Baked Apples

Baked apples are another good, wholesome and very delicious dessert.  There are lots of variations on baked apples but I like my mother's recipe the best. It includes raisins and butter and brown sugar, so it has to be good.  Her secret special touch is a slice of Pepperidge Farm raisin bread.

Choose an apple with a little red color for a more appetizing presentation.

The recipe is simple and traditional except for the raisin bread. Instructions here are for one apple, so multiply the directions for multiple apples.

So to begin, thoroughly wash and dry an apple, and core it using an apple corer or a melon scoop, just be sure to take out just the core so you keep the apple flesh.  Core all the way through the bottom of the apple.  Spray a little cooking spray on the bottom of your baking dish and line the dish with a slice of raisin bread.  Mix two teaspoons brown sugar, a teaspoon of raisins and a pat of butter together rubbing the butter and sugar and raisins together with the back of a spoon to form a paste, sort of.  Peel one ring of skin off the top of the apple with a sharp knife. Stuff the cored out cavity of the apple with the sugar paste.  Bake in a 375 degree pre heated oven for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the apple. You can test for doneness by piercing the side of the apple with a sharp knife. Let the apples cool at least 15 minutes to an hour.  Serve just as they are or add a little buttered pecan ice cream or whipped cream. The butter and sugar mixture will seep into the raisin bread and caramelize, giving you a sweet, chewy bit of toasty bread with every apple bite. The nutrional info for this dessert is at the bottom of this post. Check out all the great fiber content!

Don't get stuck on the idea that only Granny Smith or Golden Delicious can be baked.  Try Jonathen or Jona Gold or one of a dozen other varieties of apples that are good for baking as well as eating out of hand.

This is Melrose, the state apple of Ohio.  I just purchased a 1/2 peck of these from Irons Fruit Farm, and love them for a good all purpose apple. I use them cut up in salads as well as a snack. They also make a lovely baked apple.

Nutrition Facts  for the Baked Apple recipe above.

Serving Size

11 serving (146.8 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories

238238

Calories from Fat

5050

% Daily Value^*

Total Fat

5.6g5.6

9%9

Saturated Fat

2.6g2.6

13%13

Cholesterol

11mg11

4%4

Sodium

129mg129

5%5

Total Carbohydrates

48.1g48.1

16%16

Dietary Fiber

5.7g5.7

23%23

Sugars

32.4g32.4

Protein

2.1g2.1

Vitamin A 3%3	•	Vitamin C 34%34
Calcium 0%0	•	Iron 16%16

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet