Description
Easy Baked Apples is a warm and comforting dessert featuring large baking apples stuffed with a flavorful mixture of oats, nuts, dried fruit, and spices. Baked to tender perfection and served with a sweet apple cider glaze, this wholesome treat is perfect for cozy family gatherings or an elegant finish to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit and Main
- 4 large baking apples
- 1/2 lemon (cut into wedges)
- 3/4 cup apple cider or apple juice
Filling
- 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup raisins, dried cranberries or other dried fruit (roughly chopped)
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons butter or ghee (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the apples evenly.
- Prepare the filling: In a bowl, combine the oats, chopped pecans, dried fruit, coconut sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and melted butter. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Core and hollow the apples: Using a melon baller or a paring knife, core the tops of each apple carefully. Scoop out the apple flesh inside to create a cavity about 1.5 inches wide, taking care not to hollow through the bottom.
- Remove skin and stabilize: Peel about 1/2 inch of skin from around the top edge of each apple to prevent bursting during baking. Place apples upright in a baking dish; if any apples wobble, slice a small piece off their bottom for stability. Squeeze lemon wedges over the tops to add brightness and prevent browning.
- Stuff the apples: Spoon the prepared oat and spice mixture into the cavities of the apples, filling them generously.
- Add liquid and bake: Pour apple cider or apple juice into the bottom of the baking dish. Bake the apples for 45 to 60 minutes, basting occasionally with the pan juices to keep them moist and flavorful.
- Check doneness and serve: The apples are ready when tender to the fork, and the filling is bubbly. Spoon the syrupy liquid from the pan over the baked apples before serving. Optionally, add toppings like ice cream, whipped cream, caramel sauce, or a sprinkle of cinnamon for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Baked apples make a simple, cozy dessert that’s perfect for the whole family and packed with warm spices and wholesome ingredients.
- Use firm, baking apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and flavor.
- Adjust the dried fruit and nuts to your preference or what you have available.
- Watch the baking time closely depending on apple size and softness preference.
- Serve warm to enjoy the full comforting effect, optionally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra treat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 baked apple
- Calories: 293 kcal
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 74 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
