Have you ever baked an apple before? If not, you really should. Like, today!
My mom made these, stuffed with brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, walnuts and dried cherries, all throughout fall every year. They remind me of school starting, brisk mornings and the holidays. I love them because not only do they pair well with something like chicken or pork, but you could also scoop some vanilla ice cream on ’em and call it a night.
Hey, they even work for breakfast, topped with granola and a scoop of creamy Greek yogurt. I may or may not be eating that this very minute, actually.
Oh yeah.
Best part? They come together in literally a snap!
Here’s what ya need!
Granny Smiths work well because they’re nice and tart, and hold up pretty well in the oven. You could also try honey crisp or gravenstein. Personally, I go with Granny Smiths ’cause they’re cheap.
Start by preheating your oven to 350 and mixing together the walnuts, pumpkin pie spice, dried cherries and….oops! Brown sugar! Forgot about that one.
Now stick a knife (or an actual apple corer) into each apple to get out the seeds. Be careful not to go through the bottom though! And keep the hole pretty wide—we’re stuffing some goodness down there!
Scoop liberal amounts of the brown sugar cherry mixture into each apple and then set the stuffed apples in a glass casserole dish with a half cup of apple juice poured on the bottom.
Drizzle a fourth of a cup of maple syrup mixed with a tablespoon of melted butter over the apple tops, then cover and bake for forty minutes. When the timer goes off, toss the foil and bake uncovered for about twenty more minutes, or until the apples are super tender and bubbly.
When you cut them open, they will sort of look like brains….but in a good way. They keep for a few days, covered, in the fridge but just make sure to warm them back up in the oven before eating. The cherries will get all caramelized and chewy from the maple syrup and you’ll wonder why on earth you waited this long to bake an apple.
Or at least, that’s what I thought!
Baked Stuffed Apples with Dried Cherries and Walnuts
serves 4
4 large granny smith apples
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup apple juice
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 T butter, melted
1/3 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup roughly chopped walnuts
1/3 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
Preheat your oven to 350. Combine the pumpkin pie spice, dried cherries, walnuts and brown sugar together in a bowl. Set aside.
Core apples carefully, making sure not to cut through the bottom. Stuff brown sugar mixture in each apple and set in a glass casserole dish with the apple juice poured in on the bottom.
Mix together the maple syrup and melted butter and drizzle over the top of the apples. Cover with tin foil and bake for forty minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional twenty minutes, or until tender.
Amanda
October 12, 2010 at 8:01 amI need to try baking apples. They always been on my to do list. Yum!
megan @ whatmegansmaking
October 12, 2010 at 8:11 amwow these look great! I would never think to just bake an apple like that. I just assumed you had to put pie crust around it 🙂 I’m already thinking of when I should make these!
Jessica @ How Sweet
October 12, 2010 at 8:13 amI have never baked an apple that is stuffed. That, my dear, will now be changing.
Lizzie
October 12, 2010 at 8:15 amOK – that’s it! Early lunch for moi . . can’t take this yummy baking Jenna . . so good! 🙂
jenna
October 12, 2010 at 8:38 amhehehe lunch comes early in this house, too!
Heather (Heather's Dish)
October 12, 2010 at 8:16 ami adore stuff apples in a bad bad way…i’ve never had them with dried cherries though! sign me up for some of THAT 🙂
Amanda (Eating Up)
October 12, 2010 at 8:19 amNow that is my kind of dessert! Yum yum!
Madeline - Greens and Jeans
October 12, 2010 at 8:20 amThis dish SCREAMS fall!
Michelle @ Turning Over a New Leaf
October 12, 2010 at 8:21 amYum! This immediately went on my list of things to make this season!
katiek
October 12, 2010 at 8:21 amYum I’ve never had a baked apple with walnuts…that would be a great crunch!
Claire
October 12, 2010 at 8:23 amI have actually never had a baked apple…I am sure it is delicious!
Tabitha (From Single to Married)
October 12, 2010 at 8:24 amI love how tasty yet healthy these look!
Helen
October 12, 2010 at 8:25 amI should try to bake some apples stuffed. I always slice them and put the topping of the slices when I bake them. This looks like a good contribution to Thanksgiving!!
