APPLE PUFFS WITH MERINGUE

Apple Puffs with Meringue image

Provided by Nancy Fuller

Categories dessert

Time 1h5m

Yield 30 to 40 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 pounds sweet, tart apples, such as cameo and braeburn, chopped small
4 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped small
All-purpose flour, for dusting
One 14-ounce package puff pastry, defrosted
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3 egg whites, at room temperature

Steps:

For the apple puffs: Place the apples in a medium pot with 1/2 cup water, the honey, butter, lemon juice and cinnamon. Stir and cook over medium heat until the apples soften, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the walnuts. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place a rack close to the center of the oven.
On a lightly floured surface, roll the puff pastry to about 1/8-inch thick and cut the pastry into 3-by-3-inch squares. Press the squares into the wells of a mini muffin tin and poke the bottoms with a fork to dock. Place a heaping tablespoon of the apple mixture in the center. Repeat for the remaining pieces of pastry and apple filling.
Bake until the pastries are puffed and golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the apple puffs to a wire rack to cool while you make the meringue.
For the meringue: In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the sugar, lemon juice and egg whites on medium speed until the meringue is glossy, smooth and holds a stiff peak.
Dollop a tablespoon of the meringue on top of each puff and use a kitchen torch to brown the outside. Alternatively, place the puffs on a baking sheet and broil until the meringue is lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve at room temperature.