December is the season of dessert. Pies, cookies, hot chocolate, and Christmas pudding. There is so much of it to buy, to make, to share, and most importantly to eat. Save healthier eating for the New Year, there’s dessert to be had this month. But sometimes, I think the holiday pressure to make dessert can be a bit overwhelming. I love making cakes and pies and cookies but jeez those recipes can take soooooo long and it can feel like they have a bazillion steps. Alternatively, today’s recipe for baked apples is super easy, vaguely healthy, and is made mainly with things that could already be in your kitchen cabinet.
This recipe is [perfect for the person who wants to have people over for a small holiday gathering but doesn’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen making both dinner and dessert. This recipe is also wonderful for someone with a sweet tooth who wants some holiday flavors but doesn’t need a whole pie. (I’m not sure who wouldn’t want a whole pie, but let’s pretend that there’s someone out there who wouldn’t want pie). And finally, this recipe is great for someone who wants dessert right now and you want it to be a real and satisfying dessert and a fistful of m&m’s just won’t do. (This is me all the time when I come home from work).
What makes this recipe so easy and amazing is that all you have to do is cut an apple in half, sprinkle it with some spices, cookies, and oats then bake it until soft. So simple and the finished product will be a gorgeous, warm, and delicious holiday dessert.
My favorite thing about the recipe though is not the simplicity. My favorite thing is the surprise under the crumble topping. After seeding the apple, I put a dollop of peanut butter in some apples and a square of dark chocolate in others. Whichever apple you end up with, it’s a delicious treat. Honestly, I couldn’t decide which was my favorite so obviously I just had to try both.
When I’ve made this recipe, I’ve made it just for Ryan and myself. However, I think it could be great for a small holiday dinner party. You could prep everything beforehand and place the apples on a baking sheet and pop it in the fridge. After dinner while you and your guests are chatting put the apples into the oven and everything will cook as you’re digesting. The amazing scent of apples and sugar will take over your apartment, everyone will get in the holiday spirit, and then your guests will clamor for dessert. Dinner party win, right?
Before the recipe, I wanted to let you know that I’ve tried something new with today’s post. I’ve generated a nutrition label! I was thinking that as desserts go, this might be a fairly low calorie food. I mean it’s got apples and peanut butter – that’s practically a health food. Anyway, I wanted to know, was I correct?
This label above is for apples with peanut butter filling and using all the high values of ingredients where I provided a range. And the verdict – under 300 calories! See, it is practically a health food. (I know it’s not really, but a girl can pretend) Ok, now onto the recipe. However…if you’re willing would you let me know what you think of the nutrition calculator? Should I do it more often? Would this be most useful for certain types of recipes? Let me know! Thanks!
Adapted from Food Network.
Messy level: The preparation for this recipe is easy and not very messy. When you’re sprinkling the crumble this is when you could make a mess and spill on your counter.
- 2 apples (use your favorite, I used Gala)
- ground cinnamon, for sprinkling (about ½ teaspoon)
- ground nutmeg, for sprinkling (about ¼ teaspoon)
- 4 teaspoons of peanut butter OR 4 squares of dark chocolate (or a combination)
- 1-2 tablespoons of honey
- 2-3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons uncooked oats
- 3-4 gingersnap cookies
- Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C.
- Wash the apples. Cut them in half. Remove the stems. Use a spoon or melon baller to remove the seeds. If the apple halves can't sit flat, cut a little bit off the skin side to make a flat base.
- Place the apples in a baking dish or rimmed baking sheet.
- Sprinkle the cut side of the apples with cinnamon and nutmeg
- In the cavity of the apple put either a dollop of peanut butter or a square of chocolate (or both if you can fit it).
- Drizzle the honey over the apples halves.
- Put the butter, brown sugar, oats, and gingersnap cookies in a small bowl. Using your hands crush up the cookies and mix all the ingredients together. It should be a sort of crunchy mixed up mess.
- Sprinkle the butter-sugar-oat-cookie mixture evenly over each of the apple halves.
- Put the apples in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes or until a fork can easily pierce through the apple.
- Remove from the oven and let cool slightly (3-5 minutes). Serve warm!
Yes, I think the nutrition calculator is a great idea. I’m going to try these apple recipes for dinner parties.
I can make this recipe during lunch. The nutrition calculator is a nice touch.