With fall in full swing, all the orchards ripe for the picking, and the University of Minnesota consistently inventing new apple varieties, Minnesota has got to be the best place around for apples. But beyond eating them right off the tree, what’s the best use for an apple? "October is definitely the time when we cook with apples," says local pastry chef Patrick Bernet of Patrick's Bakery and Cafe. And how does he like to cook with them? That answer is simple: baking.
Bernet has been baking for a long time. He started a bakery apprenticeship at age 13 in his hometown of Alsace, France. His career has taken him around the world, working as a pastry chef at many five star hotels, including the Meridian Hotel in Newport Beach and our own Hotel Sofitel here in the Twin Cities. He left the glamorous world of five-star hotels about ten years ago to open his own restaurant in the Southdale Square shopping center.
"With apples, you can do many things," Bernet says. For example, the easiest way to cook an apple is to simply bake it whole. "Put them in at 350° or 380° and take them out when they are soft,” he says. Core the apple and fill the inside with vanilla ice cream or almond paste. Easy!
Bernet suggests some other avenues, because, as he reiterates, "You can do so much with apples." He recommends being creative, and cooking them to your taste. For example, he says, "You can make a compote, you can cook them with raisins and with cinnamon."
We have the exclusive Patrick's Bakery and Cafe recipe for apple pie, sent courtesy of Patrick himself. Try out this French pastry chef's take on the classic American pie!
Patrick’s Apple Pie
Pie Shell:
1/2 lb. butter
1 cup sugar
pinch of salt
3 eggs
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cup cake flour
Cream the butter, sugar and salt together, making sure to scrape the sides of the bowl. Add eggs and mix for 1 minute on medium speed. Scrape sides again. Add cake flour mix on low speed; add water slowly until dough comes together.
Chill for at least one hour in refrigerator.
Roll out on floured surface to ¼-inch thickness.
Pie Filling:
4 apples peeled and seeded, sliced lengthwise
7 eggs
2 cups sugar
½ cup cornstarch
1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 Tbs. vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix sugar and corn starch together. Add eggs and mix until no lumps. Add milk, cream and vanilla. Mix well to form a flan.
Arrange sliced apples in pie shell (recipe above). Pour flan over top until 3/4 full (do not overfill).
Bake for 45-55 minutes.
Interested in picking your own apples? A leisurely Sunday road trip may be called for, but it will definitely be worth it to visit one of these area apple orchards. Using fresh-picked apples is the best way to ensure a fresh-tasting pie, tart, or any other dish that calls for apples. (Of course if you can’t make it to the orchard in time to have your pie ready for dinner time, never fear! Your neighborhood grocery store will have local apples aplenty.)
450 Apple Orchard Rd.
White Bear Lake, MN
651.429.7202
22702 Hamburg Ave.
Lakeville, MN
952.985.5425
14421 S. 90th St.
Hastings, MN
651.436.8385
