Cranberry Walnut Baked Apples

Does anyone else rationalize desserts that use fruit are “healthy”? I know they aren’t, but I feel a little better about myself than just downing a giant slice of cake. These Baked Apples have double fruit!

Best Baked Apples

Fall’s favorite fruit is without a doubt, apples. We go apple picking every year and love to make apple pie, apple cider, apple juice, pretty much any apple desserts we can think of. And that’s where these delicious baked apples come into play.

The Best Baked Apples are simple and can be prepared all the way until baking ahead of time. They are perfectly paired with a crisp apple wine and a generous scoop of vanilla, butter or caramel ice cream.

So what makes these “The Best” and different from any other apple recipe? The secret is to soak your dried cranberries in Chambord, a ra

Best Baked Apples

spberry flavored liqueur.

Don’t worry, the residual alcohol will bake off, but you will be left with plump and flavorful cranberries coated in a brown sugar sauce. The key to your baked apple not being too sweet is in choosing the correct apple.

Pick a tart variety, I prefer Granny Smith. The flavors will play off of each and not be overwhelming in either direction.

Baked Apples Ingredients

Get the printable list of ingredients and instructions HERE.

• Apples – The best apples to use are large, tart apples such as Granny Smith for this recipe. Other options could be gala apples, pink lady, honey crisp apples or any variety of apple that you prefer. The size of your apples does matter, so make sure they’re large.
• Dried cranberries – These are usually found near the raisins in the grocery store. Feel free to experiment with the flavors. I’ve seen them infused with pomegranate juice and even blueberry juice too.
• Chambord – Chambord is a raspberry liqueur that it used in many cocktails and martinis. We use it for this sweet treat as the perfect way to complement the sweet apple flavor.
• Walnuts – Chopped walnuts add a crunch to this stuffed apples recipe. Feel free to use pecans instead, or any other nut that you prefer.
• Light brown sugar – Brown sugar filling is what sends this perfect fall dessert over the top. It’s perfectly sweet and warm flavored, bring everything together perfectly.
• Salt – Just to balance out all the sweet flavors we have going on, we need a touch of salt added to the filling.
• Ice cream – I love serving my stuffed baked apple recipe with some caramel sauce and a sco

Best Baked Apples

• op of vanilla ice cream on top of each apple. However, butter ice cream or caramel ice cream would also taste delicious.

How to Make Stuffed Baked Apples

1. Soak cranberries. Soak dried cranberries in Chambord liqueur. Allow them to get slightly plump. Drain and discard excess Chambord.
2. Prepare oven and baking sheet. Preheat oven and line the bottom of the baking dish with aluminum foil.
3. Prepare apples. Core apples and cut in half vertically. Scoop out the center of the apple to create a bowl. You can do this with an apple corer or melon baller. You can cut a small sliver the bottom so that it sits up properly and doesn’t wobble around.
4. Make filling. Mix filling ingredients (Chambord soaked dried cranberries, walnuts, brown sugar and salt) in small bowl and mix well. Spoon into apple halves and place apples in baking container.
5. Bake. Bake until brown sugar starts to caramelize and apples are soft, but not mushy. If you over cook the apple, it will not be taunt enough to hold the filling.
6. Serve. Remove and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or even a caramel sauce drizzle.

Best Baked Apples

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