Serves: 5
Total Calories: 131

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted
2/3 to 3/4 cups apple juice
2 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar
1 stick cinnamon (2 inches)
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorn
1 whole star anise
1 1/2 cups peeled and diced Golden Delicious apples
1/2 cup caramel or favorite vanilla ice cream

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly coat a glass baking dish (such as a 9-inch pie plate) with a nonstick vegetable spray. Line a baking sheet with freezer paper. Set aside.

Combine the butter, 2 tablespoons apple juice, brown sugar, cinnamon stick, peppercorns, and star anise in a medium bowl and blend well. Add the apples and toss to coat all over. Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish and bake for 30 minutes, or until the apples are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove the dish from the oven and place it on a cooling rack. When the apple mixture is cool (remove and discard the spices), transfer it to the prepared baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour or more.

When you are ready to make the smoothie, place the remaining 8 to 10 tablespoons apple juice, the apple mixture, and ice cream in a blender and mix by using the on/off pulse function until the ingredients are mostly blended. Continue mixing, gradually increasing the speed, until the mixture is smooth. Pour the smoothie into a glass and garnish with an Apple Chip (see Great Garnishes), if desired.

From SINFUL SMOOTHIES: more than 130 dessert smoothies & other indulgences. Copyright © 2004 Donna Pliner Rodnitzky. All Rights Reserved.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 5
Total Calories: 131
Calories from Fat: 58

More Recipes from the Cook'n Sinful Smoothies Cookbook:
-SUMPTUOUS DELIGHTS: Just Enough Sweetness in a Glass
Apple Pie à la Mode
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Banana, Raspberry, and Pistachio Addiction
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Blueberry Buckle Smoothie
Blueberry and Pineapple Cheesecake
Blueberry and Pineapple Cobbler
Blueberry, Blackberry and Stawberry Cheesecake
Caramelized Pineapple with Pralines and Cream Ice Cream
Caribbean Coffee Delight
Cherry Extravaganza
Cherry, Green Tea, and Mint Fusion
Chocolate Banana Latte
Glazed Strawberry Cheese Rapture
Hot and Spicy Smoothie
Indian Pudding Smoothie
Jitterbug Smoothie
Key Lime, Pineapple, and Banana Enchantment
Lemonberry Tease
Macadamia Banana Infatuation
Macadamia Orange Temptation
Peach and Blueberry Cobbler
Peach and Butterscotch Sundae Smoothie
Peach and Caramel Celebration
Peach and Raspberry Melba
Peach and Raspberry Transgression
Peach, Mango and Strawberry Cobbler
Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie
Pine Nut Pear-adise
Pineapple Bewitchery
Pineapple Cobbler
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Pineapple, Blueberry, and Banana Illusion
Pineapple, Strawberry, and Pistachio Temptation
Pineapple-Mango Breeze
Pumpkin Pie
Raspberry Clementine Euphoria
Razzle-Dazzle Raspberry, Blueberry, and Strawberry Smoothie
Red-Hot Banana Smoothie
South-of-the-Border Smoothie Sensation
Spiced Apple and Caramel Smoothie
Spumoni
Strawberries and Cream
Strawberry Cheesecake
Strawberry and Pineapple Colada
Tropical Fruit with Coconut Gelato
Tutti-Frutti Smoothie