Caramelised Cardamom Apples – A Classy Twist on an Old Classic

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A twist on an old classic, these caramelised cardamom apples have the delicate notes of cardamom and a touch of tang from the yoghurt.

caramelised cardamom apples feature

I don’t think you can beat caramelised anything. Sugar and butter combined are pure alchemy.

Add in some fresh apples and a touch of spice, and you have a cosy treat that will warm the cockles on a cool Autumn evening.

These caramelised apples are easy to make and have a twist on the usual cinnamon addition. Instead, this recipe includes cardamom, a delicate but powerful spice that can elevate a dish into something exquisite.

This dish also includes yoghurt instead of cream to finish the caramel sauce. Yoghurt adds a touch of tartness that balances out the sweetness of the sugar and apples. It can split easily, however, so it’s important to add off the heat. You can use cream if you prefer.

The addition of slivered or flaked almonds adds crunch, but they are optional, especially if you use these caramelised apples in an apple crumble.

Ingredients

The ingredients in this dish are simple and mostly pantry staples. If cardamom doesn’t normally reside in your pantry, you can substitute with cinnamon.

You can use cardamom in baking, chai tea, spice mixes like Garam Masala and Ras el Hanout curries, rice dishes like pilaf or sweet rice pudding, meat spice rubs, desserts (I like cardamom poached pears), to flavour hot chocolate, and so much more.

Ingredients

apples
butter
brown sugar
cardamom
Greek yoghurt or cream
Slivered or flaked almonds (optional)

How to Make Caramelised Cardamom Apples

Step 1. If using almonds, toast these in a hot dry frying pan first. Remove from the pan when they start to brown. Watch them carefully, they can go from brown to burnt very quickly.

Step 2. Melt the butter in the same pan and add the apples. Sauté in the butter for a few minutes until starting to soften or almost as soft as you like them.

Step 3. Add the brown sugar and cook for a minute or two to caramelise.

cardamom apples in pan with sugar

Step 4. Remove from the heat and stir in the cardamom, yoghurt, and almonds. Continue to stir for a minute until slightly thickened.

Serving Suggestions

These apples are nice as a dessert, topped with some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Other uses include:

Yield: 4 serves

Caramelised Apples with Cardamom and Almonds

cardamom apples on a plate 45d

A delicious sweet treat to serve with ice cream for dessert or over Sunday pancakes.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 apples, cored and roughly chopped
  • 80g butter
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp. cardamom
  • 2 tbsp. plain yoghurt (or cream)
  • 2 tbsp. slivered almonds, toasted

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter in a pan, add the apples and cook over medium heat for a few minutes until softened to your liking.
  2. Add sugar and cardamom and cook stirring for another minute or two. Take the apples off the heat and add the yoghurt and almonds and stir for another minute until sauce is thickened slightly. *
  3. Serve over pancakes or ice cream.

Notes

Yoghurt can split on high heat, so remove the apple mixture from the heat before adding. Cream is more stable, but doesn't add that slight tang the yoghurt does.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 318Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 140mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 5gSugar: 34gProtein: 2g

Nutritional information is calculated automatically using the Nutritionix database. Nutrition information can vary for a recipe based on factors such as precision of measurements, brands, ingredient freshness, serving size or the source of nutrition data. We strive to keep the information as accurate as possible but make no warranties regarding its accuracy. We encourage readers to make their own calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Did you make this recipe?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for the yoghurt?

You can use cream instead, or leave it out altogether – they still taste great without it.

What can I use instead of cardamom?

Good ol’ cinnamon is always a good choice, or you could mix things up with a little nutmeg or alspice.

Brown sugar alternatives?

Honey is a great substitute, also giving the dish a warm, caramel flavour like brown sugar. In a pinch, you can use normal sugar.

What if the yoghurt splits?

To prevent the yoghurt from splitting, make sure to add it after taking the pan off the heat. It’s the heat that makes it split. I’ve had it split and just ate it anyway; it doesn’t look as good, but it still tasted good.

How can I reheat the caramelised apples?

Heating them very gently over low heat in a pan gives best results. You could also use a microwave on low in short bursts.

Looking for more apple recipes?

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One Comment

  1. Yum, I’ve only discovered cardamom recently, but I love it in porridge :) I bet it tastes great with apples.