Please dazzle me with ideas to save windfall apples

[LooseleafTea]

I keep stewing them and freezing as it annoys me we have too many and then none so end up buying them most of the year . But can I freeze them just peeled and cut up too eg for apple tarts or will they go brown and less nice?

You also want one of these... hours of fun!

Lakeland Apple Peeler

I have an apple tree in my garden which fruits every year and is laden down with apples. I cook some of them and people are welcome to pick them but the majority stay on the tree for the birds. In winter they are still there on the tree and are coloured bright red which look like lights on dark days.

My tree fruits every year and the branches can hardly cope with the weight of them.

Peel, core and roughly slice.
Stack in large killer jars
Cover with the cheapest vodka you can find
Store in a cool dark place for 6-9 months. Longer you leave it the better
Bottle into jars and bottles
Drink or give as pressies
Use the boozy apples with icecream or hot cake

@CatBatCat

You can make juice with a couple planks of wood, a bucket and a car jack.

But what does it taste like?

(Kidding, I'm kidding)

Probably rocket fuel :)

This Apple cake is nice

www.joskitchenlarder.com/dorset-apple-cake-traybake/

@Bellevu

Peel, core and roughly slice. Stack in large killer jars Cover with the cheapest vodka you can find Store in a cool dark place for 6-9 months. Longer you leave it the better Bottle into jars and bottles Drink or give as pressies Use the boozy apples with icecream or hot cake

What size jars do you need and can you use gin instead

You can also make apple chips from the peels.

wastedapple.co.uk/become-an-apple-donor/#:~:text=As%20a%20rough%20rule%20of,a%20maximum%20of%2036%20bottles.

I use the windfalls up for this, it's a spiced jam and it's amazing on toast or pancakes, added to yoghurt or cooked in pastry cases like mince pies.

blog.lakeland.co.uk/recipe/apple-butter/

I use 500g of sugar instead of 2kg though as mine are eating apples and it's still really sweet.

We always wrap each apple in newspaper and store in a box in a cool place. You lose a few but they last retry well

Agree with the the suggestion @lborgia made about the apple peeler. I'm not one for single function gadgets but this one genuinely saves hours if you have a lot of apples to do! Does look a bit like a torture device though...

Oh I missed that post, totally agree about the apple peeler, my 2yr old did about 30 for me in one go. Child labour is totally fine if you let them eat the outcome

Do not make juice from windfall, only freshly picked apples. There is a risk that the juice will contain patulin.

Posted too soon. And always check the apples over for damage.

Mincemeat! Add sultanas, raisins, currants, dried peel, suet, lashings of brandy and let it mature. By Christmas you'll have the tastiest fillings for mine pies.

Store them in your shed in boxes covered with newspaper, single rows. They can last 6 to 9 months that way

See if there's a cider maker near you. Our local company will take windfall apples and then when they've made the cider they will give you some in return.

So much continued wisdom here, thank you all very much . Am very interested in the sand in bucket storage method as hadn’t heard of that and often old methods are best IMO! We’ve tried newspapers and separating them and as mentioned yes do lose some and ours tend to shrivel a bit and become harder to peel so interesting to compare

I’ll love trying the Dorset cake, it looks really satisfying and has a good amount of apple. A friend offered me even more apples today and I said no a bit too firmly I think

Cider would be tempting I must admit

Firstly, try this cake, it's the business:

www.telegraph.co.uk/recipes/0/mary-berrys-very-best-apple-dessert-cake/

Secondly, you will have years when you will just have too many apples - you try and use them, you give loads away, you slice and freeze, you freeze whole, yet there are still more than you'll need. Even if you store it's hard to use them all! Sometimes you have to just have to just put them in the compost!

I've given bags away on Freecycle before now (although inevitably some piss-takers wanted me to deliver them....)

We have so many every year. I put excess in boxes in the front garden with a help yourself sign and carrier bags for people to take them away in. Have so many Ocado bags since Ocado stopped recycling in March this will be a double win this year! They always all go and quite nice to think there are people across the village also eating apple cakes and pies originating from our garden!

I make apple and mint jelly with our friend’s donated windfall. It’s fantastic with sausages, pork, lamb or chicken.