Description
This Baked Apples recipe features tender Honeycrisp apples baked with a fragrant mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of lemon juice. Enhanced with small cubes of unsalted butter, these baked apples make a comforting and naturally sweet dessert perfect for any season.
Ingredients
Scale
Apples
- 6 Honeycrisp apples 900 grams
Spice Mixture
- 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
Finishing
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 42 grams, sliced into small cubes (⅜ stick)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 250°F to ensure it is ready for slow baking the apples evenly and gently.
- Prepare the apples: Peel and core the Honeycrisp apples, then slice them thinly to allow the flavors to infuse and cook through quickly.
- Mix the ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples with brown sugar, lemon juice, water, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and kosher salt. Toss the mixture thoroughly to coat the apple slices evenly.
- Prepare the baking dish: Spray a casserole dish lightly with cooking spray to prevent sticking, then transfer the apple mixture into the dish evenly.
- Add butter and cover: Scatter the small butter cubes over the apples, cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil to trap moisture for tender results.
- Bake the apples: Bake covered for 35 minutes, then remove the foil to allow the apples to brown slightly, and bake uncovered for another 15 minutes to complete cooking and develop flavor.
Notes
- For a deeper flavor, try using a mix of apple varieties like Granny Smith along with Honeycrisp.
- Serving warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream elevates this dessert.
- The cornstarch helps thicken the juices released by the apples as they bake, creating a nice syrup.
- You can substitute brown sugar with coconut sugar for a caramel-like hint.
- Make sure to cover the dish initially to keep the apples moist and prevent drying out.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 12 mg
