Apples on Horseback using fresh apples is a simple yet elegant apple appetizer that delivers big flavor and stunning presentation. Crisp, sweet apples are paired with creamy cheese, wrapped in pancetta, skewered on spears of fresh rosemary and grilled crispy.
What Are Devils On Horseback?
“On Horseback.” There are lots of variations to this simple appetizer.But all are wrapped in some sort of bacon and are riding on the stick of your choice. I always associate them with the Christmas season.
Devils on horseback are traditionally served as a hot appetizer of dried fruit stuffed with cheese or nuts, wrapped in bacon, prosciutto or pancetta. The traditional British method calls for using pitted dates and bacon, but prunes are also used in many recipes. They can be steeped in brandy or some other liqueur, then fried or baked and served on toast with a condiment such as chutney or mustard.
Angels on Horseback are oysters wrapped in bacon.
Why Fresh Apples Work In This Appetizer
For my version, we’re switching things up a bit and rather than using dried fruit, I’m using fresh apples. A simple and delicious apple appetizer using sliced apples, cheese and pancetta = Apples on Horseback.
- The sweetness and crunch of fresh apples work extremely well with the creamy cheese and salty bacon. It’s a flavor combination that comes together so well.
- You’ll also like the texture of a crisp, fresh apple better than chewy dried dates or prunes.
- Apples on Horseback is an easy to make apple appetizer with a bit of a wow factor.
- Simple with ingredients.
- You’ll feel special when served an appetizer that been skewered on a stalk of fresh rosemary? Such an appealing presentation and intoxicating aroma.
- Delicious and ready in 30 minutes.
- Entertaining Value: Something about the informality of eating with your hands, or from a skewer on a small plate alongside a glass of wine or cocktail is a great formula for comfortable conversation.
Table of contents
Ingredients – Apple Devils on Horseback
Best Apple Varieties For This Recipe
- #1 Choice, Pink Lady Apples: A crisp, gorgeous, perfectly round apple that’s hard to miss while browsing the apple section, the pink lady apple is a sweet tart apple with a crisp bite and firm texture. The pink lady is slow to oxidize (turn brown) so is a great selection for serving on a appetizer platter as apple wedges. If you can’t find them here are other options.
- Red Delicious Apples
- Honey Crisp Apples
- Ambrosia
- Evercrisp
- Fuji
- Cheese: Purchase a block of cheese so you an cut into batons. A mild to medium cheddar works well here because it’s a traditional “cheese and apple” flavor combo. And the complex, buttery, nutty flavor of Manchego cheese is an excellent choice here.
- Sliced Pancetta: Pancetta is seasoned salt cured pork belly. It must be cooked before eating. It’s usually cut into small chunks and sauteed to add intense flavor to soups and stews. For this recipe, look for packages of sliced pancetta.
- Rosemary Sprigs: Will the the “sticks” for those apples to ride horseback.
Step by Step: Apples on Horseback
Pro Tip: Using an apple slicer to slice the apple into easy uniform wedges. You can then cut those wedges in half to make 16 slices. Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Affiliate Member. If you purchase this slicer using the link above, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
- Step 1: Rinse and dry the apple. Cut the apple into 16 wedges.
- Step 2: Arrange the pancetta slices on a work surface and place an apple wedge and a cheese stick in the center of each slice. Roll them up nice and snug, pulling the meat around the cheese and apple.
- Step 3: Secure each by spearing the apple appetizer with the stick end of a cleaned stalk of rosemary, making sure it goes through the cheese and apple.
- Step 4: Heat a large skillet stovetop that’s been sprayed with cooking spray. Add the Apples on Horseback. Cook until the pancetta is golden and crispy and the cheese is melted, turning occasionally. This will take 5 to 6 minutes. Serve hot.
Serving Suggestions
- This apple appetizer will pair well with any holiday party cocktail or mocktail. If serving Apples on Horseback with wine, choose a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio or an unoaked Chardonnay.
- Make Apples on Horseback part of a charcuterie board. They’ll be fine served at room temperature.
- Serve Apples on Horseback with a dollop of Major Gray’s Chutney, or better yet, try it with my recipe for Sweet Tomato Chutney.
