Fresh Fruits Recipes - Apple Smiles Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup/250 g quark or 1 1/3 cups/310 g ricotta cheese

• 2 cups/300 g all purpose-plain flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1/8 tsp salt

• 6 tbsp vegetable oil

• 1-2 tbsp milk

• 1/3 cup/70 g granulated sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest

• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract/essence

• 6 tbsp butter

FILLING:

• 3 tbsp golden raisins/sultanas

• 3 medium apples, peeled, cored and cubed

• 1 tbsp butter

• 1/3 cup/70 g granulated sugar

• zest of 1 lemon

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 1 large egg

• confectioners'/icing sugar

---

Method:

1. Quark Dough: Mix all the ingredients for the quark dough in a large bowl to form a stiff dough.

2. Filling: Plump the raisins in hot water for 10 minuets. Drain well and pat dry with paper towels.

3. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C/gas 4. Set out a cookie sheet. Mix the apples, butter, sugar and lemon zest and juice in a large saucepan over low heat and stew for about 5 minutes, or until the apples begin to soften.

4. Stir in the raisins and let cool completely. Discard the lemon zest. Roll out to a thickness of 1/4 inch (5mm). Use a round cookie cutter to stamp out 3 -inch (8-cm) circles.

5. Spread with a heaping teaspoonful of the apple filling, leaving a 1/2-inch (1-cm) border around the edge. Brush the border with the beaten egg and fold over, pressing down firmly.

6. Brush the tops with the remaining egg. Arrange on the cookie sheet about 1-inch (2.5-cm) apart.

7. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on the sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer to racks to cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar.