The winter chill has truly set in. Cold frosty mornings and short dark evenings are the order of the day. This baked apple dessert is a great winter warmer. It’s quick and easy to make, and all those aromatic spices will give your kitchen a lovely Christmasy aroma. I cannot believe I just said the word Christmas and it’s only November! This is a real feel good dessert however, cheap and easy to make, and dare I say it, healthy. If you want to make it a bit more decadent and bold, serve with a nice home-made custard or vanilla ice-cream.
Here’s how:
– 2 large eating apples, preferably Cox’s Pippins/ Braeburn/Pink Lady.
– 1 tbs honey
– The juice of half an orange
– Zest of half an orange
– 25g of cranberries
– 25g of pecans
– 10g of sliced almonds
– 1/4 tsp of cinnamon
– 1/4 tsp of ground ginger
– 2 drops of vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 200C/350F/gas mark 4. Core the apples and pare away some of the skin around the middle of each one.
Line a baking sheet with tin foil. Place the prepared apples on the baking tray. Mix together the honey, orange juice and orange zest. Roughly chop the cranberries, pecans and sliced almonds. Add these to the honey and orange along with the cinnamon, ginger and vanilla extract. Mix all together with a spoon, until well combined. With a teaspoon, fill the cavity of the apples. You may need to use the back of the spoon to stuff the mixture right through. Place more tin foil on top of the apples, so they will steam and not burn, in the oven.
Place the tray in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes. Once cooked, the apples should be slightly wrinkly and just beginning to crack. Serve warm with a dollop of yoghurt/ cream on the side.
