Baked Apples

EVENT: SHHH COOKING SECRETLY
THEME: WARM DESSERTS
RECIPE: BAKED APPLES
Baked Apples
As the name suggests, apples are baked with a stuffing. Easy to make, absolutely delicious with a light tangy caramel sauce that develops when butter and brown sugar melts into the fresh orange juice. Best enjoyed warm.
Usually, the apples are either cut into halves, cored and stuffed or whole apples are used. Actually, it is so much easier to core apples with a corer. However, if you don’t have one, then patiently cut out the middle of the apple with a sharp paring knife. Incidentally, have you noticed how when you need a gadget the most, you cannot find it? I swear I had a corer and just can’t find it! Not that my kitchen is big!
Apples that are best for baking
Here are some suggestions of apples that I’ve used for baking. With a huge variety, use any that becomes soft on baking.
- Golden Delicious
- Gala
- Jonagolds
- Pink Lady
- Braeburn
- Fuji
- Granny Smith
Stuffing for the Apples
Once you’ve decided whether you want to use whole apples or halved, next comes the stuffing. Generally brown sugar, nuts, butter and raisins are used. Choice of nuts is entirely up to you. In fact, to make it into a warm breakfast treat add some oats to the mixture. Sometimes, savory stuffing is used. If you stuff the apples with oats or a savory stuffing, make a deeper well or cavity. Also chop the scooped out apple( not the core or seeds) finely and add to the mixture.
A bit about the group:
Every month a new theme is chosen by members. Then the participants are paired up. They give each other 2 secret ingredients to use in their recipe which is prepared fitting the theme. As soon as their dish is ready, the photo is shared on our Facebook group and other try and guess the secret ingredients. Finally, towards the end of the month the recipe is shared on the group. This way members get to know each other and interact with each other.
This Month’s Theme
This month Rafeeda who blogs at The Big Sweet Tooth suggested WARM DESSERTS. Actually, I was expecting that Rafeeda would suggest desserts. As her blog name suggests, she has a huge variety of desserts. Talking about Warm Desserts her Umm Ali, an Egyptian dessert is on my list.
My Partner
For this month, I’ve been paired with Shobha who blogs at Shobha’s Food Mazaa. In fact, I’ve had the opportunity to meet Shobha and she is a very friendly, talented food blogger. In particular, check out her space for You Tube videos where she endeavors to make cooking easy and fun. I’d love to try her fresh pea halwa, definitely a unique recipe. Fortunately, Shobha gave me cinnamon and walnuts as my secret ingredients. Therefore, was able use them for Baked Apples, a recipe which I’ve wanted to try out for a very long time. In return, I gave her ghee and cardamom. Using those ingredients she prepared Makki Ka Sheera.
Some Apple Recipes you may want to check out:
- A warm or cold dessert – Apple Kheer
- Celery Greens and Apple Juice – healthy and delicious
- Eggless Apple and Cinnamon Muffins
- Apple Crumble Cheesecake – vanilla no baked cheesecake is topped with apple crumble.
- Breakfast treat – Apple Aebleskiver
- Scandinavian Apple Charlotte –enjoy it warm or hot
- Apple Crumble Parfait – easy to prepare dessert. Or serve it for breakfast with some yogurt instead of ice cream.
- Green Apple and Spring Onion Chutney – so delicious with fritters, chips or even ganthia.
- Baked tea time treat – Apple Squares
- Butternut Squash and Apple Salad – filling, healthy and nutritious
- Serve a pizza as a dessert – Apple Dessert Pizza
- No refined sugar used in these Apple and Date Muffins
- Beat the heat with Apple Cinnamon Ice Cream
- Serve for breakfast – Apple Oat Muffins
- My favorite is Apple Crisp
- Red Apple Cucumber and Onion Salad – makes a perfect light meal
- A simple Salad – Apple Carrot Salad
- Perfect as a light meal – Apple Avocado Quinoa Salad
Ingredients Required for Baked Apples
- Apples – use apples that bake well. Golden Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, Braeburn, Fuji, Pink Lady, Jonagold are a few suggestions. Core the middle with a corer or a paring knife.
- Nuts – chopped nuts of your choice. I’ve used walnuts.
