Every week my husband and I buy an assortment of fruits to take to work and school with us as sweet, but healthy, snacks. Apples, pears, bananas and plums are our daily treats, and recently, a delightful variety of dried peaches. Nevertheless, it always happens that a few pieces of fruit are leftover come Saturday, and sometimes I give expression to my slightly naughty side by making them into a kind of breakfast dessert. Pongyolas Alma, roughly translated as “Apples in Pajamas,” are a delicious Transylvanian dish that I first heard about while reading a book on Israeli cookery. They are easy to make, fun to eat and look pretty on the plate. What else could you ask for?
Apples in Pajamas (Pongyolas Alma)
To make “Apples in Pajamas” you generally take approximately four apples, peel and core them, then slice them into 1/2-inch rounds. You coat them in a light batter, then gently fry them before sprinkling with cinnamon-sugar. This cooking method is delightful to be sure, but I like the way whole apples look so I’ve modified the technique. Hence, this post is really about two recipes: one using sliced apples, one using whole ones. To make “Apples in Pajamas” the traditional way simply dip your sliced apples in the same amounts of batter listed below, fry them in the same amount of oil and sprinkle with sugar. To give the full figured version a try, continue reading. Also, this recipe is not an apples-only dish. I also like to eat ripe bananas this way by slicing them down the middle, dipping them in batter and proceeding as with the apples. Whatever you decide, have fun!
Apples in Pajamas (My Recipe)
Ingredients:
- 4 apples (I used Granny Smith Apples)
- 4 tablespoons of butter
- 4 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- A pinch of salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus more for frying
- 1/3 cup milk
- About 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 to 3 tablespoons granulated white sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Wash and dry the apples. Peel them and remove the core using an apple corer or a small knife. (Careful with your hands, it’s easy to cut yourself when coring an apple with a knife.) Place the apples in a baking dish and place 1 tbs of butter inside each apple cavity. Sprinkle each apple with a tablespoon of brown sugar. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, until the apples are almost 100% baked. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
While the apples are cooling, put the flour, salt, eggs, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, milk and water in a small mixing bowl. Whisk until combined. The better should be thick enough to stick to the apples when they are dipped into it. If it is too thin add more flour, if it is too thick add more water.
On a large plate mix the cinnamon and granulated sugar, set aside.
Pour oil into a large, heavy frying pan, about one inch deep. Heat the oil to about 350 degrees F. (You can check the temperature with a candy thermometer.)
Coat the apples in the batter then place in the pan, 2 at a time if you pan is not large enough to give each apple a fair amount of room. Be careful when you add the apples because the moisture from them will cause the oil to sputter! Fry the apples, turning them using tongs, until all the sides are a nice golden brown color. Drain on paper towels then generously sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mix.
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This entry was posted on Saturday, February 10th, 2007 by Ariela and is filed under Breakfast, Cultural, Fruits, Jewish, My Recipes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
50 Comments.
1. Brilynn | February 10th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I love the name!
2. Lydia | February 10th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
These are naughty, in that cinnamon-sugar way, but oh boy, do they ever look delicious! Apples in pajamas — love that name!!
3. rob | February 10th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Oh, that sounds soooo good. Fresh, hot apple fritters covered in cinnamon sugar sound perfect on a cold winter morning (okay, anytime, really). I love the name, too.
4. Paz | February 10th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
I love the name, too!
Paz
5. Helen | February 10th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
I love the name! My mom used to make us apple fritters on the weekend. I miss them so much!
Thanks for posting this, it brings back great comforting memories!
6. asha | February 10th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
I like the name and the recipe.Sounds great dipped in batter and fried and with cinnamon sprinkle.Perfect. YUM!!
7. Ariela | February 10th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Wow - who knew the name would be so popular? I wonder what other clever names can be found in Transylvanian cuisine!
8. Tanna | February 10th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Fun name and they look wonderful to eat…maybe in bed!
9. Anali | February 10th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
These look so yummy and the name is wonderful! Nothing is more comforting than eating good food while still in your pajamas!
10. connie | February 10th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
these look great… and yet another way to make something good for us not so good…what with this and candied apples, apples seem to be an easy target for dessertification
11. Natalia | February 10th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
How cute! I think I’d like all of my fruit to come in pajamas. It would just be more fun that way!
12. aria | February 10th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
hi ari, oh my that looks good! yum, pj’s for all the fruits!!
13. Abby | February 10th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
It’s kind of like a fritter? Or is one? They’re sold at our fair every year - cooked very similarly if not exactly the same!
And, being Southern, if you say ‘fried,’ we say ‘yum’.
14. Ariela | February 10th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Tanna - Oh I hadn’t thought of that, but yes these would look beautiful as part of a breakfast in bed!
Anali - You are so right, especially if the food is in “pajamas” too.
Connie - I’m sure I could dehealthify pretty much any fruit - but this isn’t totally unhealthy right? Afterall, the apple IS in there. Hehe.
Natalia - They are cute! I wish there were bite sized apples so we could make mini versions of these. Hmm….
Aria - Thank you and yes, I agree! (Beautiful name, btw)
Abby - These are similar to the apple ring fritters you can buy at fairs, isn’t it amazing how cultures around the world can come up with similar foodie concepts? Providence? Were we MEANT to eat apples with batter and sugary goodness? I dunno, seems like a strange coincidence….
15. Pam | February 10th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
YUM! Those look delish!
16. Ruth L | February 11th, 2007 at 12:25 am
Love the name and would love to eat one too!
17. sher Cermak | February 11th, 2007 at 4:00 am
What a wonderful name for something that looks incredibly good. Even if it didn’t taste good (which it does, of course) I would still want to make them, for the name! :):)
18. s@bd | February 11th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
seriously.
how am I not 400 lbs?