Tips For Success
- For even cooking, apple slices should be cut very uniformly. Use a sharp knife to pare the apple, then slice. Using an apple slicer to make this an easy task.
- Make sure to turn often while cooking. This will help the pancetta to become evenly crisp.
- When cooking, watch this appetizer closely. You don’t want to overcook the pancetta to an over-crisp stage to where it becomes leathery.
FAQ’s
I’d stick with Pancetta. Prosciutto is salt cured ham. It can be purchased in a chunk or thin sliced from the deli. Prosciutto is safe to eat without cooking. You’ll find prosciutto commonly on antipasto platters, or wrapped around fruit or vegetables. It’s also great to crumble in salads. With that said, I wouldn’t substitute Prosciutto in this recipe. It’s already cooked, and will become leathery once you try to fry it.
I tried this once and. it was a more complicated adventure and truly prefer pancetta. If you want to use bacon, choose a very thin sliced bacon for ease in cooking. Regular bacon has a lot more fat than pancetta and will take a longer cooking time for the fat to render. I hope you stick with pancetta for an easier fix.
No. This is an appetizer that needs to be prepped, sauteed and served if not immediately, but within a couple of hours. If you try to make this a day ahead of time, the texture of the Pancetta will be compromised when you try to reheat it. And the natural oxidation in apples will become evident.
Well, you can. But then you’re falling back on the more traditional recipe of Devils on Horseback. I urge you to try this more modern and fresh version using apples.
Recipe for Apples On Horseback
So if you’re looking for apple appetizers, look no further. This is fun and absolutely festively delicious. Even though Devils on Horseback is an old traditional appetizer recipe with history, fresh apples makes this a fun, modern party appetizer.
This apple appetizer is a holiday tradition for us. We usually start off the season, just the two of us with this Apples on Horseback and glass of Chambord Prosecco Cocktail. Yup, just the two of us. Let the holiday games begin. 🙂
So here’s a toast to the season :::clink.
More Holiday Appetizer Recipes
- Jalapano Bacon Cheeseball Recipe, This Jalapeno Bacon Cheese Ball Recipe is hands down the best cheese ball appetizer we've ever served! Everyone's favorite ingredients rolled into one tidy package.
- Stuffed Celery Appetizer, Stalks of celery are filled with cream cheese, chopped green olives and walnuts. A holiday appetizer family favorite that's so easy to make and so satisfying with flavor.
- Whipped Goat Cheese with Raspberry Chili Jam, Super easy. Grab a sturdy cracker for this super easy Whipped Goat Cheese and Raspberry Red Chile Jam Appetizer. Salty, creamy, sweet and spicy it makes for an incredible flavor experience.
- Sun-Dried Tomato Stuffed Baked Brie, Brie is stuffed with a luscious mixture of sun dried tomato and basil. Sounds like a perfect appetizer for your next Italian Wine Tasting Party doesn't it?
And if you’re looking for more appetizer recipes, don’t miss my Appetizer and Beverage Category, you’ll find a ton of ideas, including the most popular appetizer recipe on my site for Pear and Blue Cheese Crostini.
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Apples On Horseback
Ingredients
- 16 thin slices Pancetta
- 1 Pink Lady apple peeled and cut into 16 wedges
- 3 ounces Cheddar or Manchego cheese sliced ¼ inch thick and cut into 2-by-½-inch sticks.
- 16 2-inch rosemary sprigs or toothpicks for skewers
Instructions
- Rinse and dry the apple. Cut the apple into 16 wedges.
- Arrange the pancetta slices on a work surface and place an apple wedge and a cheese stick in the center of each slice. Roll them up nice and snug, pulling the meat around the cheese and apple.
- Secure each by spearing it with the stick end of a cleaned stalk of rosemary, making sure it goes through the cheese and apple.
- Heat a large skillet stovetop that's been sprayed with cooking spray. Add the Apples on Horseback. Cook until the pancetta is golden and crispy and the cheese is melted, turning occasionally. This will take 5 to 6 minutes. Serve hot.
Notes
- For even cooking, apple slices should be cut very uniformly. Use a sharp knife to pare the apple, then slice. Using an apple slicer to make this an easy task.
