When it’s cold outside, I need to be warm on the inside. That’s why, during the winter months, cold cereal is not an option. Instead we choose hot dishes like eggs, grits and steel cut oats for our main stay breakfasts.
This winter this warm breakfast was added to our repertoire. This breakfast consists of stewed, spiced apples with granola and crème fraîche. It is very easy to make and takes no time at all to throw together. Hot spiced apples, with crunchy granola and creamy crème fraîche yield an enjoyable breakfast that is so warm and satisfying and definitely warms you up from the inside. And if you want to spice things up at bit, add some of those bourbon infused cranberries from that old-fashioned you made last night. 🙂
Quick and Easy Spiced Apple Breakfast
A lovely breakfast for when you are looking for something warm, crunchy and a little sweet. Also, very versatile in that you can substitute apples with just about any fruit.
"*" See Kitchen Notes for more information or links to special ingredients.
- 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 2 crispy apples*, sliced (or 1 apple/1 large banana)
- 1 Tbsp. dried cranberries (optional)
- 1 Tbsp. honey or maple syrup
- heaping ½ tsp. cinnamon*
- heaping ¼ tsp. ground ginger*
- heaping 1/8 tsp. nutmeg*
- ¼ cup of your favorite granola
- 2 Tbsp. crème fraîche*
- 2 Tbsp. toasted nuts* (optional)
- Melt the butter in a medium sized skillet over medium low heat. When the foam starts to subside, add the spices and stir.
- Add the apples, cranberries*, and honey. Stir to coat. Cover and let cook for 2 minutes. Stir, cover and cook another 2 minutes.
- Remove the lid and let the juice thicken a bit, about 30 – 60 seconds.
- Divide the apples and juice between two bowls.
Top each bowl with half of the granola and a tablespoon of crème fraiche and nuts if using.
Fruit – We love apples but when we don’t have apples, we’ll substitute whatever fruit we have such as blueberries or a mix of berries, frozen cherries and pomegrante, or banana and raisin.
Spices – Adjust the spices to your tastes as we do or change them up depending on the fruit used.
Crème fraîche – Honestly, there is no substitution for crème fraîche. However, your favorite yogurt would work great as well. Just avoid using a fruity, sweet yogurt because the fruit is sweet enough to provide the sweetness you’ll need.
Cranberries – If you do use the bourbon infused cranberries (which I highly recommend), add them once the apples are cooked and you remove the cover to thicken the juice. They are already re-hydrated, so they don’t need to re-hydrate with the stewing process.
Nuts – Since I first started making this, I have added toasted nuts to the dish. Topping with toasted pecans or walnuts adds more crunch and even more flavor.
This breakfast was inspired by this Baked fruits with yoghurt at What Should I Eat For Breakfast. Marta bakes her fruit and doesn’t add the granola. I wanted to shorten the preparation time, so I chose to stew the apples instead of bake. I’m sure baked apples would be just as delicious.
If you like this Spiced Apple Breakfast and want something similar, but cold, then you might want to check out this Persimmon Cranberry Parfait. It’s just as easy to make, easier actually, and quite delicious.
Peach Lady what a great idea!
Thanks Darlin!
This inspires me to eat breakfast! I am so bad at that!
I have to admit that my breakfast usually comes around 10 a.m., then I skip lunch and go straight into dinner, so I guess one would call this brunch. 🙂
What a wonderful way to wake up and start the day MJ! I’m sure it has a wonderful aroma too! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Thanks so much Roz!
This is the best way to start your day! A good breakfast is so important! Pinned!
Thanks Katerina and thanks for pinning!
Hello MJ! Happy to see this delicious looking shake-up on our well-loved oatmeal for breakfast 🙂 so subtle and beautiful (the humble dollop of crème fraîche is my favorite). I absolutely crave warmth (and softness) in the winter and this would be such a welcome change to our usual morning routine. I think my boys would love it too. Hot spiced apples FTW :D.
Thanks so much Kelly! Winter is always hard for me because cereal and smoothies are out – just too cold! So finding enough warm dishes for breakfast can be challenging.
What a nice fruity and healthy way to start a day.
Thanks Raymund!
