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Whole Apple Preserves
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Whole Apple Preserves

Firiki is the name of the small variety of apple used to make on of the most delectable spoon sweets in Greece, whole apples preserves, which are a specialty of Mt. Pelion, where many apple trees flourish. You can make this spoon sweet with any small, firm apple variety.

Course dessert
Cuisine Greek, Mediterranean
Keyword apples, Diane Kochilas, Diane Kochilas Greek recipes, Greek dessert, spoon sweets, traditional dessert, winter dessert

Ingredients

  • 25 small apples such as Greek Firikia, Egyptian apples or crab apples, cored and peeled, but whole
  • 1 kilo / 2.2 pounds sugar
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • Fresh strained juice of 1 lemon
  • Whole blanched almonds as needed

Instructions

  1. Wash the apples.
  2. In a large pot, bring the sugar, water and lemon juice to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved.
  3. Place the apples in the syrup. Bring back to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook the apples for about one hour, until the apples are tender but al dente and the syrup thick. As the apples cook in the syrup, stir gently and spoon a little of the liquid over the apples on the surface, which helps them acquire a beautiful light amber color. Let cool in the syrup, then place in clean, sterilized jars and seal tight. Store the apple spoon sweet in a cool, dry, dark place.