These baked apple recipes provide several variations on a well-loved theme. Baked apples are a great winter stand-by dessert, but you can make them all year round. They’re useful if you’re cooking something else in the oven, because you can put them together in a few minutes, and just pop them in alongside.
Baked apples don’t take long to cook. Keep an eye on them, though, and don’t forget to score a line around the skin. If they stay in the oven too long, they’ve a tendency to burst.
BAKED APPLE RECIPES 1
Classic baked apple
Adults generally love these just as they are. They’re quite large for children, who may find the apple pulp a little sharp. I usually give children half an apple each (bake whole and cut in half to eat) and serve with custard.
Serves 4 Use Bramley cooking apples and choose them all the same size. Heat oven to 350F/180C/gas 4. Wash apples, and remove the core with a corer. Make sure all the core has gone – you might have to cut out any hard or pippy bits that are left with a small knife. Score a line around the ‘waist’ of each apple with the point of a knife. For 4 apples, mix together 2 tbsp soft brown sugar, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, some sultanas and a few chopped walnuts if you have them – they add a very pleasant crunch. Stand apples in small ovenproof dish, pour a little water around them. You can drizzle a little honey or maple syrup over the tops if you wish. Stand the dish on baking tray just in case apples burst, and bake for 25-30 mins.
BAKED APPLE RECIPES 2
Baked dessert apples
Eating apples can be baked just as satisfactorily as cookers, and the flesh is sweeter and less watery. Pick large apples, with a good flavour, like Coxes Orange Pippins.
Make one apple per person Heat the oven to 400F/200C/gas 6. Take one apple per person, wash, core and score around the middle with a knife-point. Stand the apples side by side in a small ovenproof dish. Stuff with a mixture of soft brown sugar and dried fruits and nuts, or to keep it really simple, just drop a knob of butter into each cavity, and pour over the juice of 1 fresh orange for every 2 apples. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
BAKED APPLE RECIPES 3
Baked apples with spiced honey
A slightly more elaborate variation, with a lovely fruity sauce.
Serves 4 Preheat the oven to 350F/180C/gas 4. Put 300ml (1 ¼ cups) apple juice, 4 tbsp dark honey, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 cloves and 1 split cardamom pod into a small pan, bring to the boil, stir and simmer for 2 minutes. Peel, halve and core 4 large eating apples, place cut side uppermost in an ovenproof dish and pour over the syrup. Bake for about 30 minutes or until fruit is soft. Serve with natural yogurt.
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