Baked Apples – Basic or Fancy (GF)

When we’re in the mood for apple pie but don’t want to go to the trouble of making it, we simply bake some apples. Here’s a quick lesson on how to do it.

1. Peel and core as many apples as you want to bake.
2. Place in a baking dish.
3. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over the apples.
4. Optional: place some chopped nuts in the center.
5. Top each apple with a dollop of butter.
6. Pour water or apple cider around the apples, about 1/2-inch deep.
7. Cover loosely with foil and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 30 minutes, or until apples are lightly browned and soft when pierced with a fork.
8. Eat as-is or with vanilla ice cream!

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with these baked apples, and in fact, they’re marvelous! However, we decided to come up with a little more elegant variation, poached in rosemary water and stuffed with dates and almonds. We hope you’ll give them a try!

Difficulty:

Easy!

Cost:

Inexpensive!

Serves:4people

Serving Size:1 apple

Baked Apples with Dates and Rosemary

Votes: 1 Rating: 5 You: Rate this recipe!

Print Recipe

Add to Meal Plan: Select Course to Add: BreakfastLunchSnackDinnerDessert This recipe has been added to your Meal Plan

This is a cross between simple baked apples and elegant poached fruit. Although we made it with apples, pears would work as well. See all of the variations below if you want to use a different herb or filling mixture.

• CourseDessert
• CuisineAmerican

Tools:8x8-inch baking dish, small (1 or 2-quart saucepan), vegetable peeler, knife and cutting board, measuring cups and spoons, small bowl

	Prep Time
	10 minutes

Cook Time

50-60 minutes

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 50-60 minutes

Difficulty: Easy! Cost: Inexpensive! Serves:4people Serving Size:1 apple

Baked Apples with Dates and Rosemary Votes: 1 Rating: 5 You: Rate this recipe! Print Recipe Add to Meal Plan: Select Course to Add: BreakfastLunchSnackDinnerDessert This recipe has been added to your Meal Plan This is a cross between simple baked apples and elegant poached fruit. Although we made it with apples, pears would work as well. See all of the variations below if you want to use a different herb or filling mixture. CourseDessert CuisineAmerican Tools:8x8-inch baking dish, small (1 or 2-quart saucepan), vegetable peeler, knife and cutting board, measuring cups and spoons, small bowl Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 50-60 minutes Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 50-60 minutes

Ingredients

Apples:

• 1 cup water or apple cider/juice
• 1 tablespoon sugar (leave out if using cider)
• 1 tablespoon rosemary leaves or 2-3 sprigs fresh
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 4 apples

Filling:

• 2 large dates (like Medjool)
• 3 tablespoons slivered almonds or chopped
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon butter divided

Servings: people

Units:MetricUS Imperial

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray or rub oil in an 8x8-inch baking dish.

For apples:

1. Combine water, sugar and rosemary in a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat to bring to a boil. Lower heat to a simmer, cover with a lid and cook about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and set aside to steep. When ready to use, add lemon juice.

   
2. Peel apples. If you have an apple corer, go ahead and core the apples, leaving the bottom 1/2 inch intact. This is hard to do without a corer, so the other option is to cut the apples in half and cut out the core.

   
3. If you have whole, cored apples, place them upright in the baking dish. If apples are cut in half, lay them with the cut side up.

For filling:

1. Remove pits then chop the dates. Place in a small bowl.

   
2. Add almonds, syrup, ginger and nutmeg.

   

Assemble and bake:

1. Place the filling evenly in each of the apples where the core was removed, or on top of the apple halves. Top with a small cube of butter.

   
2. Strain out the rosemary leaves.

   
3. Pour infused water over and around the apples.

   
4. Cover lightly with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking another 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and soft when pierced with a fork. Spoon some of the syrup over the apples about halfway through, if desired.

   

Recipe Notes

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

Serve warm or at room temperature. Drizzle some of the syrup from the baking dish over the apples. This is very elegant with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream and a spring of fresh rosemary.

VARIATIONS:

1. Simple baked apples – Use plain water instead of the infused water. Sprinkle a little cinnamon and sugar (any type) over the apples then add a dollop of butter. You can add chopped pecans or walnuts as well. Cook per above.
2. Substitute thyme or tarragon for the rosemary.
3. Substitute pears for the apples.
4. Substitute dried figs for the dates.

Powered byWP Ultimate Recipe