Apple Moyle - A Sweet Medieval Apple Porridge

.Cxxxiiij. Apple Moyle – A Sweet Porridge of Apples & Almond Milk

Apples belong to the Rosaceae family along with pears, quince, loquat, medlars and yes, roses. It is believed that there has been over 10,000 different apple cultivars that have been developed, many of which are now lost. There are at least 100 different varieties of apples that are grown commercially, but of those, only ten make up 90% of the production in the United States. I find this distressingly sad.

As mentioned in my previous post on .lxxix. Apple Muse it is generally believed that domesticated apples has their origins in Central Asia. Apples are documented as early as 6500 B.C. in Jericho and the Jordan Valley. Theophrastes records in 323 B.C the process of budding, grafting and general tree care of six different varieties of apples that were known at the time.

There are many legends regarding this fruit, the most well-known is that of Adam and Eve wherein Eve tempts Adam to eat of the "forbidden fruit". Apples are well known then, as a fruit synonymous with temptation, a reputation that is apparently well earned.

Hercules is tasked with stealing the golden apples from the Tree of Life as one of his Twelve Labors. Atalanta, was tricked by Hippomenes, losing a footrace and securing a husband, because she stopped to pick up Golden Apples given to Hippomenes by Aphrodite.

Eris, the Greek goddess of discord threw a golden apple into the wedding party of Thetis and Peleus. The apple was inscribed with the word "kallisti", meaning the fairest. Three Goddesses coveted the apple, Hera, Athena and Aphrodite and the task of appointing which of the Goddesses was indeed the fairest fell upon Paris of Troy. It was Aphrodite who promised Paris of Troy the love of the most beautiful woman, Helen of Sparta, if he would appoint her the keeper of the apple. He did, and it was this apple that was indirectly responsible for causing the Trojan War.

Apples were not always associated with lust, love, temptation or sin. In fact, in Norse mythology it is the Goddess Idun who is the guardian of the golden apples that preserved the eternal youth of the Aesir. It is the apple that gave Avalon its name in the legends of King Arthur. The Welsh word for apple is Afal. In the legends of Arthur, apples are associated with very powerful forces of creation, birth, death and rebirth.

Lastly, the ancient Celts believed that apples were to be treasured. Apple blossoms were used as symbols of fertility and would be placed in bedrooms. They were also symbolic of goodwill, integrity and purity and love. There is a myth told of Conle, who received an apple that fed him for a year.

Dietary Notes: Naturally vegan, dairy-free, and easily gluten-free with certified rice flour.

As explored in my previous post on Apple Muse, apples are more than just a pantry staple—they are mythic, symbolic, and deeply tied to culinary history. From the Golden Apples of the Hesperides to Idun’s youth-preserving fruit, their place in mythology rivals their place in the medieval kitchen.

Apple Moyle comes to us from the Harleian MS. 279, and like many medieval dishes, it leaves room for interpretation. My reading suggests a creamy porridge, enriched with almond milk and brightened by saffron and sweet spices. The base is similar to Cxxv - Vyolette, a sweet violet-hued pudding also made with rice flour and almond milk.

🔍 What Does Moyle Mean?

The word “moyle” doesn’t have a direct, surviving culinary definition in modern English, but in the context of medieval cooking, it appears to carry a connotation of softening, mashing, or reducing to a pulp.

It may be connected to:

• Old French “moiller” or “mouiller” – to moisten or make soft/wet
• Latin “mollis” – soft
• Middle English “moillen” – to soften, soak, or mash

In the recipe, the phrase: “...take apples, and pare hem, an smal screde hem in mossellys...” directs the cook to shred apples into morsels and simmer them with rice and almond milk until softened—producing something thickened and spoonable, like a mash or porridge.

📘 Compare to “Apple Muse”

As discussed in the Apple Muse post, “muse” is derived from Middle English and Old French terms for mash, pulp, or purée. Both Moyle and Muse reflect method and texture more than specific ingredients.

• Muse often results in a fully puréed dish
• Moyle retains soft apple chunks within a thickened base

🧠 Historical Insight

These names were likely descriptive rather than fixed titles. A medieval cook might have considered moyle to mean “the soft one” and muse to imply a smoother mash.

If naming them today, you might say:

• Apple Muse = smooth apple-almond porridge
• Apple Moyle = soft apple-and-almond stew with texture

✅ In Summary: “Apple Moyle” likely refers to the soft texture of the finished dish. Like “muse,” it reflects a tradition of sweetened, spiced fruit preparations—served warm, spoonable, and comforting.

Original Recipe – Harleian MS. 279

Nym Rys, an bray hem wyl, & temper hem with Almaunde mylke, & boyle it; & take Applys, & pare hem, an smal screde hem in mossellys; þrow on sugre y-now, & coloure it with Safroun, & caste þer-to gode pouder, & serue forth.

Interpreted Recipe – Apple Moyle

Serves 8 as a breakfast or side dish

Ingredients

• 2 cups almond milk
• 1/2 cup rice flour
• 4 small apples, peeled, cored, diced
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Generous pinch of saffron
• 1 tsp powder douce
• 1/4 tsp salt (optional, but recommended)

Instructions

1. Combine almond milk, rice flour, saffron, sugar, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add diced apples and simmer gently, stirring often, until apples are soft and the mixture thickens (15–20 minutes).
3. Sprinkle with powder douce just before serving.

When was Apple Moyle Served? 

This dish likely appeared during the pottage course of a medieval feast—offered as a soft, nourishing side. It could also be served as a fruit sauce for meat (especially pork or poultry), or as a light first course to stimulate appetite. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge and reheated gently with a splash of almond milk to loosen the texture.

Notes from the Test Kitchen

This dish was a hit with my testers—so much so that there may have been spoon duels over the last bite. I added a pinch of salt, which balanced the sweetness beautifully. This pudding makes an excellent camp breakfast: simple, hearty, and deeply satisfying.

Related Recipes

• Apple Muse – Another medieval apple pudding with rice flour and almond milk.
• Ein Apfelmus (c.1345, Germany) – A richer apple mash with wine and egg.
• Forme of Cury: Appulmoy – Pureed apple with almond milk, honey, and rice flour.