fill wontons – wontons dry out quickly so be sure to keep them covered with a moist paper towel as you work. You’ll need a small bowl with some water. Dip your fingertips and lightly moisten the corners of your wonton wrapper. Place a heaping teaspoon of the apple filling in the center of the wonton and bring the four corners together and pinch the edges to make a seal. Repeat with remaining wontons.

In a heavy saucepan, heat about 2 inches of oil to 350°F. Working in small batches, using a slotted spoon or tongs; place wontons seamed side up in the oil, turning once as the first side cooks, and fry until lightly browned, approximately one minute. Drain briefly on a paper towel and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining wontons.

EASY SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

Yield: ¾ cup Time: 5 minutes

What You’ll Need:

¼ cup whipping cream

¾ cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter

½ teaspoon vanilla

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Here’s How:

In a small saucepan over low heat combine whipping cream, brown sugar and butter. Cook stirring frequently until brown sugar is dissolved and sauce comes to a good bubble. Remove from heat, add vanilla and salt, then blend. The sauce will thicken upon standing.

Serve the little pies with the sauce. It’s like the perfect bite of apple pie, every bite (happiest dance!).

Fabulous Food contributed by Patti Diamond from Divas On A Dime – Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Website and blog - www.divasonadime.com Join us on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom.