Baked Vanilla Apple Gratin

Kirsten Tibballs

Cook Time 1 hour

Servings 8-10

Ingredients

4 Granny Smith apples

2 tbsp unsalted butter

1 vanilla bean

Pinch sea salt

Pinch of cinnamon

200ml cooking cream

4 egg yolks

50g caster sugar (A)

20g caster sugar (B)

200ml double cream, to serve

Method

Preheat the oven to 140°C, fan-forced. Peel and core the apples. Cut each apple into 12 wedges and set them aside. In a large frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat.

Add the cut and scraped vanilla bean, apples, salt and cinnamon to the butter. Cook until the apples are tender and deep golden in colour. In a bowl, whisk the cooking cream, egg yolks and sugar (A). Place the apples into a greased baking dish.

Pour the egg mixture over the apples. Bake for approximately 50 minutes in the preheated oven. To test if the gratin is ready, gently shake the baking dish, the custard should be set but slightly wobbly. Remove the gratin from the oven and sprinkle with the sugar (B). Use the grill function in the oven or a torch to caramelise the sugar.

Serve with a generous scoop of double cream.