Step 1

1 Add butter, vanilla, optional star anise to a sauce pan together with about ¼ of the heavy whipping cream. Bring the mixture to a light boil by placing the sauce pan over medium heat. Lower the heat and let simmer for 5 minutes or more until the sauce turns creamy. Stir frequently.

Step 2

2 Remove from the heat and remove the star anise. Add the egg yolk while whisking vigorously. Place in the refrigerator and let cool completely. You can prepare the flavored cream up to 1 day before, and refrigerate.

Step 3

3 Whisk the remaining heavy whipping cream in a bowl until soft peaks form, and fold in the refrigerated sauce.

Step 4

4 Place back in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes or more. You can add the cream sauce to serving cups to make it thicken up faster.

Step 5

5 Wash the apples and peel them if you want to but there's really no need for that. The peel adds color, flavor and texture.

Step 6

6 Core the apple and slice thinly. Heat up butter in a frying pan and brown the slices until golden. Add cinnamon towards the end.

Step 7

7 Serve the apples warm with the vanilla sauce.