Tufahije — Bosnian dessert with baked apples, walnuts and syrup

Tufahije — the classic Bosnian dessert

Tufahije is one of the most beloved desserts of Bosnian cuisine — whole apples slowly poached in syrup, filled with a mixture of walnuts and cinnamon, and served chilled with dairy cream. Simple to prepare, yet with a flavor that recalls the old family tables of the Balkans.

Ingredients (for 8 servings)

• 8 large, firm apples (preferably Granny Smith or similar)
• 250 g sugar
• 500 ml water
• juice of half a lemon
• 150 g crushed walnuts
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 sachet vanilla sugar
• 200 ml dairy cream (for serving)

Preparation

1. Peel the apples and remove the core, keeping the apple’s full shape. Sprinkle with lemon juice so they don’t darken.
2. In a wide pot, boil the water with the sugar until fully dissolved and a light syrup forms.
3. Place the apples in the syrup and simmer slowly for about 10 minutes, until slightly softened but not falling apart. Remove and let cool.
4. Mix the crushed walnuts with the powdered sugar, cinnamon and vanilla sugar.
5. Fill the apple cavities with the walnut mixture.
6. Place the apples in a baking dish, pour some of the syrup over them and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 20–25 minutes.
7. Let cool completely, then serve with whipped dairy cream and pour some syrup over the top.

Preparation time: 25 minutes | Baking time: 25–30 minutes | Servings: 8