Easy-Baked Apples

It’s all about easy-baked apples today. I bet you can smell the cinnamon right now, right? I like to sort through the refrigerator at the end of the week to look for anything I have missed seeing that I could use for my next meal prep. Yep, I found some apples, some are a bit shriveled, and some are still perfect in shape.

It doesn’t really matter, because they still taste great after I bake them. Oh, and top them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with a little bit of caramel. Now that’s the perfect treat!

In some baked apple recipes you may peel the apples and slice them, today I just cored them and filled them with butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, and chopped pecans. This recipe is perfect if you want the taste of apple pie, but you’re a little short on time! This delicious treat provides a good amount of calcium, sodium, potassium, and vitamin C. I’ll share my other baked apple recipes in a few weeks. In case you missed this post, How To Dehydrate Apples

These easy-baked apples are still a little crunchy inside and filled to the brim with pecans and a sweet, but not too sweet, filling. With the apples and nuts, it should be a treat our nutrition-conscious readers really enjoy. There may be more calories than we’d like with the butter and brown sugar, but the small amount shouldn’t adversely affect it too much. I do appreciate the fact that the pecans are gluten-free, so I can feel comfortable serving this treat to all my friends.

Easy-Baked Apples

Kitchen Items You May Need:

• Apple Corer
• 9 by 13-inch Baking Pan
• Measuring Spoons and Cups
• Pastry Cutter

When I think of fall, I think of apples, lots of apples. They store fairly well in the refrigerator too. Here are my thoughts on storing apples:

• On the counter: 6-8 days
• In the refrigerator: 5-6 weeks (they’ll last a bit longer, but they start to shrivel)
• Once cut and stored in the refrigerator: 3-5 days

We used to buy a box of apples from a local community center that used them as a fundraiser project. We shared them with our neighbors, everyone loves fresh apples!

Ingredients

• Large Apples: This recipe works great with any apple variety. Please see the apple descriptions below.
• Butter: Complements and enhances the flavor of the other ingredients. Helps to brown the filling in the apples.
• Brown Sugar: Adds a subtle caramel flavor to the apple filling. It helps the butter to caramelize the cinnamon and chopped pecans.
• Cinnamon: Adds a little spice and warmth to the apple filling.
• Chopped Pecan Nuts: Rich in protein, healthy fats, nutrients, and fiber. A versatile nut that has a crisp, buttery flavor. Adds a delicious flavor to the filling.
• Water: Water helps to keep the apples from drying out.

Instructions:

Step One: Gather the Ingredients/Preheat Oven

Preheat oven to (375°F) = (190°C). Grease your baking pan. Gather the ingredients so you’re ready to make this really easy-baked apple recipe.

Step Two: Wash and Core Apples

Wash and core the apples with an apple corer or paring knife. The apple corer worked great until I got to the green apple. I needed a small hammer to tap the apple core through the apple.

Step Three: Make The Filling Mixture

Combine the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped pecans in a medium mixing bowl. I used a pastry cutter to cut in the butter.

Step Four: Fill the Center of the Apples

With a spoon, scoop the filling mixture evenly into the center of each apple. It doesn’t matter if the mixture is overflowing a bit. I shaped the “filling” into finger shapes to push down into each apple.

Step Five: Pour Water into Baking Dish

Here you can see I placed the water in the baking pan after spraying the bottom with vegetable oil.

Step Six: Place the Apples in Pan

Place the “stuffed” apples upright into the baking dish.

Step Seven: Bake the Apples

Bake the apples for about an hour, or until the apples are soft and tender and the mixture on top is browned.

What are the best apples to use to make easy-baked apples?

There are so many different varieties of apples! We all tend to gravitate to our favorites. Here is a list of my favorites and a short explanation of each. What variety of apples is your favorite?

• Honeycrisp: A delicious variety of apples! Known for its crisp and juicy texture. It has a nice balance between a sweet and tart flavor. Honey crisp tends to be a little more expensive than other varieties.
• Granny Smith: A very popular variety! Also known as a sour or green apple. A very crisp hard apple with a tart flavor and firm texture.
• Gala: A scrumptiously sweet apple, yet milder than a Honeycrisp apple. Less tart than other varieties.
• Pink Lady: This variety has a long ripening process. First to blossom and the last to be harvested, which tends to make them a more expensive option. They have a higher fructose content than other apples. They are smaller in size than other apples and very sweet!
• Braeburn: An apple with a perfect combination of sweetness and tartness! They tend to be a little larger in size. A very crisp variety of apples!
• Jonagold: Very sweet with a hint of tartness! A little larger in size than other varieties. Tangy and sweet with yellow creamy flesh. This apple holds up very well when baked!
• Golden Delicious: A large yellow and green apple. A very popular variety! They are mildly sweet and juicy.
• Jonathan: Medium-sized apple with a sweet flavor with a bit of tartness. A great apple option for baking, freezing, and eating.
• Fuji: Very sweet, juicy, and crisp apple. A very popular variety! They tend to have a very long shelf life.

What is the best way to store these easy-baked apples?

If you have any leftovers, I highly recommend storing these easy-baked apples in an airtight container. They will last for 3-4 days if properly stored in the fridge. The apples will store for up to 3 months if placed in the freezer.

What other nuts could I use in these easy-baked apples?

I really love the flavor of the pecans in this recipe! If you are interested in using a different nut, I would highly recommend using walnuts. Walnuts would add a delicious earthly and nutty flavor which is similar to the flavor the pecan provides. Some nut varieties don’t really add much flavor, so experiment and see what your family really likes.

How can I serve these easy-baked apples?

I love to serve these easy-baked apples with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. They would taste really good sliced and served on top of pancakes with a dollop of whipped cream. I love to baste the apples with the juices that are created from cooking. Another option is to top them with whipping cream. It does take some time to prepare the cream, but it’s worth it. You may want to try a caramel sauce too. There are so many delicious options to serve these easy-baked apples.

What other spices could I use to make these easy-baked apples?

I really love the flavor of the cinnamon in this recipe! If you are interested in trying a different spice, I would recommend nutmeg, clove, ginger, or pumpkin spice. They aren’t a spice, but I’ve also added raisins when making these, and it proves to be a fun, unique, and delicious addition.

Do you love the taste of apples? Check out these other delicious apple recipes!

• Easy Homemade Caramel Apples And Popcorn
• How To Dehydrate Apples
• 12 Fantastic Uses for Apples

Final Word

I hope you and your family enjoy making these easy-baked apples! I love the flavor that is created when combining the apples, cinnamon, chopped pecans, butter, and brown sugar. Please let me know which apple varieties you and your family decide to use. The options are endless with this recipe! May God bless this world! Linda