Rachel (Two Healthy Plates)
October 12, 2010 at 8:28 amI love stuffed applies, the stuffing in these sound amazing!
Katherine
October 12, 2010 at 8:36 amThese apples look delicious, as do pretty much all of your recipes lately! I just wanted to take a minute to tell you how impressed I am by the way your blog has grown and matured in the past 18 months. I started reading ELR early last summer and enjoyed your writing then, but you have truly come into your own, Jenna. You are eloquent, creative and an absolute inspiration both in the kitchen, and in life. Congratulations on all you have accomplished and best wishes for the future!
jenna
October 12, 2010 at 8:38 amthanks, Katherine! That’s so sweet of you to say!
Lindsey @ Morningstar Project
October 12, 2010 at 8:36 amAs a lover of apple pies and all things apple, why have I never heard of this amazingness before?? Done and done, this is my next dessert/breakfast/snack for myself dish
jenna
October 12, 2010 at 8:37 amlove those “all-in-one” meals! 😉
R @ Learning As I Chop
October 12, 2010 at 8:37 amLooks delicious!
Lauren at KeepItSweet
October 12, 2010 at 8:39 ami love baked apples… but really do wish the days when my mom would make them. some things just are better that way!
Tina
October 12, 2010 at 8:41 amMaking these…asap. I love baked apples!!! I never thought to add dried fruit of some sort. I’m on a huge dried fruit kick too so this is perfect.
Marina
October 12, 2010 at 8:50 amI adore baked apples. Once, I stuffed them with a mixture of oats, cottage cheese and an egg white, along with spices and raisins. They were a perfect breakfast!
The Wife of a Dairyman
October 12, 2010 at 8:51 amI bet your house smelled SO good after baking those apples! Now if we would just have some fall weather to go along with the baking season:)
jenna
October 12, 2010 at 8:52 ami know!!! What is WITH this heat??!?!
Koko
October 12, 2010 at 8:52 amLOL “they’ll look like brains….but in a good way”
Jackie
October 12, 2010 at 8:55 amI am eating a carmel apple right now as I read about this glorious recipe. I will be making these this weekend for sure!! Thank you Jenna.
cathy b. @ brightbakes.com
October 12, 2010 at 9:05 amwe had these all the time growing up(or a simplified version, anyway)…looking at these makes me ……
want my mommy!!!!!!
Love,
Cathy B. @ brightbakes
lena
October 12, 2010 at 9:08 amingenious! looks mighty yummy! (: cool!
Nancy in Naples
October 12, 2010 at 9:12 amI have some apples in the fridge that I wanted to do something with and now I know what I will do with them! Look great!
eatmovelove
October 12, 2010 at 9:15 amThat would be good with granola and yogurt. Yum!
Moni'sMeals
October 12, 2010 at 9:17 amyou are speaking my language! I make these all the time. 🙂 Never have I tried with Granny’s though, great idea!
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write
October 12, 2010 at 9:17 amI wish I liked warm apple desserts, because this looks absolutely beautiful. It would be a great thing to serve at a dinner party.
Ann
October 12, 2010 at 9:19 amThis is perfect… I made apple crisp the other day but it tasted much too sweet. This looks like an easier, healthier alternative. Thanks for the recipe!
Maryea @ Happy Healthy Mama
October 12, 2010 at 9:20 amI am loving all of the fall recipes that are showing up everywhere. Definitely my favorite cooking/baking season. Those apples look divine.
Lauren
October 12, 2010 at 9:21 amThis is such a fantastic recipe! 🙂
Raya @ Raya Runs
October 12, 2010 at 9:22 amMy mom used to make those as well!! We would stuff raisins, nuts, etc inside and they are sooo good. We even had a wood stove to eat them by. True story.
P.S. “When you cut them open, they might look like brains…” <— Bahahaha.
jenna
October 12, 2010 at 9:35 ammmm… baked apples are the best! I bet they are wonderful with dates!
Julie @SavvyEats
October 12, 2010 at 9:38 amI have a feeling I’m going to get sick of raw apples FAST, so I’m excited to try these!!
