How to Get Your Children to Eat Fruit !

The Great British apple season is here - discover 3 Great Apple Recipes Kids will Love!

The Great British apple season is here and as the weather starts to get colder, there’s no better weekend activity to do with children than apple picking. Whether visiting a local orchard or collecting the windfalls from the back garden, picking apples is perfect for getting children outside and active in the autumn sunshine, not to mention helping them reach their 5 a day!  What’s more, children will love learning how to bake and cook by making lots of delicious pies, cakes and treats with the apples they’ve collected.

Here are a few simple, fun-to-make apple recipes for you to try with your children.

Nutty Toffee Apples

Smaller apples are best for this. If your children have nut allergies, you can leave out the nuts and dip the apples in melted chocolate or hundreds and thousands instead.

Ingredients

8 eating apples
400g caster sugar
75g chopped nuts

Method

1. Cover a baking tray or large plate with baking paper. Spear each apple with a toffee apple stick or a fork to make the handle. Make sure you press firmly into the centre.

2. Heat the sugar with 200ml water in a heavy-based pan until dissolved. Bring to a simmer, without stirring, and cook to a pale golden caramel (BEWARE! Don’t leave children unattended as the caramel is extremely hot and sticky).

3. Remove from the heat and add the nuts. You can then help your child to dip each apple into the caramel. Place upside down on the baking sheet. Leave to cool and set.

Deep-Filled Apple Pie

Children will love rolling out the pastry and making fun patterns and shapes to decorate the top of this delicious pie.

Ingredients

For the pastry:
500g plain flour, plus extra for rolling
250g chilled essential Waitrose Butter, diced

For the filling:
100g essential Waitrose Sultanas
150g Waitrose Golden Caster Sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
3–4 large cooking apples
2 red eating apples
1 tsp ground mixed spice
3 tbsp plain flour
Milk, for brushing

Method

1. Begin by making the pastry. Sift the flour then place in a food processor. Add the butter and whizz to form crumbs. Add 4–5 tbsp cold water and pulse to form a firm dough. Remove from the bowl, roll the dough into a ball then wrap in clingfilm and chill for 30 minutes in the fridge.

2. Meanwhile, place the sultanas, sugar and lemon zest and juice in a large bowl. Peel, core and thinly slice the apples, adding them to the bowl as each one is done. Sprinkle over the spice and flour.

3. Preheat the oven to 200ºC, gas mark 6. Roll out two-thirds of the pastry into a large circle and use to line a 23–24cm pie dish, leaving any excess pastry to overhang the edge. Spoon the apple mixture into the pie dish, making sure it’s layered as compactly as possible. Dampen the edge of the pastry along the rim with milk.

4. Roll the remaining pastry into a circle large enough to cover the filling and lay on top of the pie. Using a sharp knife, trim the excess pastry away and crimp the edges to seal. Your children can use the left over pastry to make decorations for the top. Brush the pie with milk and sprinkle with a little sugar. Make a slit or two in the top then place on a baking tray and bake for 35–40 minutes until golden brown. Leave to cool for at least 45 minutes before slicing and serving.

Apple and Cinnamon Pancakes

You don’t have to wait for Pancake Day to enjoy these delicious pancakes, they make the perfect dessert or afternoon treat. Makes:  10 – 12 pancakes

Ingredients

125g essential Waitrose self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 medium egg
125 ml essential Waitrose semi skimmed milk
2 eating apples, peeled, cored and cubed
1 tbsp caster sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon
15g butter

Method

1. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Make a well in the centre and then add the egg. Gradually beat in the milk, adding the flour from the edges to make a thick smooth batter. Set aside.

2. Toss the apple cubes in the sugar and cinnamon. Melt half the butter in a small non-stick pan. Add the apple and cook for 1–2 minutes until golden.

3. Brush a non-stick frying pan with the remaining butter, heat over a medium flame and then place a few of the apple cubes in the pan. Drop 1 tbsp of the batter on top. Cook for 2–3 minutes until the bubbles burst and the underside is golden (BEWARE! Don’t leave children unattended). Turn the pancake and cook for 1 minute. Repeat with the remaining mixture while keeping the pancakes warm in a low oven. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

These recipes have been kindly provided by Waitrose, visit the website for lots more recipe ideas and inspiration.

What do you think of these recipes?  Do you have any other ones dads would be interested in?  Let us know by clicking on the "No Comments" below or alternatively you can E-Mail info@oxondads.co.uk