BAKED APPLES WITH HONEY, CINNAMON, NUTS AND DRIED FRUITS
This is the most prefect and healthy treat of fall and the most delicious way to use your apples, guilt-free. The naturally sweetened baked apples can be enjoyed as a dessert, or a light treat for a cool autumn evening at home, or (my personal favorite) they can be baked in the morning, as a breakfast meal, and served with warm milk or low-fat Greek yogurt.
Baked apples. I know it may sounds pretty simple but their taste… is totally mouth-watering. They are a very good example of how simple ingredients (and also healthy) and real whole foods come together to produce a dessert that can stand up to a chocolate cake or to an apple pie!
You have to try them. They are so easy to make and so tasty, you will be surprised! Your kids are also going to love them (very nice way to convince our children to eat fruits!). Your kitchen will smell heavenly while you are baking them. When the apples are drizzled with honey and topped with fall spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla) they go from good, to absolutely amazing!
When they come out of the oven, you can use your imagination for the toppings. Crunchy granola, yogurt, organic honey, dried fruits (raisins, cranberries) are some of the options.
Even if you have never baked fruits before, its time for you to try. It only takes minutes to prepare them and less than half an hour to bake them. They are cooked until soft and warm and they smell like Christmas!
This is my absolutely favorite way to enjoy apples (no matter the variety). Best thing? They have very few calories (but it also depends on the toppings you will use) and they are a very good source of carbs, protein and healthy fats. Baked apples in the ultimate light dessert of the autumn!
You only need some simple ingredients (apples, honey, nuts, dried fruits and spices).
Let's do this!
Ingredients (serves 4):
- 2 apples (cut in half) any variety
- ½ cup organic fir honey
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. nutmeg
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp. of rolled oats
- ¼ cup walnuts, hazelnuts (or anything else you have) as a topping
- ½ cup raisins or/and cranberries
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 180 C.
- Scoop out the seeds from the apples (use a spoon) and create a small hall in the flesh.
- Place the apple halves in a baking dish with parchment sheet.
- Grind the nuts and mix in a bowl of spices (vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg) and oatmeal flakes.
- Spoon the mixture on the apple halves and drizzle with fir honey.
- Bake the apples, uncovered, for 25 minutes (until they become soft and have changed color on the edges.
- XNUMX minutes before they are ready, top with the dried raisins/cranberries. Don't put them from the beginning, they will burn!
- Serve them while they are warm with yogurt, whipped cream, or plain (they are so delicious).
I am sure you'll enjoy them, as much as I do!
Good Luck!
Molecular biologist - nutritionist