My Mom’s Baked Apples

Sometimes, the simplest foods are the best. When I was a kid, my mom would regularly make baked apples. I would delight in getting my very own little crock with a perfectly baked apple, juices almost bubbling over the top, creamy apple melting in my mouth. It’s amazing that an apple cooked in its own juice—with perhaps a little somethin’ special added—turns into something quite divine. This is a perfect dessert for times of cleansing or healing when you want something sweet and simple. For a richer experience, add butter to make it deliciously decadent (this is a must for me!). Enjoy this recipe in its simple perfection or take it to the next level by chopping the warm apples and adding them to vanilla ice cream! The whole apples used here make a pretty big serving, so you can halve them to feed more people. Have any left over? Chop the apples up a bit and add them to the next morning’s oatmeal or yogurt.

INGREDIENTS:

SERVES 4 to 8

• 4 red apples, cored

• Dried fruit, such as raisins, currants, or goji berries (optional)

• 4 small pats of butter, one smooshed into each core (optional, but yum!)

• Orange juice and/or zest (optional)

• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey

• Ground cinnamon and/or garam masala

• Ice cream or yogurt for serving(optional)

  
  

DIRECTIONS:

1 Preheat the oven to 350°

2 Peel the top half of the apples so they are half naked, half covered in peel. Place the apples in individual little baking dishes, naked side up, or arrange them together in a baking dish that just holds them all snuggly. Fill the baking dish with just enough water to cover the bottom third of the apples.

3 If you’d like, stuff the inside of each apple with dried fruit, a pat of butter, a splash of orange juice and/or a pinch of orange zest.

4 Drizzle each apple with about 1/2 tablespoon of maple syrup or honey (we prefer the taste of maple syrup). Sprinkle generously with cinnamon and/or garam masala.

5 Bake uncovered until soft and bubbly, 45 to 60 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Add some ice cream or yogurt on top before serving if you want to really go for it.

Notes:

If your apples are still a bit firm at the end of the cook time but you are having a dessert emergency, just serve them up with a knife or cut them up with kitchen scissors while in the baking dish.

---

Want more essential health wisdom and nourishing recipes? The Nourish Me Kitchen 2-volume book has got you covered. Explore functional-medicine foundations and 300 family-friendly, body-thriving recipes by Dr. Erika Siegel here.