Paige @Running Around Normal
October 12, 2010 at 9:59 amWow. This needs to be happening in my house. Like right now. And they’re so preetttyy!
Andrea
October 12, 2010 at 10:02 amI have a bag full of apples that I need to use up. What a great idea. I’m going to try this..maybe my boys will even eat this one!
Megan @ 'Nati Girls Run
October 12, 2010 at 10:09 amI just Googled this the other day. So glad you posted a recipe for them!!
Deirdre
October 12, 2010 at 10:14 amYum! Making those with pork chops and my husband will love me more than possible ; )
Alexia
October 12, 2010 at 10:21 ammust make!
Laura @ Backstage Pass to Health & Happiness
October 12, 2010 at 10:24 amOkay, these look delicious. I could picture myself filling one with oatmeal and baking the oatmeal in it as well for a decadent brunch dish.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
October 12, 2010 at 10:24 amthese are screaming my name. I want one – or all four. I need to make these.
The Healthy Apple
October 12, 2010 at 10:30 amMy mouth is drooooooling; all the way from Manhattan…can I seriously come over now and have a big bite? Hehehe; beautiful recipe, Jenna!
polly
October 12, 2010 at 10:55 amhi honey!
I am totally making these! Love you and hope you are doing great today, sweet girl. I emailed you back the other day. I got brave today and cooked with ONION. Yes, crazy, I know. 😛
Hugs and happy baked apples!! XOXO
I also love the picture of you eating the apple as a little peanut and was that a pic of John in that post? Beautiful boy. HUGS.
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
October 12, 2010 at 11:04 amBakes apples with maple and brown sugar…oh yes please! I bet your house smelled awesome after this one! But then again, I bet your house smells awesome quite frequently with all the awesome stuff you churn out 🙂
Exercise and Eat
October 12, 2010 at 11:06 amIt seems like you ate SO well growing up!
Natalia - a side of simple
October 12, 2010 at 11:14 amWhat a great idea! Come at a perfect time, too. I just went apple picking this weekend! Thanks, Jenna.
Food & Other Things
October 12, 2010 at 11:14 amI’ve never baked an apple before but after seeing this I need to! What a perfect fall dish!
Clare @ Fitting It All In
October 12, 2010 at 11:18 amLook delicious! My mom loves granny smiths and I always think they are too sour, so this is probably a great way for us to enjoy them together!
Karen
October 12, 2010 at 11:38 amSounds/looks delicious!! This dish perfectly captures my mood. I’m off to purchase dried cherries… Thanks, Jenna, for the inspiration.
LizLivingVegan
October 12, 2010 at 11:40 amAs if I didn’t already LOVE Apples in the fall… this looks amazing! And I just bought some pumpkin pie spice… this is like fate 😉
Krystina
October 12, 2010 at 11:45 amThank you for responding to my email about Paul Banks! I’ve been meaning to make baked apples for a while and you’re definitely tempting me to whip up a batch.
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
October 12, 2010 at 11:59 amI am making this tonight for sure! I have a ton of apples and this is a great way to use them – deliciousness!
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
October 12, 2010 at 12:13 pmAnd I just ate my last apple. Darn. Totally bookmarking this post for the next time I have some on hand. I love baked apples.
Mary Catherine
October 12, 2010 at 12:13 pmWhat a cool recipe! I’m bookmarking to make this weekend. Where do you get your dried cherries? I’ve seen them on your blog a lot but I have never seen them in my grocery store. Might not be looking in the right section…
jenna
October 12, 2010 at 12:24 pmthe whole foods bulk bins! Love ’em
Rachel @ Suburban Yogini
October 12, 2010 at 12:16 pmI love baked apples. My mum makes this exact same recipe 🙂
Nikka B
October 12, 2010 at 12:18 pmhello tonight’s dessert!!!! thank you!
Lina@GreenLivingNY
October 12, 2010 at 12:30 pmJenna, you should try baked golden delicious apples, with walnuts, raisain, cranberries, powder sugar and nutella on top when done! – HEAVEN! 🙂
Amber K
October 12, 2010 at 12:31 pmI absolutely don’t have that kind of patience, but they look yummy!
