Spiced Apple Towers

• 4 apples peeled, scooped into balls with a melon baller
• 1 lemon juiced
• 2 cups apple juice
• 10 saffron threads
• 1 clove
• 1 star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar + 4 tsp
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/2 ounces white chocolate
• 6 ounces marzipan grated
• 5 eggs separated
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 6 teaspoons orange marmalade
• 1/4 cup heavy cream whipped
• sugar pearls gold, to decorate

1. After you scoop the apple balls, place them in a bowl with the lemon juice and 4 cups water to prevent browning.
2. To poach the apple balls, place the apple juice, saffron threads, clove, star anise, cinnamon stick and 4 tsp sugar in a saucepan. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the apple balls to the pan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 min. Remove the apples with a slotted spoon and allow to cool.
3. Preheat the oven to 325u0b0F. Line the bottom of a 9 1/2 inch square springform pan with parchment paper. Melt the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. In a mixer, beat the marzipan and 1/4 cup sugar then gradually beat in the egg yolks. Stir in the chocolate and butter. Gradually stir in the flour. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites with 1/4 cup sugar to stiff peaks. Fold into the marzipan mixture. Place in the prepared pan and smooth out. Bake for 15-20 mins, until a skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool.
4. Using a 2 inch diameter pastry cutter, cut 16 circles from the sponge cake. Spread 12 circles with the marmalade. Make 4 stacks of 3 coated circles topped with 1 uncoated one. Place 1 cake "tower" on 4 serving plates. Arrange the apple balls on top and around the tower. Spoon the whipped cream into a piping bag and pipe a swirl of cream on top. Decorate with sugar pearls.

apples, lemon juiced, apple juice, threads, clove, anise, cinnamon, granulated sugar , butter, white chocolate, eggs, flour, orange marmalade, heavy cream whipped, sugar

Taken from www.yummly.com/recipe/Spiced-Apple-Towers-1412893 (may not work)