Thousand Layer Apple 🍎✨

The idea of using apples in a “thousand-layer” style, inspired by the viral thousand-layer potato, is a delightful concept. Here’s a recipe to create a dessert version of this dish using apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon butter. This dish will be somewhat reminiscent of apple pie but with a unique presentation.

Thousand Layer Apple:

Ingredients:

1. 4-5 large, firm apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
2. 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
3. 3/4 cup brown sugar
4. 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
5. 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
6. Pinch of salt
7. 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preparation: a. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). b. Peel the apples and slice them very thinly using a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife. The slices should be as uniform as possible.
2. Cinnamon Butter Mixture: a. In a bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg (if using), salt, and vanilla extract. Mix until everything is well incorporated.
3. Assembly: a. Take a baking dish, preferably a round one (to emulate the circular layered look of the thousand-layer potato). b. Start by dipping each apple slice into the cinnamon butter mixture, ensuring it’s coated on both sides. c. Begin layering the dipped apple slices in the dish, starting from the outer edge and working your way to the center, overlapping each slice slightly. d. As you build up the layers, press down occasionally to pack the apple slices. e. Once all the apple slices have been layered, pour any remaining cinnamon butter mixture over the top.
4. Baking: a. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. b. After 40 minutes, remove the foil and bake for another 20-30 minutes or until the top layer becomes slightly crispy and caramelized, and the apples are tender.
5. Serving: a. Allow the dish to cool slightly before serving. You can serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an added treat!

This thousand-layer apple dessert is sure to impress with its intricate layers and rich flavors. Enjoy your sweet take on the viral trend!