These healthy baked apples are simple, easy to make, and a delicious fall dessert idea! This is the perfect recipe to make when you’re craving a sweet dessert but want to keep it healthy and low calorie.
Why you will love this recipe
These baked apples are:
- Healthy
- Quick and easy to make
- Refined sugar-free
- Delicious
Plus, this is one of the desserts to go when you’re hosting for friends and family because this recipe is so simple and quick to prepare that you can never go wrong with it!
Ingredients to make this recipe
Apples: We’ve used russet apples but feel free to use any apples.
Cinnamon sticks: If you don’t have cinnamon sticks, you can use cinnamon powder.
Maple syrup: Or you can use honey instead.
Pecan nuts or walnuts: To give a crunchy texture.
Gluten-free oats: Or you can use homemade granola.
Baked apples are a versatile recipe, and you can easily change it up a bit and add other ingredients to them. Try to make them very simple by adding a cinnamon stick and maple syrup on the top or serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or you can even add chunks of chocolate in the middle along with the oats and the nuts for a sweeter treat. The possibilities are endless!
How to make this recipe
Preheat the oven and remove the cores of each apple. Don’t cut all the way through. Leave the base intact to keep the filling in.
Add the chopped nuts, maple syrup, and oats into a mixing bowl and mix everything. Place the apples in a baking dish, put a cinnamon stick in each apple’s center, and then the filling.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the apples are soft. Serve warm on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Tips for making this recipe
- Be careful, don’t leave them too long in the oven: The apples should be fork-tender when cooked. If they stay too much time in the oven, they will become mushy and fall apart.
- Baking time depends on the size of the apples: Baking time varies according to the size of the apples, our apples were big-sized, and they took approximately 30 minutes to cook. They should be fork soft when they’re ready.
- Feel free to add any ingredients you like: These baked apples can be customizable too! Add other healthy ingredients to the filling to change it up a bit. You can add dried fruit, granola, dark chocolate chips, jam, or nut butter.
FAQ
Are baked apples good for you?
These baked apples are healthy and refined sugar-free, so they’re an excellent dessert to have when you’re craving something sweet after having lunch or dinner.
Which apples are best for baking?
The best apples for baking are the russet apples, honey gold, and granny smith.
We’ve used russet apples to make this recipe, but if you can’t find these anywhere, don’t worry. You can use any apples you have on hand.
More fall recipes
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Healthy Baked Apples
Ingredients
- 6 large baking apples
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp pecans or walnuts chopped
- 3 tbsp gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats
- vanilla ice cream to serve optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 C) and remove the cores of each apple. Don’t cut all the way through. Leave the base intact to keep the filling in.
- Add the chopped nuts, maple syrup, and oats into a mixing bowl and combine everything.
- Place the apples in a baking dish, put a cinnamon stick in each apple’s center, and then the filling.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the apples are soft. Serve warm on its own or with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.