I have been given about 30kg of apples and am wanting some different ideas on what to do with them. Couple of different varieties: Golden delicious, and another one that is also a good cooking apple but has a pink skin (don't know variety sorry).

We will use some of them to make cider, will stew some, make some apple sauce, but after all that is done I am out of ideas, and will still have about 20kg left over

Any suggestions on what to do with them all? We have plenty of freezer space, so am open to ideas for both preserving and freezing them.

Wow, that is a lot of apples!

What about making muffins/cakes and freezing?

Do batters for cakes and muffins freeze well, or am I better to freeze the cooked item?

I'd freeze the cooked item

Apple Cake - easy and delicious - everything dumped in food processor - wizzed and baked takes about 5 mins to prepare. Good frozen too

Ooh that sounds good Boysmum. Do you have a recipe?

Apple cake

2 medium apples (preferably tart) - although I use any
1 cup sugar - I actually cut this down to about 1/2 cup
1 large egg
100 g melted butter
1 cup plain flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup chopped walnuts - I have never put these in

Heat oven to 180
In a food processor , chop the quartered, unpeeled apples (I core these) - into pieces the size of peas
Quickly add butter, sugar and egg - process to mix thru
Measure remaining ingredients on top - mix breifly using pulse
Spoon into a 20cm square tin, lined with baking paper
Bake for 45-60 mins until cntre springs back and skewer comes out clean
Leave for 5-10 mins before turning out.

Ice or just dust with icing sugar (sometimes I ice with cream cheese icing and that rocks)

Apples are an absolute favourite in this house, we go through more than 1 kg a day unless I hide them, so your 30kgs wouldn't even last a month.

Blackberry and apple tart (or with rhubarb) and freeze down. In the rare event I have some left over (usually the bruised ones) I make mini apple pies in a muffin tray and freeze down for quick desserts.

I would preserve them, then you can do what you want, when you want with them.

Stew them like normal but for slightly less time then put them into sterilised jars while still hot and seal the jars by either putting the lids on and turning upside down until cool or if you want to be extra sure like me boil the lidded jars covered with water for about 15mins.
The kids eat these straight from the jar but they are also good for future crumbles, cakes, muffins, with breakfast or over icecream, whatever really.

Here is a recipe for a quick easy desert, I have used home made preserved apples for this and it turned out well.
http://tanya-cookingnotes.blogspot.com/search/label/apple

Boysmum, thanks so much for that recipe. It is awesome! However Bubba does seem to like it a wee bit too much Have just made another 2 cakes tonight (1 for me, 1 for DH's work ) and I love that its easy enough to make after a day at work. Thanks again

Kluger, thanks for the link and the advice on preserving. It seems people keep wanting to give me apples, so am definitely going to be doing plenty of preserving

Oh so glad you liked - I make it regularly as well cos its so simple. Is actually a Alison and Simon Holst one

Wow thats a lot of apples, I have an apple pie in the oven right now, that cake sounds yum. Might make that tomorrow .

I like the idea of preserving. Good luck with using all your apples

Just put the apple cake in the oven and the batter tastes divine

One thing though does Baking Soda mean Baking Powder or Bi-carb Soda?

I was not sure so I put 1/2 of each lol hope it works

Usually Bicarb Soda is baking soda.

I just had some of this cake warm from the oven with cream, then I had some more, now I'm finding it hard to sit upright but damn it was good!

Thanks that was what I thought but it crossed my mind what is in it to make it rise?? which is why I put 1/2 baking powder in it. Looks good, taste testing later.

I feel very piggy atm as have just had a slice of the one I posted above but made with stewed fresh plums instead of apples AND have the apple cake sitting there ready to have with 9pm hot drink later

Thanks boysmum, apple cake was very nice, very moist.

ok ok... I confess I molest things have popped another apple cake in the oven but i only had pears and i swapped mixed spice for ground ginger....

will let you know how it goes

Pears are a bit too moist, more stodgy and pudding like than cakey but delish!

You should try this with pears. I'm going to try pears next as I have some preserved, tried stewed plums last night and was very nice. I only sprinkled with sugar not the nutmeg.

½ Cup Sugar
1 ½ Cup Self Raising Four
125g Melted Butter
1 egg beaten
1 can Apples
(I used home stewed)

Turn oven 180 Degrees Celsius
Mix together Sugar, Flour, Butter and Eggs
Grease dish
Crumble half of the mixture over the base of the greased dish
Dot the apples around on top of the mixture
Crumble the rest of the mixture over the top of the apples
Sprinkle with nutmeg and sugar
Bake for 20 Min

Give some of the apples away to people that need them Apples are still a wee bit expensive and people would really appreciate something given to them