Healthy Holiday: Apple-Stuffed Cinnamon Bundles

The folks at Fresenius Medical Care, along with Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr. have come up with a yummy holiday recipe, Apple-Stuffed Cinnamon Bundles, keeping folks in mind who have daily diet restrictions of a chronic illness, such as chronic kidney disease.

McCargo, of Food Network’s “Big Daddy’s House,” has partnered with Fresenius, which has a location at 5723 Memorial Drive, to develop what they call dialysis-friendly holiday recipes - and year-round - why not?.

Apple-Stuffed Cinnamon Bundles

Ingredients

Apple Mixture

4 apples or 3-1/2 cups (of peeled medium diced Granny Smith, Washington Gala, and Honey Crisp apples mixed)

¼ cup light brown sugar*

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, firm

¼ cup melted unsalted butter (for buttering phyllo pastry sheets)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon corn starch

1 package (6 sheets) phyllo dough

Combine in a small bowl:

3 tablespoons powdered sugar

2 tablespoons cinnamon

Garnish:

Powdered Sugar

Fresh mint

Whipped cream or Low fat whipped topping

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Preparation:

Prepare apple mixture:

In large sauté pan on medium high heat, sauté apples in butter for 6-8 minutes. Stir in cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar, and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes. In a small cup, mix cornstarch and vanilla extract until dissolved, stir into apple mixture and cook for additional two minutes on medium high heat. Turn off heat and set aside.

Prepare phyllo dough bundles:

• Lightly grease a large six muffin tin pan. 
• Starting with the first sheet of phyllo dough, brush each side with melted butter then dust with the powdered sugar and cinnamon mix. Continue until all 6 sheets have been buttered and dusted with sugar and cinnamon mix, stacking one sheet on top of the other as you go.

• Cut each stack into 6 squares. Line the bottom and sides of each muffin cup using one stack of squares.  Leave an over-hang.

• Fill each phyllo lined muffin cup ½ - ¾ full with the apple mixture (this will depend on how big the apples are cut), making sure each phyllo lined muffin cup has equal amounts of apple mixture.
• Fold excess phyllo dough over the apples in each muffin cup and pinch top closed to create the bundles. 
• Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. 
• Garnish with powdered sugar, whipped cream and sprig of fresh mint.

*1/4 cup Agave Nectar may be substituted as a sweetener for those with diabetes

 Note:

• These are a few types of year round apples that are available are in most supermarkets and fruit stands across the country. Select one sour and two sweet apple varieties for your recipe:

o        Empire

o        Fuji

o        Golden Delicious

o        Red Delicious

o        Granny Smith

Nutrient Analysis:
Serves: 6
1 Serving: 1 bundle

Calories                   249 calories             Trans Fat      0 grams
Protein                    2 grams                  Cholesterol     31 milligrams
Carbohydrate           29 grams                 Potassium      102 milligrams
Total Fat                 14 grams                 Phosphorus    26 milligrams
Saturated Fat           9 grams                  Sodium          99 milligrams