Whiskey Braised Applesauce

Ingredients

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces, plus 1 tablespoon
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh ginger (from about a 2-inch piece)
6 Granny Smith apples (about 3 pounds), peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped
1 cup bourbon
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the ginger and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the apples, bourbon, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat until the apples are very tender, about 45 minutes.

Purée the mixture in a blender or food processor. Return the purée to the saucepan and place over medium heat. Whisk in the remaining butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Serve immediately, or cover and keep warm until ready to serve.

Yield: about 2 cups