- Raisins – or sultanas.
- Butter – I’ve used salted butter, you cause unsalted. For a vegan dessert, use vegan butter. For a healthier dessert omit butter.
- Brown Sugar – for a healthier dessert use honey or maple syrup. For vegan version use maple syrup.
- Fresh Orange Juice – the orange juice actually adds flavour to the dessert. There are recipes that use only water. The whole idea of using some form of liquid is that it helps the apples to soften.
- Orange Zest or Rind – whenever I use fresh orange juice, just can’t help adding zest to the recipe. You can also use vanilla extract.
- Spice Mixture – need cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove powders. Can also use cinnamon powder on its own.
Dietary Tips:
- Gluten Free
- For Vegan version replace dairy butter with vegan butter or omit it altogether.
- Suitable for Vegetarians.
- Kids Friendly Dessert – make sure the apples cool down before serving them to the kids.
- Enjoy this on Ekadashi or Navratri Fasting days – replace salted butter with unsalted.

BAKED APPLES
Ingredients
- 2 large apples
- ¼ cup walnuts chopped
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp raisins
- 2 tbsp butter soft
- ¼ cup orange juice fresh
- ½ tsp orange zest
FOR THE SPICE MIXTURE:
- ¼ tsp cinnamon powder
- ¼ tsp ginger powder
- ⅛ tsp nutmeg powder
- ⅛ tsp clove powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- Take a ovenproof baking tray.
- Mix the spices for the spice mixture in a small bowl.
- Add to the spice mixture, butter, sugar, chopped nuts and raisins. Mix well.
- Wash the apples. Slice a bit of the top away. Core the middle using a paring knife or a corer.
- Fill the stuffing into the apples, heaping it till the top.
- Pour the orange juice over the apples and into the tray.
- Cover the apples and baking tray with foil.
- Bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes remove the foil and allow the apples to bake further for 10-20 minutes. Bake till you can insert a knife into the apple easily. Baking time will depend on the type of apples used. Mine took total 30 minutes.
- Take the tray out of the oven.
- Serve baked apples immedaitely. Pour the caramel sauce from the tray over the baked apples.
Notes
- If you omit butter altogether, there might not be much juice left after baking.
- You can serve baked apples topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or Greek Yogurt.
- To enjoy baked apples for breakfast add oats about 2-3 tbsp and also scoop out a bigger well.
- You can replace the juice with water.
Pin for Later:
A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
30 Comments
Sujata Roy
January 31, 2021 at 6:27 am
Wow Mayuri baked apples looks so gorgeous and delish. I can imagine the aroma of mixed spices and orange juice. Definitely a delightful treat. Waiting to order some apples to try it.
mayurisjikoni
January 31, 2021 at 11:04 am
Thank you so much Sujata, please try and if you want to make it sugar free, omit the sugar and instead add chopped dates, figs, more raisins, etc.
The Girl Next Door
February 9, 2021 at 7:51 am
A brilliant recipe! Love the caramel sauce you have used here. Can imagine the beautiful aroma of spices and orange as these apples cook. What a delectable treat! ❤️
mayurisjikoni
February 9, 2021 at 8:26 pm
Thank you Priya, I’ve not used caramel sauce but the melting of sugar and butter results in a caramel sauce. Baked apples are definitely a delectable treat.
Rafeeda – The Big Sweet Tooth
February 13, 2021 at 9:28 pm
My sister had mentioned that when they go apple picking, they can make baked apples and it gets served with raisins and caramels. Looking at your baked apples actually reminds me of that conversation and tempts me to try making some… I would really like to make these soon…
mayurisjikoni
February 13, 2021 at 10:18 pm
Thank you so much Rafeeda. Please do make this easy dessert. Its so delicious.
Renu
February 14, 2021 at 1:22 am
You are so right at times, the things are in front of us but we cannot find it. I like this recipe a lot, especially because it looks so rich and inviting and when I read the recipe, it is not difficult but something quick to assemble and make. My husband loves baked apple pie and I am sure he is going to enjoy this Baked Apples with all that nutty and sweet filling with a hint of warm winter spices.
mayurisjikoni
February 14, 2021 at 6:55 pm
Thank you so much Renu, you can even try it out as a breakfast treat with oats and honey stuffing.
