Maple & Cranberry Baked Apples (Easy Fall Dessert Recipe)

Baked Apples one of the comfort foods we like to enjoy in the autumn when the temperatures start to drop and apples are coming fresh from the orchards.  This is when Apples are plentiful and at their best. We don't mind having the oven on, and they are delicious and very easy to do. Baked apples make for a lovely breakfast treat or a dessert for after your dinner. I think they are very homey and comforting. You can bake just about any apple, but today I chose to use Pink Ladies as that is what I had in the refrigerator.  This is a recipe sized just for two people, but you can very easily multiply it to feed more.  
You will need to core the apples. I have an apple corer, but today I also wanted to keep the bottoms intact, so I just used it to punch a whole down into the apple almost through to the bottom and then I used a metal 1/4 tsp measure to scoop out the core and enough surrounding apple to give me a one inch in diameter cavity down most of the length of the apple.  You need plenty of room to hold a cinnamon stick and that buttery cranberry, oat and maple filling! There's a bit of freshly grated nutmeg in there as well.I always cut a really shallow line into the apple all the way around it horizontally about a third of the way down the fruit.  This helps to prevent the apple from bursting when it is baking.  You will see it when you first take the apple out of the oven, but once the apple settles it pretty much disappears.You could of course use ground cinnamon but I really like the way that a whole cinnamon stick looks in these.  You don't eat it of course, but it does impart a nice cinnamon flavor to the whole apple and when you are done you can use add it to a saucepan along with some orange peel, whole cloves, star anise and water to make a natural air freshener.  When we had the wood stove I always had a container filled with this simmering on the back of the stove all winter through.  It made the house smell gorgeous and put some moisture into the air at the same time.  Wood fires can be so drying.Its very pretty. You stuff around the cinnamon stick with the oat, maple and cranberry stuffing. It helps to hold the cinnamon stick in place and adds even more lovely flavours to the apples.  They bake in a small baking dish along with some boiling water and a bit of maple syrup. This forms a bit of a sauce when all is said and done, which is lovely spooned over the finished apples.These were just perfect with some double cream poured into the bowl with them, but custard or vanilla ice cream would also be nice. In all truth they are also very tasty just on their own. I really hope you will be inspired to want to bake a few apples for you and your family this weekend. A simple, yet really delicious dessert that's not only very easy to make, but also quite healthy.

 
INGREDIENTS NEEDEDTO MAKE🍎MAPLE & CRANBERRY BAKED APPLES🍎There is nothing too fancy here, unless you consider cinnamon sticks to be fancy. No worries if you don't have any. Ground cinnamon works just as well.

• 2 medium sweet eating apples (I used Pink Ladies)
• 1 TBS finely chopped dried cranberries
• 3 TBS maple syrup, divided
• 4 TBS rolled oats
• 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 TBS butter
• 1/2 cup (120ml) boiling water

 
🍎INGREDIENTS NOTES🍎Sweet Eating ApplesChoose apples that hold their shape well during baking. I used Pin k Lady apples today because they have a lovely balance of sweetness and tartness, but Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, Gala or Fuji apples would also work beautifully. 
Dried CranberriesThese add little bursts of sweet-tart flavor that pair perfectly with the maple syrup and apples. If desired, you could substitute raisins, chopped dried cherries or dried blueberries.Maple SyrupPure Maple syrup gives these baked apples a wonderful depth of flavor and a distinctly autumnal character. Use the best quality maple syrup you can find. Dark amber syrup adds an especially rich flavor.Rolled OatsOld-fashioned rolled oats provide texture and a wholesome, rustic touch to the filling. Quick oats can be used in a pinch, although the texture will be a lot softer and not as nutty.NutmegFreshly grated nutmeg offers the most fragrant flavour, but pre-ground will also work well. Just a small amount adds warmth and enhances the sweetness of the apples.
Cinnamon SticksAs the apples bake, the cinnamon sticks infuse the cooking apples with gentle spice. If you don't have cinnamon sticks,  ground cinnamon may be used in the filling. No more than 1/2 tsp.ButterA small amount of butter enriches the filling and helps to create a luscious sauce as the apples bake Salted or unsalted butter may be used.

HOW TO MAKE 🍎MAPLE & CRANBERRY BAKED APPLES🍎

These really are one of the simpler desserts to make. A real treat that is not only delicious, but fairly healthy.

1. Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 4. Have ready a small baking dish. (You want to be able to hold the apples upright without them falling over.)
2. Wash and dry your apples. Using a sharp measuring spoon, or apple corer, remove the cores from the center of the apples, leaving the base intact. I push down with the corer to where I want it to go and then use the measuring spoon to remove the apple. (You do not want to core them all the way through, so be careful.)
3. You will want about a 1 inch wide cavity for filling. Lightly score horizontally around the center of each apple (about 1/2 to 1 inch down from the top). (This helps to keep them intact so that they don't burst open when baking. The apple will settle down when you take it out of the oven and the score will be almost undetectable.)
4. Mix together the dried cranberries, oats, 1/2 of the butter, 1 TBS of the maple syrup and the nutmeg.
5. Put a cinnamon stick in the center of each apple and fill around the sides with the oatmeal mixture. Put them into the baking dish. Dot the tops with the remaining butter. (Dot it over the filling in the main.)
6. Whisk together the remaining maple syrup and the boiling water. Pour around the apples in the dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. (This will form a lovely sauce for the apples.)
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes until the apples are cooked through and tender.
8. Remove from the oven and spoon any juices in the dish over top. Serve warm. 

