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Apple and Quince Liqueur
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Roasted Apple and Quince Liqueur

Servings 750 ml
Author Brandon Matzek

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe apples (such as Pink Lady, Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp)
  • 3 ripe quince*
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 (3-inch) strips of orange zest
  • About 750 ml good quality brandy

Instructions

  • Preheat an oven to 375°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Core each apple and quince by first cutting off the cheeks (large segments), then the remaining smaller sides. Discard the cores. Place apple and quince pieces on the prepared baking sheet and roast until tender, fragrant, and slightly caramelized in some spots (30 - 35 minutes). Shake the pan every 15 minutes to ensure even roasting.
  • Meanwhile, warm sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a boil, bubble for 1 minute, then take the saucepan off the heat. This is known as a rich syrup.
  • Transfer the roasted apples and quince to a large mason jar (I used one that's 1500 ml / 3 pints). Add the rich syrup, cloves, cinnamon stick and orange zest. Let the mixture cool a bit, then add brandy to fill up the jar (you may not use the full 750 ml).
  • Let infuse at room temperature for 1 - 2 weeks (depending on the ripeness of your fruit), shaking the jar every couple of days. Start tasting at 1 week. The liqueur should be sweet with pleasant notes of apple, quince and spice. Once you are pleased with the flavor, strain into a clean jar/bottle. Discard solids. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Notes

* Can't find quince at the market? You can certainly use all apples here. If you go that route, I'd recommend using different varieties to get some depth of flavor. Get 6 apples total, but pick 3 different types of apples. Pears would also be nice here as well.