I’ve actually never thought to buy Crème fraîche – can you buy it by the dairy section? I’ll probably sub in plain Chobani, but this screams me. Thanks for the idea! 😀
Thanks so much Biz! Actually, nowadays you usually find Crème fraîche in the cheese section. It use to be in dairy with the sour cream, but all the stores I frequently now have it with the cheese. Go figure.
That is one lovely and flavorful breakfast. I’m a little intrigued with the bourbon but now I’m curious. Stay warm and I hope you are having a lovely week, MJ. 🙂
Those bourbon cranberries are quite intriguing. 🙂 Thanks my friend!
This is delicious MJ hard to resist, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning and tweeting.
Thanks Swathi and thanks for the sharing!!!
Lovely breakfast. I am lately looking for new and healthier breakfast idea, so that I won’t be tempted to eat so much bread early in the morning.
I know what you mean. There are so many breakfasts that consists of bread products. I love pancakes, but … 🙂 Thanks Adina!
I don’t usually eat breakfast but if this was put in front of me I would be all over it!! How delicious and healthy looking.
Thanks for sharing
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
Thanks so much Julie!
This would be very warming and a lovely start to the day. I love stewed apples and the addition of cranberries is wonderful. I’ve heard you’re in for a lot of snow! xx
Thanks Charlie! The mountains are getting quite a bit of snow this year which is just what we need. Thank goodness it’s staying mostly in the mountains.
Looks so comforting, MJ! A great way to start the day — bourbon-soaked cherries or non 🙂
Thanks so much Vivianne!
We usually eat stuffed flat breads with butter, pickle and chai or Idlis (steamed rice cakes) with hot soupy lentils. It is basically something savory however I see myself treating myself to this spiced apple breakfast coz it sounds so good! 😀
I’ve always aspired to make your stuffed flatbreads for breakfast, but too much for in the morning. 🙂 Your breakfasts are totally different than those here in the states and all sound fabulous! Thanks Darlin!
Oh yes! A feast of flavor for breakfast makes a cold winter day so much nicer.
Yes it does! Thanks Deb!
You had me at bourbon infused cranberries. Checking that out now!
Thanks Debra!
I can’t help but laugh. You know how I love stewed fruit! Did you make this just for me?! And using the bourbon cranberries, I can imagine, would send this over the top. I bet it would be a great dessert too.
Yes, I know you love stewed fruit! You taught me the fruit compote thing with whatever you in the fridge and I thank you for that! 🙂 You know…it would make a GREAT dessert!! Thanks for the idea!
Just done with the workout, and I am so ready for the 2nd breakfast!! This is so delicious and satisfying, MJ.
Perfect! Not too heavy on the carbs, and oh so good! Thanks Angie!
I’m not the breakfast type, MJ, normally settling for a piece of fruit of some kind. This time of year, its either apples or oranges. Considering that I just bought a half dozen apples, all I need now is some crème fraîche. I do think it too late to soak the cranberries, though. I guess I’ll just have to drink the bourbon. Darn! 😉
Well, here are your apples, just fancied up a bit. 🙂 They are so good with those drunken cranraisins. 🙂 Thanks!
Cold here! Snowing too. Hot oats for breakfast this morning. Tomorrow I should have this. 🙂 Really delightful combo of flavors — such a nice recipe. Thanks!
Yep…from what I’m seeing, it’s freezing up there!!! Thanks so much John!
YES! 🙂 This is soooooooo featuring in my weekend brekkie schedule, its gorgeous. I was just saying to my mom last night that we should get apples again, we used to always have them in the house, so this recipe will be super special me thinks. Thanks for the inspo. 🙂
You are most welcome and thank you! I hope you and your mom enjoy them!
This sounds fantastic, MJ – lots of flavour and a bit of crunch! Love the idea of adding the cranberries. If you have time, please do pop by and share this lovely breakfast with us at Hearth and Soul 🙂
Thanks April! I did add it to the Hearth & Soul Hop!
Thank you, MJ! Have a lovely week!
Just to let you know, I’ve featured this post at Hearth and Soul this week, MJ 🙂
Well thank you so much April!
Normally I cannot eat anything sweet/-ish for breakfast, but you’ve got me at cranberries soaked in bourbon! Their presence would be one of the rare things to change my mind! It sounds like a perfect start of a cold winter day: delicious, filling and so warming, I bet 😉
Thanks so much Sissi! It’s perfect to warm up a cold morning and as my sister pointed out, it also makes a nice dessert.