19. Tali | February 11th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Yum, yum, YUM! This is such a cool idea Ari, I don’t have apples around but I do have some bananas… maybe I should give this a go?
I bought The Temple Dancer at Barnes & Noble today and am already loving it. I think I’m going to get in bed early tonight so that I can read a few more chapters - which is saying a lot for this night owl. Thanks for the reading suggestion!
20. Kristen | February 11th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
What a great looking treat!
21. Marlee | February 11th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
::humph:: These sound so delicious and how could my father not tell me of these? He is from Transylvania too.
Printing this one for sure
22. carolyn | February 12th, 2007 at 7:30 am
Apples in pajamas what a wonderful name!
23. joey | February 12th, 2007 at 7:52 am
Do you realize that if you use bananas then they will be named after that children’s show, Bananas in Pajamas?
Heehee, just a bit of trivia. They look great and sound yummy! 
24. Chef Scott | February 12th, 2007 at 9:58 am
Not often that you see a dish from Transylvania! Looks fantastic. Love the site.
25. gilly | February 12th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Hi Ari - I love it - what a fantastic and descriptive name! My husband and I eat at least 3-4 apples a day between us, we love them at every meal. I bet he’d enjoy this as a suprise treat sometime - I know I would!
26. Jeff | February 12th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Wait…I heard all Transylvanian dishes sucked??? *grin* thank you…I’ll be here all week! Remember to tip your server
27. Garrett | February 12th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
I am digging the name of this. Totally shibby cute.
28. veron | February 12th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
This sounds absolutely divine. Deep fried battered apples …it can’t get better than that!
29. Jenifer | February 12th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Alright, just pass the apples and the vanilla ice cream. I had a dish similar to this at a renaissance faire. So good and so yummy!
30. Patricia Scarpin | February 13th, 2007 at 6:23 am
Ari,
Apples are great as they are, but fried and sprinkled with sugar AND cinnamon… It’s just heaven!
31. Jennifer | February 13th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
These are so cute! I want to gobble them up with some ice cream and whipped cream.
32. Freya | February 13th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
An adorable name and they look beautiful! A great way to use up your veggie box goodies!
33. Janice | February 13th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Hmmm, interesting concept! I love anything that’s been battered and fried, but when it’s also been baked in butter and brown sugar? No chance I’ll be passing that up, lol.
34. Kat | February 13th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Those make my mouth water. In fact, I have two apples left, I may just try this out tonight
35. Scott at Real Epicurean | February 13th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Cinnamon and apple. There’s no combination better then that, is there?
36. Ariela | February 14th, 2007 at 6:46 am
Tali - I’m glad you’re enjoying The Temple Dancer!
Joey - I had not realized that! What a cool name for a kids show, lol.
Chef Scott - Thank you!
Gilly - Apples are such a great treat, cooked or raw. The crunch, the smell, the taste, they’re all so satisfying when you need a little pick me up.
Jeff - Haha, well I can’t speak for the rest of Transylvanian cuisine, this dish just caught my fancy.
Garrett - Yay! You used the word shibby! I know this sounds silly but I get such a kick out of it when one of my posts inspires you to use that word.
Jenifer & Jennifer - I think you two are right, how could I have overlooked the use of ice cream at breakfast?!
37. Ariela | February 14th, 2007 at 6:46 am
Thank you for all the kind comments everyone.
38. Yoddler | February 14th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Guess what Ari: I made these last night and my family LOVED them, thank you! I baked the apples a little longer than you said because you said they should be almost 100% baked, then I followed the rest of your instructions and the results were so tasty. Yay!!
39. Dianka | February 14th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
What a fantastic idea! I always have leftover fruit from the week as well, I’ll have to try this out!
40. utenzi | February 14th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Happy Valentine’s Day, Ari. Those pajamas really look delicious. I might have to pick up some apples and give it a try.
41. Ivonne | February 14th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Ariel,
My mouth is watering!
42. Matthew | February 15th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
I also made these Ari and they were superb. Bravo on creating such a delicious variation of Transylvanian fare! The wife and kids are already asking me to make these again.
43. Janet | February 17th, 2007 at 9:03 am
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m still waiting for the cookbook.:)
44. Ariela | February 17th, 2007 at 9:34 am
What cookbook? If this came from one I would have cited it.
45. Janet | February 17th, 2007 at 9:49 am
I meant YOU guys should have a cookbook of your own!:)
46. Ariela | February 17th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Ohhhhh, lol! I totally didn’t get that. Thank you though!
*hugs*
47. Julie | February 18th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
What a great way to eat an apple. There’s just something about fried food that makes it ridiculously good.
48. foodiemama | February 21st, 2007 at 12:42 am
oh wow! littlefoodie would love these! can’t wait to try them out!
49. Ariela | February 22nd, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Yoddler - I am SO HAPPY your family liked these!
Dianka - Leftover fruit is the perfect excuse to make something tempting. Afterall, you don’t want to waste perfectly good fruit right? (We’ll forget the whole eating the fruit plain idea for the moment…)
Utenzi - Thanks, belatedly!
Ivonne - Well I’m flattered that one of my recipes could tempt a prolific food goddess like yourself!
Matthew - Awesome! I can’t tell you how much it makes my day when people let me know that they have enjoyed a recipe I posted, thank you for coming back and sharing.
Julie - Fried food is great and when you combine it with sugar it’s even better! Not everyday fare mind you, but definitely worth the occassional splurge.
Foodiemama - It must be so cool to have kids to cook for, I hope littlefoodie enjoys this one.
50. Christine | February 23rd, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Oh goodness, just how DELICIOUS do those sound? Yum, yum, yum!