Description
This delightful baked apples recipe features Honeycrisp apples tossed with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of lemon juice, baked to tender perfection and topped with rich unsalted butter. It’s a warm, comforting dessert that’s simple to prepare and beautifully aromatic.
Ingredients
Scale
Apples
- 6 Honeycrisp apples (900 grams)
Mix-ins
- ⅓ cup brown sugar (71 grams)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (14 grams, from ½ lemon)
- 2 tablespoons water (28 grams)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (7 grams)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (3 grams)
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
Topping
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (42 grams, sliced into small cubes)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for gentle baking.
- Prepare Apples: Peel and core the Honeycrisp apples, then slice them into thin pieces for even cooking and absorption of flavors.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples with brown sugar, lemon juice, water, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and kosher salt. Toss well to evenly coat the apple slices with the mixture.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly spray a casserole dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Transfer the apple mixture into the dish and evenly distribute small cubes of unsalted butter on top.
- Bake Covered: Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes to allow the apples to soften and flavors to meld.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil carefully, then bake the apples uncovered for an additional 15 minutes to brown the tops slightly and thicken the sauce.
- Serve: Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving warm as a comforting dessert.
Notes
- Use Honeycrisp or another sweet-tart apple variety for the best flavor and texture.
- Peeling the apples ensures a smooth texture, but leaving the skin on adds extra fiber and nutrients.
- Adjust the amount of brown sugar based on desired sweetness.
- Cornstarch acts as a thickener; do not omit to avoid a watery sauce.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an extra special treat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
