Description
Homemade baked apples delight dessert enthusiasts with their simple yet elegant preparation. Warm spices and sweet fruit create a comforting treat perfect for autumn gatherings and intimate family moments.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 medium baking apples (Rome Beauty, McIntosh, Jonagold, Fuji, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious or Braeburn)
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) brown sugar
- 1/3 cup (50 grams) dried cranberries (or raisins)
- 1/4 cup (30 grams) walnuts, finely chopped
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
Liquid and Fat:
- 3 tablespoons (45 grams) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) hot water
Optional Toppings:
- Unsweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
- Caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, creating a warm environment for the aromatic dessert preparation.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, creating a fragrant spice blend that will infuse the apples with rich flavor.
- Gently fold dried cranberries into the spice mixture, ensuring even distribution of the sweet-tart ingredients.
- Carefully core each apple, maintaining the bottom intact to create a sturdy vessel for the filling, preventing leakage during baking.
- Arrange the cored apples in a casserole dish, positioning them with space between each fruit to allow even heat circulation.
- Generously stuff each apple cavity with the prepared spice and cranberry mixture, distributing the filling evenly.
- Crown each stuffed apple with a half tablespoon of butter, adding a luxurious richness to the dessert.
- Optionally sprinkle chopped walnuts over the apples for added texture and nutty complexity.
- Dust any remaining cinnamon mixture over the apples to intensify the aromatic profile.
- Pour hot water into the bottom of the baking dish, creating moisture and preventing the apples from drying out.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45-60 minutes, monitoring until the apples become tender but maintain their structural integrity.
- Remove from the oven when apples are soft yet not collapsed, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify during the baking process.
Notes
- Swap sugar alternatives like coconut sugar or monk fruit sweetener for a lower-glycemic dessert option.
- Choose firm baking apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith to maintain structure and prevent excessive softening during baking.
- Toast walnuts briefly before adding to enhance their nutty flavor and create a crunchier texture in the final dish.
- Customize fillings by incorporating other dried fruits like raisins, chopped dates, or apricots for varied taste profiles.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg