Baked Apple Sweet Filling (Printable Version)

Tender baked apples filled with a warm, spiced nut and fruit mixture for cozy gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fruit

01 - 4 large firm apples (such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)

→ Filling

02 - 4 tablespoons brown sugar
03 - 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans
04 - 2 tablespoons raisins or dried cranberries
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 2 teaspoons unsalted butter, divided into 4 pieces

→ Liquid

08 - 1/2 cup apple juice or water

# Directions:

01 - Set the oven to 350°F and allow it to reach temperature.
02 - Wash and core each apple carefully, leaving the bottom intact to form a cavity for the filling.
03 - Combine brown sugar, chopped nuts, dried fruit, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl until evenly blended.
04 - Place the apples upright in a baking dish and fill each cavity with the sugar-nut mixture, pressing gently to pack it.
05 - Top each filled apple with one divided piece of unsalted butter.
06 - Pour apple juice or water into the bottom of the baking dish to maintain moisture during baking.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes until the apples are tender yet maintain their shape.
08 - Spoon pan juices over the baked apples and serve warm; optionally accompany with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's embarrassingly easy to make but tastes like you spent hours fussing in the kitchen
  • The whole kitchen smells like autumn spices while they bake, which is basically free aromatherapy
  • You can prep everything in 15 minutes and then just let the oven do the work
  • Naturally vegan and nut-free adaptable, so everyone at the table can enjoy it
02 -
  • Don't skip coring the bottom completely—if you go all the way through, your filling will leak into the pan and you'll lose that beautiful textural contrast
  • Firm apples are non-negotiable here; softer varieties turn into applesauce by the time they're cooked through, and you lose the whole point of serving them as a whole fruit
  • The pan juices are liquid gold—never discard them; they're what elevates this from just okay to memorable
03 -
  • Toast your nuts lightly in a dry skillet before chopping them—this deepens their flavor and makes them taste fresher and more vibrant
  • If your apples are on the smaller side, reduce the baking time by 5 minutes and check them earlier; larger apples may need the full 35 minutes

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