MMiller
October 12, 2010 at 12:49 pmThis sounds wonderful!
Nicole
October 12, 2010 at 1:03 pmHmmm…I made these last year and stuffed them with a similar mixture, except I added peanut butter. So, so, so good! I think that was the last time I used my apple corer…I think it’s time to brush the dust off and use it again! Thanks for the reminder!
Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary)
October 12, 2010 at 1:15 pmI’m not really a baked apple kind of girl, but I must say… You make them look GOOD!
Meredith (Pursuing Balance)
October 12, 2010 at 2:58 pmwe made baked apples with the nursing home residents today! they loved it!
Ahna
October 12, 2010 at 3:31 pmWe had these a lot when growing up, except with raisins instead of cherries. Our worlds were turned completely upside-down, however, when my mom started soaking the raisins in rum for a while and using rum as the baking liquid. Highly recommended.
Laura (Starloz)
October 12, 2010 at 4:22 pmoooh i want fall back, i’m saving this one for next year!
Annie-Rose
October 12, 2010 at 4:34 pmI’m making these for my dinner club tonight! The only different is I added oats to the mix – tastes just like an inside-out apple crisp. YUM 🙂
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin
October 12, 2010 at 4:48 pmWe actually made baked apples in my food science lab last week. And then we ate them. 😀 Favourite. class. ever.
sarah k. @ the pajama chef
October 12, 2010 at 6:41 pm“When you cut them open, they will sort of look like brains….but in a good way. ” hahahhaha that’s so funny! i just started laughing out loud. thanks for the laugh on my paper-writing break! 🙂
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog)
October 12, 2010 at 9:31 pmThose look delish! Baked apples are on my to-make in the fall list. 🙂
Katherine @ Left Coast Contessa
October 12, 2010 at 9:32 pmThis might satisfy my displace new englander syndrome. I miss fall so much, I think a baked apple is totally the cure.
Nora@LifeLifeEatRight
October 13, 2010 at 4:25 amThese look fantastic! I was on a baked honey crisp with cinnamon & brown sugar topped with vanilla ice cream kick last week. I think I had it 4 nights in a row haha. And on the fifth night, I rested…with chocolate.
Dee
October 13, 2010 at 4:21 pmoh my WORD! This recipe has been evernoted for future use! Thanks Jenna! 🙂
Lacey @ Lake Life
October 13, 2010 at 5:17 pmMmm they sound even better with some vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle…just not for breakfast.
Unless you’re already having a bad day by breakfast time 😉
Corina
October 14, 2010 at 3:11 amI love baked apples. I’m going to try your recipe next time.
Alexia
October 18, 2010 at 1:55 pmthe kid i babysit and i were about to make this…but then she burst into tears.
🙁
was looking forward to it!
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September 22, 2011 at 1:12 pm[…] http://www.eatliverun.com/baked-stuffed-apples-with-dried-cherries-and-walnuts/ […]
Heather
September 26, 2011 at 4:17 amOh my gosh, Jenna! My mouth is watering. Cheers to your mother for creating this masterpiece and cheers to you for sharing it with us! I’m on it.
Kimberly
September 26, 2011 at 8:25 amWow! Those look delicious! I am so making those for a treat tonight for the hubby! I hope they will taste just as good with a Gala apple????
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November 16, 2011 at 6:19 pm[…] I made so many delicious things, including Baked Apple Tempeh, Pea Soup, and Baked Apples. It was a pretty delightful Sunday. I still have a ton of apples to use from when Patrick and I […]
Kim
August 21, 2012 at 8:29 amIf you’re in a hurry, or just want one, you can try my quick version of this: core the apple as shown above, stuff one tbsp of salted butter to the bottom, and pack the rest with brown sugar and a sprinkle of spices, nuts, or dried fruit. Microwave for 90 seconds and let stand for 30 seconds! Done!
Although the maple syrup makes this recipe very tempting…hello holiday treat!
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January 2, 2014 at 11:52 amLooks like a great addition to morning oatmeal!
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