We enjoyed these with pouring cream today, but ice cream, whipped cream, custard . . .  all are very nice.
 
🍎HINTS & TIPS FOR SUCCESS🍎

Choose apples that are firm and unblemishedSofter apples can often become mushy during baking, whilst firmer varieties retain their shape and texture beautifully.
Don't core all the way throughWhen removing the core, leave the bottom of the apple intact to create a little "bowl" for the filling. This helps to keep all of the delicious oat and cranberry mixture inside as the apples bake.Use freshly grated nutmegIf you can, use freshly grated nutmeg for the best flavor. It is far superior to the already grated stuff.
Chop the cranberries finelyChopping the cranberries finely helps to distribute their sweet tart flavor throughout the filling.Watch the bake timeApples vary in size and variety. Start checking for doneness near the end of the baking time. A knife should slide easily into the flesh whilst allowing the apples to maintain their shape.Don't skip the waterThe boiling water in the baking dish creates steam that helps the apples to cook evenly and prevents the maple syrup from scorching. It also forms the beginnings of a delicious sauce.Baste for extra flavourIf desired, spoon some of the maple mixture from the bottom of the dish over the apples several times during baking. This adds extra moisture and a beautiful glaze.
Save every drop of the liquidThe maple syrup liquid in the baking dish is like liquid gold. Be sure to spoon it generously over the apples when serving.

 
🍎FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS🍎 

WHAT IS THE BEST KIND OF APPLE TO USE?Any firm baking or eating apple that holds its shape well during baking will work. Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Ambrosia, Fuji and Granny Smith are excellent choicesDO I NEED TO PEEL THE APPLES?NO. The apples bake in their skins, which helps to preserve their shape during baking. Do wash them well however.CAN I SUBSTITUTE RAISINS FOR THE CRANBERRIES?Absolutely Raisins, currants, chopped dried cherries or even chopped dried apricots can be used in their place.
CAN I USE HONEY INSTEAD OF MAPLE SYRUP?
Yes, Honey will work well, although hit will give the baked apples a slightly different flavor profile. The maple syrup adds a uniquely autumnal flavor that pairs especially well with the apples and cranberries.
CAN THESE BE MADE AHEAD OF TIME?
Yes. You can bake the apples several hours ahead of time. Simply cover and refrigerate them, then gently reheat before serving.
  
🍎A FEW MORE APPLE DESSERTS TO ENJOY🍎

Tis the season! Here are a few more apple desserts you might also enjoy!
QUICK & EASY APPLE TARTS -  Its amazing what you can do with a block of puff pastry and a few apples. These are a delightful treat that are as simple to make as they are delicious to eat. Using only a handful of ingredients, they bake up golden and crisp, making them perfect for an afternoon tea, a family dessert, or for a treat whenever you're in the mood for a little taste of home-style comfort.
SWEDISH APPLE PIE - Don't let the name fool you, this is more like a comforting apple dessert than it is a traditional pie. Sweet, tender apples are crowned with a buttery, cake-like topping that bakes to golden perfection. Simple to make and utterly irresistible. Prepare to fall in love.
 
Pin this delicious recipe to your Delicious Desserts or Apple recipe boards and remember toFOLLOW MEonPinterest,Facebook, or Instagram! That way you can be assured that you are always up to date with fresh content as soon as I post it. You can also sign up to receive a weekly newsletter from Grow. Thank you!Yield: Makes 2 servingsAuthor: Marie RaynerPrintWith ImageWithout Image

Maple & Cranberry Baked Apples

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 50 MinTotal time: 1 Hour

Natures comfort food. All natural and delightful served for breakfast or dessert. We like cream with them, but custard is also very nice, as is ice cream.

Ingredients

• 2 medium sweet eating apples (I used Pink Ladies)
• 1 TBS finely chopped dried cranberries
• 3 TBS maple syrup, divided
• 4 TBS rolled oats
• 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 TBS butter
• 1/2 cup (120ml) boiling water 

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 4. Have ready a small baking dish.
2. Wash and dry your apples. Using a sharp measuring spoon, or apple corer, remove the cores from the center of the apples, leaving the base intact. I push down with the corer to where I want it to go and then use the measuring spoon to remove the apple.
3. You will want about a 1 inch wide cavity for filling. Lightly score horizontally around the center of each apple (about 1/2 to 1 inch down from the top). This helps to keep them intact so that they don't burst open when baking.
4. Mix together the dried cranberries, oats, 1/2 of the butter, 1 TBS of the maple syrup and the nutmeg.
5. Put a cinnamon stick in the center of each apple and fill around the sides with the oatmeal mixture. Put them into the baking dish. Dot the tops with the remaining butter.
6. Whisk together the remaining maple syrup and the boiling water. Pour around the apples in the dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes until the apples are cooked through and tender.
8. Remove from the oven and spoon any juices in the dish over top. Serve warm.

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