Apples are a delicious, fresh, whole fruit that is available year round. Although they’re a common fruit, there’s nothing common about the varied ways to prepare apples that partner so well with an array of both sweet and savory dishes. Get the recipe for my Spiced Apple Compote, a slow-cooked beauty, right here on Where the BlueBoots Go.

Lauren from Hunger|Thirst|Play invited me to a themed brunch a year ago – APPLE themed – and I brought together my love for intriguing flavors and wellness to create a spiced apple compote to top greek yogurt. Together, the compote makes a delightful partner for a protein-rich, filling and delicious breakfast — or fancy workout snack (treat yourself).

What are your favorite apple varieties? Here in New England, the annual post-summer/early fall activity of apple picking comes with cooler, crisp air to match the crunch of leaves underfoot and tasty bite of an apple. I like juicy sweet apples and thin skins. I grew up eating the apple my parents packed for me for snack every day, and often had one cooked in my morning oatmeal. It was simple, usually, with just a touch of cinnamon and maple syrup.

Autumn Glory Apple Brunch - Where the BlueBoots Go

Autumn Glory Apples - Where the BlueBoots Go

With apples, though, there are so many possibilities to create great recipes. Different textures hold up to heat and baking, or stews, or roasting differently – some varieties do well complementing meat, or sliced with cheese and charcuterie platters, and then with the staples – the baked pies and breads – apple season is amazing.

Apple Themed Brunch - Where the BlueBoots Go

Creative Apple Appetizers - Where the BlueBoots Go

Spiced Apple Compote - Where the BlueBoots Go

Spiced Apple Compote - Greek Yogurt Parfait - Where the BlueBoots Go

Autumn Glory Apples, as a snack, need no recommendation or extra flavors. But they’re sure good with warming spices! They advertise as cinnamon and caramel apples, and they smell incredible just out of the box. When I need a little extra immune support and comfort, I use the recipe I developed and shared here (iced) with guests at my event at Athleta for a warming spiced tonic in the cold-weather months.

Taking a leaf out of that recipe, I envisioned this slow-simmered, deeply warming apple compote.

Set it in the crockpot on low, walk away, and come back to a house that smells beautiful and inviting.

I brought parfaits to share at brunch and enjoyed being able to bring out family treasures, these gorgeous crystal goblets, to share a new favorite dish with new friends.

Getting to know some local Boston area food bloggers – Sweet & Masala, Stress Baking, Prim and Propah, Life as a Maven, and our host – Hunger|Thirst|Play was great. I linked the posts they wrote about this brunch or about these apples above :-).

Spiced Apple Compote Recipe

Ingredients – 8 servings

4 apples, peeled and sliced – chopped roughly

2 tbsp cinnamon sugar

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/8 tsp ground turmeric

1/8 tsp black pepper

4 cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 tsp ground ginger

2 tsp vanilla extract

optional – 1/2 cup water and 1 tbsp butter

Simply add all the ingredients to a crock pot, set on low for 6 hours. Stir gently, and chill before serving on top of greek yogurt (or Icelandic – one serving can have up to around 15 g of protein!).

I topped my parfaits with glazed walnuts, goji berries, dried currants, dried blueberries, and garnished with a cinnamon stick and a twist of orange zest – adding complementary aromatic elements and textures to the presentation.

Serving Ideas:

Like we did, you can make this for a healthy brunch with your friends. If you’re making Spiced Apple Compote for a brunch party, you can also set it up in a lovely glass bowl and scoop it out for guests in lieu of parfait glasses. For yourself, try the Spiced Apple Compote Parfait for a make-ahead weekday breakfast or post-workout snack. You can also serve this on top of vanilla ice cream (YUM) for an innovative and bright dessert, or to flavor plain hot cereal or oatmeal in pack and go containers.

Thank you so much to Autumn Glory Apples for sending me these delightfully sweet and flavorful apples from the Pacific Northwest for me to try! Available November – April, I can’t wait to try new apple recipes…apples for snack…with cheese…in my oatmeal… YES!