Vanilla Apples with Sweetheart Croutes

February 14, 2023

This is a recipe for Vanilla Apples garnished with sweetheart croutes (heart-shaped, butter toasted bread). It’s a fun recipe for Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all about chocolate. Consider whipping up this delicious and festive sautéed apple treat on the holiday this year. Wouldn’t it be a fun after-school snack? My kid would have gone nuts for this one when he was younger. Heck, he’d probably still enjoy it now!

This recipe comes from Nigella Lawson’s cookbook, Nigella Express. It’s an older book, but I still reach for it to use once in a while. There are great, unique-style recipes in the book.

Ingredients needed:

butter
red apples
vanilla extract
white bread
white sugar

How to make Vanilla Apples:

The complete, printable recipe is at the end of this post.

Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet.

Core and finely slice the apples (leave the peel on if your intended eaters will go for that- otherwise, peel before slicing). Add the apples to the skillet, cooking for about 3 minutes, then add the vanilla and cook for about another 5 minutes total, turning once (until browned). Remove the apples to a platter.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter to the pan and quickly fry the sweetheart croutes until browned and slightly crisp.

Arrange croutes on the plate with the apples. Sprinkle with sugar (if using). This is such a simple recipe! Hope you try it out on your sweethearts this Valentine’s Day. Enjoy!

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