27 September 2026
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THE UNIVERSAL GASTRONOMY AUTHORITY
World Kitchen Journal
Vanilla Apples
The Kitchen
By Jean-Luc Moreau, the Technique desk · EE.UU. · 2 min ·

Vanilla Apples

This is a recipe for Vanilla Apples garnished with sweetheart croutes (heart-shaped, butter toasted bread). It’s a fun recipe for Valentine’s Day.

Ingredients · Servings 4
  • 3 tablespoons butter, (divided)
  • 2 large Gala apples ((or another variety of red apple))
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 3 slices white country bread, (cut into heart shapes with a cookie cutter)
  • sugar, (for sprinkling (optional))
Method · 30 min
  1. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet.
  2. Core and finely slice the apples (leave the peel on if your intended eaters will go for that- otherwise, peel the apples first). Add them to the skillet, cooking for about 3 minutes, then add the vanilla and cook for about another 5 minutes total, turning once (until browned). Remove the apples to a platter.
  3. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter to the pan and quickly fry the sweetheart croutes until browned and slightly crisp.
  4. Arrange the croutes on the plate with the apples; sprinkle with sugar (if using).

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all about chocolate. Consider whipping up this delicious and festive sautéed apple treat on the holiday this year. Wouldn’t it be a fun after-school snack? My kid would have gone nuts for this one when he was younger. Heck, he’d probably still enjoy it now!

This recipe comes from Nigella Lawson’s cookbook, Nigella Express. It’s an older book, but I still reach for it to use once in a while. There are great, unique-style recipes in the book.

  • butter
  • red apples
  • vanilla extract
  • white bread
  • white sugar

How to make Vanilla Apples:

The complete, printable recipe is at the end of this post.

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