Bourbon & Spiced Apple Gratin with Sage Whipped Cream

By Katie Wahlman DeNero 
on September 21st, 2015
In: Recipes

Hi There! I’m Katie from Butterlust, and I’m back to share another deliciously sweet dessert and wine pairing with you guys! Today’s theme? You guessed it — fall!

This Bourbon & Spiced Apple Gratin dessert wouldn't be complete unless served alongside a cold glass of K-J AVANT Chardonnay.This Bourbon & Spiced Apple Gratin dessert wouldn't be complete unless served alongside a cold glass of K-J AVANT Chardonnay.This Bourbon & Spiced Apple Gratin dessert wouldn't be complete unless served alongside a cold glass of K-J AVANT Chardonnay.

We’re only one day away from fall’s official start, but if you’re anything like me, you’ve been quietly stalking the internet for the best pumpkin, apple, and spice recipes since the first of September, waiting for the earliest moment at which it’s appropriate to turn on the oven and start cranking out cozy, fall-inspired baked goods. Tell me I’m not alone.

Well friends, the moment has officially arrived, so let’s turn that oven to 350°F and kick off our autumn baking with this Bourbon & Spiced Apple Gratin, shall we?

This Bourbon & Spiced Apple Gratin dessert wouldn't be complete unless served alongside a cold glass of K-J AVANT Chardonnay.This Bourbon & Spiced Apple Gratin dessert wouldn't be complete unless served alongside a cold glass of K-J AVANT Chardonnay.This Bourbon & Spiced Apple Gratin dessert wouldn't be complete unless served alongside a cold glass of K-J AVANT Chardonnay.

Fruit gratins are an incredibly easy and impressive way to end a special occasion meal. Best served warm from the oven, they require a little extra coordination before serving, but if you don’t mind a few post-dinner minutes spent in the kitchen, the reward is well worth the effort.

For this apple gratin, we first have to prepare a bourbon sabayon. While perceived as difficult to make, sabayons are actually quite simple — a humble mix of egg yolks, sugar, and bourbon (or the more traditional white wine) heated gently and beaten until a soft creamy mousse forms. Sabayon is often served warm from the stove, spooned over fresh fruit or cake, but in this case we’re going the extra mile to bake it with brown sugar caramelized apples and a blend of warm spices. After a quick ten minutes in the oven, the sayabon takes on an almost souffle-like texture, puffing up slightly to form a crisp shell that’s reminiscent of meringue, and covering a warm, silky interior that is irresistibly indulgent and bursting with the flavors of fall.

This Bourbon & Spiced Apple Gratin dessert wouldn't be complete unless served alongside a cold glass of K-J AVANT Chardonnay.

To balance out the sweetness of the sabayon and caramelized apples, I garnished this gratin with an unsweetened, sage-infused whipped cream. It’s savory notes impart a lovely symmetry to the dish, adding a fragrant earthiness and a delicious dimension of fall coziness. After this recipe was photographed and it was time for clean-up, I found myself licking the bowl clean and wishing there were more to be had. Trust me, it’s not to be missed!

Lastly, as is well known, at all great gatherings the wine flows freely, and this dessert would not be complete unless served alongside a glass of K-J AVANT Chardonnay. It’s crisp, slightly tart notes of green apple and lemon help to cut through the creamy sweetness of the gratin, adding the missing element of acidity that is needed to round out it’s hearty autumn flavors. Happy fall & cheers!

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Bourbon & Spice Apple Gratin with Sage Whipped Cream
 
Ingredients
For the apple gratin:
  • 3 medium apples, peeled and cut into ¼-inch slices
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • squeeze lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup bourbon
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the sage whipped cream:
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 4-5 fresh sage leaves
Instructions
For the apple gratin:
  1. Combine the apple slices, brown sugar and lemon juice and toss to coat.
  2. Melt the butter in a medium skillet. Add the apples in a single layer and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes. Continue to cook until any liquid in the pan is mostly evaporated and becomes syrupy.
  3. Remove from the heat and let cool enough to handle. In a 9-inch dish (for personal gratins, divide between 4 ramekins) arrange the cooked apples in a circular pattern. Set aside while you made the sabayon.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350F. Combine egg yolks, sugar and bourbon in a metal bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water. Whisk continuously for about 2 minutes, until thickened. Be careful not to let the mixture overheat, it should never be too hot to touch.
  5. Once the mixture begins to thicken, transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat on high until the sabayon has doubled in volume and forms a thick ribbon when the whisk is lifted. Add in the spices and beat to combine.
  6. Pour the sabayon over the apples and use a spatula to spread, if needed. Bake at 350F for 10-15 minutes, until the top is puffy and set, then turn on the broiler and broil for 30 seconds - 1 minute or until the top is nicely browned.
  7. To serve, spoon the warm gratin into individual sized dishes or small bowls and garnish with sage whipped cream
To prepare the whipped cream:
  1. In a small saucepan, heat the cream and sage until just simmering. Remove from the heat and let the sage steep in the warm cream for 30 minutes.
  2. Strain the sage leaves from the cream mixture, then place the cream into the refrigerator and thoroughly chill.
  3. Once cold, beat the cream on high until fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
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