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Easy Baked Apples Recipe (Perfect Fall Dessert)

Easy Baked Apples Recipe

Tender apples are filled with brown sugar, oats, pecans or walnuts, cinnamon, and butter, then baked until fragrant and soft. Serve them warm with ice cream, whipped cream, or yogurt for a classic fall dessert.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 4 large firm apples, such as Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, optional
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened or cut into small pieces
  • 1/2 cup water or apple cider
Optional
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly butter a small baking dish.
  2. Wash the apples and remove the cores, leaving the bottoms intact. Make each cavity approximately 1 inch wide so the filling stays inside.
  3. Combine the brown sugar, rolled oats, chopped nuts, cinnamon, and optional nutmeg in a small bowl.
  4. Set the apples upright in the prepared baking dish. Spoon the filling into each cavity and place a portion of the butter on top of each apple.
  5. Pour the water or apple cider into the bottom of the baking dish, taking care not to pour it directly over the filling.
  6. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until a thin knife pierces the apples easily while they still hold their shape. Very large or especially firm apples may need up to 50 minutes.
  7. Spoon the warm pan juices over the baked apples and serve with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or yogurt.

Notes

Keep the bottoms intact when coring so the filling and juices do not leak out. Add the liquid to the baking dish rather than over the apples to create steam and a syrupy sauce. Refrigerate leftovers and reheat gently until warm.