Hasselback Baked Apples

I was looking for a last minute quick, easy and simple dessert to serve over the holidays. Something that didn't take a lot of time or expertise and yet would still be really delicious. Also something that was not going to cost me an arm and a leg.
I also wanted a dessert that would use what I already have in the house without having to go out and buy something more. I also wanted that it would be quite adaptive. A dessert that wouldn't make a huge amount, but that I could also double if need be!

I stumbled onto this recipe for Hasselback Baked Apples on The Kitchn. It was the headliner in their recipes for fall section. It looked fabulous and I am going to warn you now, be prepared to fall in love.

This recipe is all the things I was looking for and more. Its quick and easy to do. It used only ingredients I had in my house. It was economical and it was fabulously delicious!

I loved also that it didn't use an enormous amount of sugar and if you wanted to you could even use a sugar substitute. It sounded so simple to do and I was very keen to try it.
I have done Hasselback Potatoes in the past and even Hasselback Butternut Squash and I have enjoyed both of those. Why not Hasselback Baked Apples! Why not indeed!

During the initial baking these firm sweet apples open up a bit like a fan, so that a butter, sugar and cinnamon mixture can melt right down into the cuts.
Covered and baked for a short time, you remove them from the oven and you spread a lush oatmeal, butter, brown sugar cinnamon streusel on top, allowing some of it to go into the cuts as well.

They then get returned to the oven, uncovered, at a slightly higher temperature to finish baking. Baking so that the streusel does its thing, becoming all scrumptiously moreish and nuttily buttery oaty!!
The sugar almost forms a bit of a caramel as well. Altogether this is delicious. Every mouthful is a delight! I couldn't get over how simple it was to make a dessert that could come out so incredibly lush!

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE HASSELBACK BAKED APPLES
Simple every day ingredients. I bet you already have exactly what you need to make these in the house now!

3 TBS (43g) butter, divided
3 TBS (42g) soft light brown sugar, packed, divided
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
2 large firm eating apples, such as Honey Crisp or Pink Lady
1 TBS (8g) plain all purpose flour
1 TBS (5g) old fashioned rolled oats
cooking spray

To serve:

ice cream, vanilla custard, heavy cream, whipped cream (you choose)

The original recipe specified unsalted butter, but then they added salt to the recipe. I only ever have salted butter in my house and so that is what I used and I did not add any salt to the recipe. It wasn't needed in any case, salted or not.
I used just regular soft light brown sugar. The kind you bake with. Nothing special needed here also. My apples were Honey Crisps. A nice sweet eating apple and fairly large. Just the perfect size.

HOW TO MAKE HASSELBACK BAKED APPLES
You will be amazed at how quick and easy these are to make!

Preheat the oven to 400*F/200*C/ gas mark 8. Spray a baking dish with sides with some non-stick baking spray.Peel your apples using a vegetable peeler. Core and then cut in half down the middle from the stem to the bottom. Place on a cutting board.Working with one half at a time, place cut side down on the cutting board. Place a chopstick or pencil on either side of the apple and using a sharp knife make cuts, 1/4 inch apart down the length of the apple, taking care not to cut all the way through. Repeat with the other three halves.Place into the baking dish, cut sides down.Melt 1 TBS (14.3g) of butter. Stir in 1 TBS (14g) of the brown sugar and 1/2 tsp of the cinnamon. Mix well together then rub this mixture all over the tops of the apples, trying to get some in between the cuts. Don't stress it.Cover tightly with foil and roast in the oven for 20 minutes.

While the apples are roasting using a fork, mash the remaining butter, sugar, flour and cinnamon together with the oats until crumbly.Remove the apples from the oven and uncover. Increase the oven temperature to 425*F/220*C/ gas mark 7.Using the tip of a round bladed knife gently separate the cuts in the apples and place about a third of the streusel in between the cuts. Sprinkle the remainder on top of the apples, dividing it equally.Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for a further 15 minutes. Leave to cool for five minutes before serving with your favorite accompaniment.

How can I even begin to tell you how delicious these were. Like an apple crumble but without all the fuss. The apples were soft and perfectly cooked. Sweet and slightly tart, with a nice cinnamon flavor.
The streusel topping was nutty and buttery and crumbly. Some of it mingled with the apple juices to make a caramel like deliciousness.
I chose to have mine with a little pot of custard to drizzle over top, like the British would enjoy. But to be honest, ice cream, cream, whipped cream, etc. Any one of these would be excellent!

Some other delicious apple desserts that you might enjoy from my English Kitchen are:
FRESH APPLE TORTE - A tad bit on the fancy side, this apple torte boasts a delicious buttery crust, layered with jam. On top of that goes a lush cream cheese filling. Slices of sweet apple are layered on top of that and the whole thing is sprinkled with slivered almonds before baking to perfection. Is this a cake? Is this a pie? Is this a cheesecake? Whatever it is, you can be sure it is delicious!IRISH APPLE CAKE - Tender apple slices baked in a cake batter and then topped with a wholesome oat streusel. Add flaked almonds to that streusel and you have one very delicious cake! Done in layers. You make a cake batter, which you spread in the pan and top with sliced apple, topping that finally with a streusel layer. Altogether very tasty. Yield: 4 servingsAuthor: Marie Rayner