When I was a freshman in high school, my family hosted a foreign exchange student from Germany. He taught us German words, traditions and recipes. One of the recipes he taught us was called Bratapfel. Bratapfel is a German apple dessert. Not many Americans know how to make it, but it is very popular in Germany. Although the foreign name makes it sound hard and complicated to make, it is not that hard to make at all.

Ingredients:

1. Vanilla pudding
2. Milk
3. Strawberry Marmalade or Jam
4. Butter
5. Apples
6. Cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F

The Vanilla Pudding

1. Pour the vanilla pudding mix into a mixing bowl
2. Pour three cups of milk into the mixing bowl with the vanilla pudding mix
3. Mix the vanilla pudding mix and milk together in the mixing bowl for two minutes
4. Once the vanilla pudding mix and milk are mixed fully, put it into the fridge for a minimum of thirty minutes

The Apple Prep

1. Wash the apples
2. Cut the center of the apple out, so there is a hole in the center of the apple

Be sure it is cut all the way through and not just halfway through

1. Peel off all the skin of the apple

Putting it all together

1. Put a tin foil or a baking pan sheet on the pan

The reason it is recommended to use either one is that when the apples are cooking the jam may spread out of the apple. This is normal. The tin foil or baking sheet makes it easier to clean the pan when it is time to clean up.

1. Place the apples on the pan
2. Put the strawberry jam in the center of the apple until it is half full
3. Put some butter in the center

An option for this would be to use normal butter and melt it. This way it will be easier to use.

1. Fill the rest of the core with up with the strawberry jam
2. Optional: Put cinnamon on top of the apples

The Final Part

1. Put the apples in the oven for 40 minutes

You may notice that the jam falls through when it is cooking. This is normal and also the reason you put a baking sheet or tin foil on the pan.

1. Take the vanilla pudding out of the fridge
2. Put the vanilla pudding on the apples
3. Enjoy!

Making the Bratapfel myself was quite a challenge. This was my first time making this. It was hard for me to cut the core in the middle completely out since I used a knife. There is an apple core peeler, however, I did not buy one.

Another challenge I faced was eating the apple. I did not know if I should have sliced it and put the jam and butter on the apple slice. However, I remembered that when our foreign exchange student made it he did not slice the apple open. I ended up putting the apple in the bowl to make it easier to eat. I ended up eating it with a fork and a knife so it was easiest to eat.