Vasusvegkitchen
February 15, 2021 at 9:13 pm
Wow wow such a fabulous recipe, baked apple looking super tempting. Loved the aroma of spice mixture and taste of stuffed and baked apple in orange juice. Also loved your apple recipe collection, so many recipes to try out soon.
mayurisjikoni
February 16, 2021 at 5:59 pm
Thank you so much Aruna. Enjoy when you try them out.
Pavani
February 17, 2021 at 1:08 am
Wow , the baked apples look so irresistible and I wouldn’t take my eyes from it. I heard about the recipe so many times but never tried it. You explained very well di. Now I can make it without hesitation. Thanks for the recipe.
mayurisjikoni
February 17, 2021 at 4:02 pm
Thank you so much Pavani. Please do try the recipe, its a lovely dessert.
preethicuisine
February 20, 2021 at 1:35 pm
Baked Apples with delicious stuffing looks incredible. I was always wondering what to make with apples apart from pickles, chutney and apple pie. I am tempted to try this yummy dessert.You have presented it so beautifully. I am tempted to try this recipe when I have some Apples next time.
mayurisjikoni
February 21, 2021 at 11:11 am
Thank you so much Preethi. I recently baked them again with some oats, honey, nuts and raisins for breakfast and that too turned out too good.
Archana
February 22, 2021 at 3:56 pm
Now baked apples are simply delicious and a wonderful dessert. I loved your stuffing and well the apples on the table are beckoning me. Never tried baking apples with orange juice.
mayurisjikoni
February 22, 2021 at 5:12 pm
Thanks Archana, generally a bit of water is added to the base when baking the apples.The steam created helps the cooking process. I used fresh orange juice instead.
Anu Kollon
February 22, 2021 at 8:23 pm
Baked Apples look so delicious. We get a lot of apples during the apple picking season and I always look for new recipes each time. Bookmarking this recipe and I am tempted to try this soon.
mayurisjikoni
February 23, 2021 at 5:54 pm
Thank you so much Anu, please do try out the recipe. Makes a wonderful dessert or even as a breakfast treat.
Shobha Keshwani
February 23, 2021 at 11:17 pm
I love the baked apples dessert. This one is double mazaa with all the goodies stuffed in them along the the spice powdersto enhance the flavour. They really look so irresistible.
mayurisjikoni
February 24, 2021 at 2:51 pm
Thank you so much Shobha.I too love baked apple desserts.
Poonam Bachhav
February 25, 2021 at 7:28 pm
Baked apples look absolutely delightful ! Love the way you have stuffed them. Wonderful dessert with a very simple recipe.
mayurisjikoni
February 26, 2021 at 4:10 pm
Thank you so much Poonam.
Sasmita Sahoo
February 26, 2021 at 8:34 pm
Baked Apples are looking so lovely !!
The stuffing must be tasted yum with all those spices going in. Easy to make yet absolutely delicious…
mayurisjikoni
February 26, 2021 at 9:20 pm
Thanks Sasmita, and you’re right it is easy to make.
NARMADHA
February 26, 2021 at 9:19 pm
Baked apples with spices and nuts is an interesting idea and look so tempting. Always in love with such easy and quick but exotic dishes. Can’t wait to try them soon.
mayurisjikoni
February 26, 2021 at 9:20 pm
Thank you so much. Please do try it.. its a delicious dessert.
Seema Sriram
February 27, 2021 at 1:43 am
I enjoyed reading this post a lot. Sounds so much like similar experiences. As for the baked apple, I literally can smell the fragrance right here. So easy this one so not wasting much time and diving deep into making this.
mayurisjikoni
February 27, 2021 at 4:29 pm
Thank you so much Seema. Enjoy baked apples when you try the recipe.
SWati
February 28, 2021 at 9:09 am
Baked apples recipe sounds so comforting and flavorful. I like the use of all the spices here, which makes it perfect warm treat for chilly fall or winter evenings.
mayurisjikoni
February 28, 2021 at 12:19 pm
Thanks Swaty, its good even during summer as you can serve ice cream over the warm baked apple.