September 5, 2017 22 Comments
This Swedish apple pie recipe was not inspired by a trip to Sweden.
The closest I have been to Sweden is the food court in IKEA where they sell (you guessed it) apple cake.
Have you been to IKEA? I have been shopping there since college and I am not afraid to tell you that my dining chairs, bookcases, and end tables are from IKEA. I like the stuff! (or perhaps I am immature).
I love the apple cake at IKEA, though last time I visited it didn’t taste as good. New baker perhaps? I decided to make my own Swedish concoction on a whim.
This time of year the apples start rolling in (literally) and I fire up my apple peeler. Try my simple homemade apple pie filling and my healthy apple crisp.
What I liked about the IKEA cake was that it wasn’t too sweet. Also, it had a flavor that I couldn’t recognize. I have since found out that this spice is cardamom. Cardamom is a staple spice of Swedish baking (who knew?) and the tradition of using it has dated back to the Vikings.
Cardamom is native to India so it seems a little strange to find it in Swedish food.
One thing to note, cardamom is one of the most expensive spices to buy. I bought a small of ground cardamom for $12 (ouch) and found out later it is picked by hand in a labor-intensive process.
If you can’t swing cardamom, just don’t use it (and then call it regular apple pie).
The use of cardamom instead of a lot of sugar makes this a healthier version of apple pie. There is also 1 tablespoon of vanilla in the topping which is another great use of a flavoring agent instead of sugar to make this work.
This really isn’t pie –more of a crumble – perhaps I should call it Swedish Apple Crumble? At any rate, I hope you like it.
Have you used cardamom? What to you put it in?
3.9 from9 reviews
Makes 10 slices
Print Pin
Ingredients
For filling:
4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into small chunks
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¾ teaspoon ground cardamom
1 tablespoon sugar
For topping:
6 tablespoons butter, melted
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 ¼ cups rolled oats
¼ cup flour
Instructions
Heat oven to 350 F and spray non-stick coating on a 9-inch pie plate. In a large bowl mix apples, cinnamon, cardamom, and sugar and add to pie plate. Add the butter, sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, oats and flour to the bowl and mix until blended. Top the apples and bake for 40-50 minutes until the topping is brown and the apples are soft.
Nutrition Facts
For one slice = 184 calories, 7.8 g fat, 4.5 g saturated fat, 27.6 g carbohydrates, 14.3 g sugar, 2 g protein, 3.6 g fiber, 51 mg sodium, 7 Freestyle SmartPts
Points values are calculated by Snack Girl and are provided for information only. See all Snack Girl Recipes
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First 20 Comments: ( See all 22 )
I found it was funny to get this in my email today. I'm currently in Sweden for a couple months. Cardamom is definitely popular here and only costs about $3.50 for a normal sized bottle. I haven't used it yet, but I'm going to make this for my boyfriend.
Shanna
So glad to see this this morning!! My 15 year old grandson and two of his friends baked a chai cake this weekend and used cardamom, among many other things...it is a fabulous flavor.
Jennie
I first encountered cardamom in a sample from a specialty jar of peanut butter. It was amazing!
Amy
I first had cardamon in bread and have since tried it in scones as part of a chai spice mixture, or with dried apricots...yum! I have even sprinkled it in my coffee instead of cinnamon. It adds a unique touch, I love it!
Karen
Lisa - if you find cardamom in its seed pods it might cost less. It's simple to prepare. Open the small pods with your fingernail or a small, sharp knife; set the little black seeds free, crush the seeds in a mortar and pestle. The smell is WONDERFUL!
"Cardamom Sugar" is a treat and easy to make and use, just like "Cinnamon Sugar."
Marlene
I mix cardamon and honey, and then put it on chicken thighs before baking. Yum.
Heidi Menocal
that pod idea above is exactly what Indian people normally do, unless you are in a hurry. I always buy the full pods and crush them myself after peeling with my finger nails. I put it in a coffee grinder and it is quickly crushed and even a 1/4 tsp is as effective.
hema
OMG, so many good ideas re cardamom! My daughter made a cardamom holiday bread when she was a teen and it had phenomenal flavor! I'm was planning on adding it to this year's mulled cider for TG & Xmas after googling several food sites to update my blend. We all love "everything apple" and now I can't wait to put cardamom in our apple pie and a favorite breakfast danish too. Thanks again, Lisa, love your ideas... and, I really love the ideas of use in coffee, PB, chicken... and the splitting pods & crushing seeds, you have the most interesting followers! Snack Girl is addicting!
BarbL
Since my ancestry is Swedish, that is the only thing that would make this Swedish, except for cardamom maybe. :)
This looks yummy.
IFortuna
Oh, BTW, Try adding some chopped pecans. That's what we would do in Texas. : )
i.shaolinmaster@gmail.com
Yes. First I Added It To Coffee (Popular In The Middle East) Then In Bread. I Thought The Taste In Both Was Ginger Like Also Peppery Also Perhaps It Was Carbonated.
RC
Can't wait to try this. I brought cardamom pods and never used yet.
Sue
One of my traditional Christmas cookie recipes is Cardamom-Walnut Cookies. They're like sugar cookie balls rolled in either a powdered sugar / cardamom or granulated sugar / cardamom mixture. They're buttery, crispy and with that wonderful cardamom spice! Thanks for sharing, the apple recipe looks delicious!
Andrea
Just apple crisp with a new name. Seriously!
bluesmama
I always added cardamom to my Cole Slaw recipe which was an old recipe of my Mom's--over shredded cabbage mix dressing made of cream (or half & half, or even milk), sugar (or sweetener), a Tblsp vinegar AND CARDAMOM! Gives it a slight different but really good sweet nutty flavor.
Sue
Thank you for the recipe, I can't wait to try it! I appreciate you and your site. Have been a faithful follower for a few years. I found a great Pumpkin Pie recipe that uses a little Cardamon, soooo yummy!
Barbara Stuchell
Thanks, Lisa, for always coming up with viable options to reduce our calorie intake without depriving our tastebuds. Happy Thanksgiving.
Carol Campbell Anderson
If you don't want to use sugar, try Agave syrup. It is low glycemic. Also, in place of maple syrup try sugarless maple syrup. I use it in my pecan pie along with Splenda (or Stevia) and hubby could not tell the difference between sugared and the sugarless variety.
IFortuna
I put cardamom in coleslaw--the kind with the bad-for-you dressing of cream, sugar, mayo, a little vinegar, and cardamom! I'd like to use cardamom more, though, so glad to have these ideas! ;)
Sue Rikli
Cardamom is one of my top five faves. I really enjoy chai, and I put cardamom in my middle eastern coffee. The most cost effective way I've come across in when I shop in the bulk section in Pennsylvania. You can buy smaller amounts for less. I live in NYC and haven't found a supermarket with a bulk section. :( I do have lots of Indian supermarkets near me and can buy the pods to crush :)
Dolores ★★★★★