- Make sure to turn often while cooking. This will help the pancetta to become evenly crisp.
- When cooking, watch this appetizer closely. You don’t want to overcook the pancetta to an over-crisp stage to where it becomes leathery.
Nutrition
Apples on Horseback …It’s what’s for a Holiday Apple Appetizer.
Why Trust My Recipes? I am a Culinary School Graduate and a lifelong student of home cooking. I hope to inspire you try to cook as often as you can. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and my recipes are tried and true tested and tested and then tested again before published. To read more take a look at my About Page.
This is a new one to me, never heard of “on horseback”. But this idea is fantastic, sure beats the heck out of meatballs in grape jelly BBQ sauce, right?
Maybe it’s a “wild west” thing.
Thanks so much Ansh.
they look great, but it looks like prosciutto (your uncooked picture) not like pancetta (rolled bacon). the cooked picture on Food and Wine Magazine site looks like pancetta (more fat)?
love your site, just found it tonight
Thanks for the comment. I did use prosciutto. I’ll change it in the post. I just looked at the package that’s still in the fridge.. I had both in the freezer. My mistake and thanks for pointing it out.
Oh these look wonderful!! Easy enough for even me to make them!
Thanks Pam.
Love the rosemary in there… these must have incredible flavor!
These sound and look very good LA. I like the rosemary branch touch.
I like that Rosemary touch also, plus it adds a touch of rosemary flavor to the mix.
Appetizers??? I’d call these lunch! My favorite kind of food!
Tanya, thanks for stopping by and the note. And yes, that’s exactly what we did. I made these for lunch as a guinea pig test run. 🙂
What a beautiful appetizer, Lea Ann! (stunning photo) I look forward to having friends over for finger food and wine now that things are finally settling down. This will be on the menu.
p.s. Thank you for the sweet card and your warm note. The world will always be a little different without my mother.
Thanks for your comment, even with things so important going on in your life. And well said, yes, the world will be different.
This is pretty much the food I want on the table whenever I reach for anything. Delicious!
Thanks Pamela. So nice for you to stop by and the comment. Love to hear from my readers.
These look perfect for cocktail party or appetiser! I love sweet and salty together, add a bit of spicy and I’m set!
Thanks so much Nazneen. Me too about that sweet and salty.
They are so pretty – I’m adding them to my menu for Christmas
My favorite appetizer is smoked salmon – I smoke it myself and serve with crackers, caper, cream cheese and red onion – it’s a lot of work but really quite impressive!!
RMW, I’m officially inviting myself over for your smoked salmon. 🙂
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Let’s see if it works.
They look so simple, pretty, and delicious! Bookmarked!
Thanks so much for stopping by Pam and the comment. Always love a new visitor.
I love the idea of using apples in this yummy appetizer. I like chicken livers and dates wrapped in bacon but my family won’t touch them so I never make them. I know the apples and pancetta would win them over.
I have to make the chicken liver thing for Bob, he’s a big fan. Is it just chicken livers and bacon? or is there anything else I need to know?
What a great and tasty idea!! This would be perfect for any party… heck, I might make some just for Chris and I next weekend 🙂
Jenn, that’s what I did for this post. I made them for Bob and I for lunch. Perfect little snack.
I just did a version with dates and bacon. Oh, these are soo good. I vote for anything simple and sweet and salty. YUM!
Abbe, have you ever been to JaJa Bistro in Littleton? They have dates wrapped in bacon that are to DIE for.
How fun Lea Ann -love the name of these bites and the look of them-just delicious and perfect for holiday entertaining! Let the holiday eating begin!!!
The Holiday Eating has officially begun. 🙂 Now I have to make those cookies I just saw on your site.
Oh looks wonderful! I love anything wrapped in bacon and your choice of pancetta is even better. I’ll keep these in mind when I need an appetizer in the coming weeks.
I couldn’t agree more with that “wrapped in bacon” thing. As always, thanks for stopping by.
Your photos look so pretty Lea Ann! These look delicious. Perfect for a holiday get together.
Thank you Karen!
These are so pretty and festive. I love small bites like these.
Sam
Thanks Sam. I’ve been meaning to ask you, is your back better?