Site in Greek (Ελληνική Έκδοση)

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Hungry Bites

Mediterranean Food Blog

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • The Mediterranean Diet (with a food list!)
  • Contact me
  • Search
  • Categories
    • Vegetarian
    • Extra Healthy
    • Vegan
    • Gluten Free
    • Main Course
    • Snacks
    • Sweets
    • Appetizers/sides
    • Desserts
    • Breakfast

Poached mini apples with granola and yogurt cream

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Poached in cranberry syrup, these miniature apples are perfect for a light, low fat (and gluten-free) dessert or even brunch!

poached apples with yogurt cream and granola

Poached apples weren’t my thing. It’s not that we had any unbridgeable differences; I just wasn’t willing to get into the trouble of peeling and cooking some fruit when I could eat them fresh! But that was until I poached a few pears in a vanilla and saffron syrup for a cake recipe I was working on…

I wanted to make this chocolate and vanilla marble semolina cake (which by the way is a Greek traditional no-bake vegan dessert) and needed something to serve it with. Usually, in Greece, this cake is served with fruits that are preserved in a very thick sugar syrup (they’re called spoon sweets in Greek), but I wanted something quicker and lighter, so I decided to poach some pears I had on my counter. And that was one of the best decisions ever!

poached apples with yogurt cream and granola

Cooking some apples or pears in a scented syrup is one of the best things you can do if you want to transform a humble fruit into an elegant dessert!
The advantages of poaching apples are many:
Fruits that are firm and have not ripened yet, get soft, juicy and full of aroma!
The use of herbs, spices, juices and sugar, results in a complex and more interesting taste.
By their own, they make for a healthy and light dessert, since they’re basically fat and cholesterol free (today’s recipe contains small amounts of fat from Greek yogurt and granola)
They’re beautiful!

poached apples with yogurt cream and granola 3

For this recipe, I used a Greek variety of miniature apples called firiki. Firiki apples are small to medium in size and have an elongated, cylindrical shape. The skin is yellow-green with red tones and the flesh is juicy with high sugar content and low acidity levels. The variety is known to grow in the foothills of Pelion Mountain since the 18th century. Of course, you can use whatever variety of small apples you like, or even regular sized apples, maybe quartered.

poached apples with yogurt cream and granola 4

Some notes/tips:

  • Keep in mind to pick fruits that are firm to the touch and not fully ripe, because poaching them will soften them.
  • Don’t poach the fruit for too long because they’ll get mushy. You want them softened but still firm to the bite (I hope you get me 🙂 )
  • Flavor the syrup according to your preferences and create your own recipe! (Instead of cranberry juice, consider a simple syrup with vanilla, brown sugar and cinnamon, honey, tea, whiskey, coffee…)
  • I used my crunchy granola bars recipe to make the granola. I just didn’t pack the mixture before baking, and when cooled I broke any large parts with my fingers. If you don’t want to make it yourself, you can use any store-bought granola you like (though mine is pretty awesome and easy!)
  • Use a thick, creamy, strained Greek yogurt. I prefer to buy a low-fat Greek yogurt with 2% fat since most no-fat yogurts have gelatin as a thickening agent. I always check the ingredients in order to make sure my yogurt contains only skimmed milk, cream, and live active yogurt cultures; nothing else!
  • For prettier presentation leave the stems of the apples on.
  • These apples are also great served with vanilla ice cream and crushed cookies (Duh!)

 

Similar posts:
Low-fat yogurt panna cotta with strawberry sauce
White chocolate and goji berry olive oil babka

Share this post if you liked it (share buttons at the top!) and don’t forget to subscribe for new recipes or follow me on Instagram,   Pinterest,   Facebook

5 from 2 votes
poached apples with yogurt cream and granola
Print
Poached mini apples with granola and yogurt cream
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 
Poached in cranberry syrup, these miniature apples are perfect for a light, low fat (and gluten-free) dessert or even brunch!
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Sweet
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: apples, cream, poached, yogurt
Servings: 6
Author: The Hungry Bites
Ingredients
  • For the poached apples:
  • 6 mini apples, peeled
  • 1/2 cup cranberry juice
  • 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup water, or more to cover the fruit
  • 1 stick cinnamon
  • For the yogurt cream:
  • 2 cups strained Greek yogurt, full fat or 2%
  • 3-4 tablespoons honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, optional
  • 3/4 cups granola, 2 tablespoons per serving or more
Instructions
  1. Place apples in a pot, just big enough to fit them. Add cranberry juice, sugar, water, and cinnamon. You may need to add some more water, enough to cover them completely. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Let them cool inside the syrup, as this will intensify their color.

    When cooled, you can refrigerate them inside the syrup, for 3-4 days.

  2. Mix yogurt, honey, and vanilla and stir well to combine. Divide yogurt cream into 6 bowls or plates, place one poached apple onto each plate and sprinkle with granola.

  3. Serve with a jar of syrup on the side, in case anyone wants some more sweetness. Eat!

Recipe Notes

The apples can be served either warm or cold.
For the granola, I use my crunchy granola bars recipe.

If you like this recipe, Pin it!

poached apples with yogurt cream and granola 5

Previous Post: « Everything tomato sauce for pasta
Next Post: Greek oven baked frittata »

Reader Interactions





air-fryer or baked salmon.

Easy Salmon recipe – air fryer and oven instructions

turkey chili thumbnail

Turkey Chili (Mediterranean style recipe)

See All Recipes →

Comments

  1. The Modern Proper says

    at

    These are so beautiful-they remind me of a lovely still-life painting. I’d love to serve these to guests for dessert, what a beautiful way to finish a meal.

    Reply
    • Makos says

      at

      Hey girls! Thank you very much! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Lokness says

    at

    These are so ADORABLE! I love that you used mini apples, which is the perfect size after a big meal! Sharing right now. 🙂

    Reply
    • Makos says

      at

      Thank you Lokness! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Julie G says

    at

    5 stars
    I found your recipe because I wanted to do something that showcased the mini apples I received from a friend. I had some cranberry juice left but n the fridge and thought, “I can make this!” And I did! It made a show piece out of Christmas breakfast (although I did add some food coloring to really make the apples pop). It tasted incredible! Thank you!

    P.S. I took a pic of the finished dish but it doesn’t look like I can attach it here

    Reply
    • Makos says

      at

      Hi Julie, that’s great!
      I don’t think you can attach pictures here but feel free to email it to thehungrybites.com@gmail.com

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Categories

WELCOME!

Makos I'm Makos. I am a passionate cook and an even more passionate eater. Take a look around for some delicious Mediterranean inspired recipes!
subscribe button

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

facebook like us button

OUR LATEST RECIPES

Italian almond cookies - soft amaretti profile

Italian almond cookies – soft amaretti (3-ways)

Cheese platter

Make a Cheese Board in 5 simple steps

Greek Vasilopita cake.

Vasilopita (Greek New Year’s Eve cake)

Spanish white bean stew with chorizo sausage f

Spanish white bean stew with chorizo sausage

Baked chicken and rice thumbnail.

Baked chicken and rice (healthier Greek recipe)

GOOGLE WEB STORIES

Footer

Instagram  YouTube  Pinterest  Facebook

Privacy Policy

Subscribe by e-mail

Copyright © 2023 · Thehungrybites.com