These jaggery-glazed apple treats look fancy but are made with simple ingredients. I like how easy they are to serve and how neat they look on the dessert table.
These little treats are quick to make, with apple and jaggery bringing most of the flavor. The apples add a fresh fruity flavor, while cinnamon gives them a little warmth.
If you want to make something a little different, these jaggery-glazed apple delights are a good option. They’ll add something a little different to your dessert table.
How to Make Jaggery-Glazed Apple Delights
INGREDIENTS:
Ingredients for Apple Filling
- 3 cups red crisp apples, chopped
- ½ cup brown sugar, adjusted to taste
- Salt, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder, or more to taste
- A small pinch of nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 3 teaspoons lemon juice
Ingredients for Jaggery Mixture
- 3 cups cottage cheese, crumbled
- ¾ cup milk
- ¾ cup jaggery, adjusted to taste
- 3 tablespoons pistachio, coarsely crushed
- A pinch of saffron, soaked in 1½ teaspoons water and divided
- ½ teaspoon cardamom powder
- 1½ tablespoons unsalted butter or ghee
For Frying Edible Gum
- 3 tablespoons edible gum, roughly broken
- Unsalted butter or ghee, for frying
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the apple filling: Add the chopped apples, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a large saucepan. Mix well and sauté for 3–4 minutes. Add corn starch and mix again.
2. Add the lemon juice, mix well, and cover the pan. Cook until the apples are lightly caramelised and tender but still retain some texture. Don’t overcook the apples, or they may become too soft and sticky. Once done, transfer the apple filling to a cool bowl and set aside to cool.
3. Prepare the jaggery mixture: Heat another saucepan and add the crumbled cottage cheese and milk. Cook for 7–8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the jaggery and cook for another 7–8 minutes.
Add the pistachios, saffron, cardamom powder, and unsalted butter. Mix well and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture becomes slightly coarse and aromatic.
4. Fry the edible gum: Heat some unsalted butter or ghee in a pan and add the edible gum. Fry until it puffs up and turns lightly golden. Remove from the pan and set aside.
5. Assemble the dessert: Take elegant round oven-safe glasses and add about ¾ inch of the apple filling. Add a ½-inch layer of the jaggery mixture, followed by another ½-inch layer of apple filling. Finish with a second layer of the jaggery mixture, about ⅓ inch thick.
6. Gently smooth the top layer.
7. Add the toppings: Garnish with chopped nuts, fried edible gum, and a few pieces of the caramelised apple filling.
Flatten again.
8. Finish with a few saffron strands.
9. Bake: Cover the tops of the glasses loosely with aluminium foil. Place the glasses in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the glasses from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving.
Serve and Enjoy!
Jaggery-glazed apple delights are best served slightly warm. You can also prepare them ahead of time and refrigerate them. Simply microwave for about 2 minutes before serving, or until warmed through.
Important Recipe Notes:
- Use crisp, slightly tart apples for the best flavor and texture. They hold their shape and balance out the jaggery’s sweetness.
- Don’t overcook the jaggery mixture: Cook the mixture until it becomes slightly coarse but still retains some moisture. This prevents it from drying out during baking.
- Cover the serving glasses: Loosely cover the glasses with aluminum foil before baking. This keeps the top from burning while the dessert warms through.
- Make cottage cheese at home: Bring milk to a boil in a deep pan. Turn off the heat and slowly add lemon juice, stirring gently until the milk curdles. Add a little more lemon juice if needed. Strain the curdled milk through cheesecloth, then rinse it with cold water to remove the lemon taste. Squeeze out the excess water, then tie the cheesecloth into a pouch and let it hang or rest for about 20 minutes. Your homemade cottage cheese is now ready to use.
Jaggery-Glazed Apple Delights
Ingredients
Method
- Prepare the apple filling: Add the chopped apples, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a large saucepan. Mix well and sauté for 3–4 minutes. Add corn starch and mix again.
- Add the lemon juice, mix well, and cover the pan. Cook until the apples are lightly caramelised and tender but still retain some texture. Don’t overcook the apples, or they may become too soft and sticky. Once done, transfer the apple filling to a cool bowl and set aside to cool.
- Prepare the jaggery mixture: Heat another saucepan and add the crumbled cottage cheese and milk. Cook for 7–8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the jaggery and cook for another 7–8 minutes. Add the pistachios, saffron, cardamom powder, and unsalted butter. Mix well and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture becomes slightly coarse and aromatic.
- Fry the edible gum: Heat some unsalted butter or ghee in a pan and add the edible gum. Fry until it puffs up and turns lightly golden. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Assemble the dessert: Take elegant round oven-safe glasses and add about ¾ inch of the apple filling. Add a ½-inch layer of the jaggery mixture, followed by another ½-inch layer of apple filling. Finish with a second layer of the jaggery mixture, about ⅓ inch thick.
- Gently smooth the top layer.
- Add the toppings: Garnish with chopped nuts, fried edible gum, and a few pieces of the caramelised apple filling. Flatten again.
- Finish with a few saffron strands.
- Bake: Cover the tops of the glasses loosely with aluminium foil. Place the glasses in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the glasses from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving.