Prep time: 10 min • Cook time: 30 to 60 min • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 6 organic baking apples
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tablespoon pasture-raised butter or ghee (optional)
• 2 to 4 tablespoons maple syrup or honey (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350º F, and place rack in the center of the oven.
2. Wash and core apples. Place apples in a baking dish and sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Add about ½-inch water to the bottom of the pan. If you choose to use butter, dot the butter evenly among all apples. For sweeter apples, pour maple syrup or honey into the hole on the top of the apple.
3. Baking time will vary greatly based on the size and type of apple. Cover and bake for 30 minutes and check for doneness. The apples should be soft when pierced with a knife. If they aren’t soft enough, cover and return to oven, checking every 5 to 10 minutes.
4. To serve, top with baking juices.

Notes I am a big fan of Fuji apples because they are very sweet and juicy. Large Fuji apples take about 1 hour of baking. Small to medium Pink Lady apples were done at 30 minutes.

For variety, you can add almonds, walnuts, or pecans before or after the apples are baked. Raisins and/or dates are also delicious when baked inside the apple. If you use them, you won’t need the maple syrup or honey. For an extra special treat, serve with a scoop of homemade Toasted Almond Gelato and sprinkle with toasted almonds.

You can also make a baked apple very quickly in the microwave, but it will not be as creamy as one baked in the oven. It’s best to bake them one at a time. Since every microwave is different, the timing with vary between 5 to 10 minutes on high power. It makes a wonderful warm addition to breakfast or a very quick dessert. Baked apples are also wonderful in my Apple Pie Smoothie.

Enjoy!