Apple Fritters with Custard Sauce

Ingredients :

6 Golden Delicious apples

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup brandy

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 3/4 cups flour

2 egg yolks

3/4 cup milk

2/3 cup beer

2 tablespoons butter, melted

4 egg yolks

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Vegetable oil (for frying)

2 egg whites (at room temperature)

Confectioners' sugar

Preparation :

Pare and core apples. Cut into 1/4-inch rings. Place in large bowl. Toss with 1/3 cup sugar, brandy, and cinnamon. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, tossing occasionally. For the fritter batter, in a bowl combine flour, 2 yolks, 3/4 cup milk, beer and butter. Let stand one hour at room temperature.

To prepare custard sauce, in a medium saucepan combine yolks and 1/3 cup sugar. Stir in 1 1/2 cups milk. Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until custard coats the back of a metal spoon. Stir in vanilla extract. Cool to room temperature. In a large skillet, heat 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees F.

In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff; fold in fritter batter. Drain liquid from apples. Dip apple slices, one at a time, into batter with fork or tongs, letting excess drip back into bowl. Fry fritters until brown on one side; turn and brown other side. Drain on paper towels. Arrange on plate; sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

Serve with warm custard sauce.