Baked Apples Stuffed with Nuts and Dates
Hollowed-out apples filled with a mixture of chopped nuts, dates, and cinnamon, then baked until tender.
Ingredients
- 4 large apples such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp
- 1/2 cup 120g chopped nuts (e.g., walnuts, almonds, or pecans)
- 1/2 cup 120g chopped dates
- 2 tablespoons 30ml syrup
- 1 teaspoon 5g cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon 1.25g nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon 1.25g vanilla extract (optional)
- 2 tablespoons 30g vegan butter or coconut oil (for brushing)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Prepare the Apples: Wash and core the apples. Use a paring knife or an apple corer to carefully remove the core, leaving the bottom intact. This creates a well for the filling.
- Prepare the Filling: In a bowl, combine the chopped nuts, chopped dates, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract (if using). Mix well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Stuff the Apples: Take a spoonful of the nut and date mixture and stuff each cored apple, pressing gently to make sure they're well-packed.
- Arrange in a Baking Dish: Place the stuffed apples in a baking dish. If there's any remaining filling mixture, you can sprinkle it around the apples.
- Brush with Vegan Butter or Coconut Oil: Melt the vegan butter or coconut oil and brush it over the tops of the stuffed apples. This will help them brown nicely in the oven.
- Bake: Put the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 30-40 minutes, or until the apples are tender. The exact time may vary depending on the size and variety of the apples.
- Serve: Allow the baked apples to cool slightly before serving. You can drizzle a bit more maple syrup on top if you like.