If I'm not feeling like making something elaborate and just want an easy, warm dessert to top off the evening, this is where I turn: baked apples. Scoop out the core and stuff the insides with a mix of oatmeal, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The baked apples soften into a spoonable treat while the brown sugar melts down into a caramel syrup.
The only thing that could make this simple autumn dessert even better? A scoop of ice cream on the side, naturally.
My mom made this dessert all the time when we were kids, and we loved it. Besides the straight-up oatmeal and brown sugar mix, she would sometimes add nuts, raisins, or even a scoop of cream cheese or peanut butter as an extra-special treat. For me and my brother, this was the most decadent treat imaginable, while I'm sure my parents loved having a fairly wholesome dessert with which to satisfy their sugar-loving children.
I appreciate this dessert even more now that I'm grown. It still satisfies a weeknight craving for something warm and sweet, but I've also made a double batch for an easy dinner party dessert. Dressed up with a scoop of ice cream, a dollop of crème fraîche, or a drizzle of chocolate sauce, baked apples are a crowd-pleaser — and it's a good one to have in your back pocket for gluten-free and vegan guests, too.
P.S. Any leftover apples make a fantastic breakfast the next day. I should know — I've eaten enough of them!
Oatmeal-Brown Sugar Baked Apples
Serves 4, easily multiplied for larger crowds
4 apples
1/4 cup brown sugar (dark or light)
1/4 cup oatmeal
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Pinch cloves
1 tablespoon butter, divided in four
1 cup hot water
Optional extras: orange zest, lemon zest, grated ginger, candied ginger, raisins or other dried fruit, chopped nuts, cream cheese, mascarpone, peanut butter, nutella
To serve: ice cream, crème fraîche, whipped cream, coconut whipped cream
Pre-heat oven to 375°F with a rack in the lower-middle position.
Remove the core of the apples, cutting to within a half inch of the bottom of the apple and creating a well roughly 3/4-inch wide. This is easy to do with an apple corer, but can also be done with a melon baller, grapefruit spoon, or a paring knife.
Mix the brown sugar, oatmeal, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and any extras in a bowl. Divide this mixture between the apples, packing the wells firmly.
Arrange the apples in a baking dish (like an 8x8 Pyrex dish), and top each one with a pat of butter. Pour the water into the bottom of the dish and cover loosely with aluminum foil.
Bake for 20 minutes and remove foil. Continue baking uncovered until the apples are soft and the brown sugar has melted into a syrup, an additional 20 to 30 minutes. You can test the apples by poking a paring knife through the oatmeal mixture and into the interior of the apple; it should slide into the apple easily with no resistance. The skin on the apples will also become wrinkled and soft by the end of cooking.
Serve with a scoop of ice cream, crème fraîche, or whipped cream. Leftovers will keep for up to a week and can be reheated in the microwave or eaten cold.
Recipe Notes:
• Gluten-Free Baked Apples: Be sure to use a gluten-free brand of oatmeal if making this for someone with a Celiac or gluten intolerance.
• Vegan Baked Apples: Skip the butter and serve the apples either plain or with coconut whipped cream.
This post and recipe have been updated. Originally published February 5, 2009.
(Images: Emma Christensen)
via Recipe | The Kitchn http://feeds.thekitchn.com/~r/thekitchn/recipes/~3/OXyaJNHkbe8/story01.htm
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