Autumn Baked Apples

Photo by Jamie Alexander

INGREDIENTS:

›› 5 medium-sized apples 

›› 1 1/2 cups rolled oats

›› 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans (replace with more oats if you don’t want nuts)

›› 1/4 cup brown sugar

›› 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon

›› Salt to taste

›› 1 stick butter, melted 

›› optional: vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce for toppings

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

›› Preheat oven to 350°F

›› Core each apple, leaving the bottom intact. Use a melon baller to scoop out a cavity in the interior of the apple (optional – cut off the top of the apple before coring to bake alongside as a garnish when finished)

›› Stir the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nuts, salt, and butter in a bowl until combined. You can also optionally stir in some diced apple bits that you scooped out earlier for a more intense apple flavor! 

›› Stuff each apple with the oat mixture and place on a baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, before uncovering and baking an additional 15 minutes (or until apples are soft and bubbly and the filling is a golden brown). 

›› Serve warm (I recommend covering with caramel sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream!)