Baked Apples

So as you know, I live in Southern California. We live in this thing called Perpetual Summer...it's why people live here. You can work on your tan ten months out of the year. Shorts are okay in November. You can wear sandals in February. 


Okay, I like that last part. I live in my flip flops.


But this always sunny thing, I'm not a fan.


I love rain and cold weather- I love snuggling up in sweaters, sipping mugs of hot tea, and seeing my breath when I breathe outside. I love when the leaves start changing colors, not only because it's beautiful, but it means Fall is coming. Pumpkins. Cinnamon. Mulled Wine.


Baked Apples.



I was at home the other day, wind from the fan blowing in my face, thinking about how I really wanted a baked apple. So I went to the store and bought some apples. I got home and Googled all kinds of baked apple recipes, and none of them were what I wanted. I wanted a simple, healthy baked apple without any extra crap. 


I must have looked for an hour. And when I couldn't find one that fit my craving, I gave up and decided to make my own. 


So here it is, my little slice of Fall...


Baked Apples
serves 2, 157 calories each


2 small apples (I used Gala.)
1 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp sugar substitute (I've been baking with Ideal, which is a sugar substitute that actually tastes sugary, and doesn't have a yucky fake-sugar aftertaste like some other brands. Feel free to use more brown sugar here, or plain white sugar, whatever you'd like!)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp unsalted butter, cold and cubed
1 tsp old fashioned rolled oats
dash of vanilla extract


1. Preheat oven to 375.°


2. Wash and core apples, making sure to get rid of all the seeds, but don't core all the way through...you're just making a little well for all of the ingredients.


2. Mix the sugars, cinnamon, and butter together, and divide evenly among the two apples. Add a dash of vanilla extract to each apple, and top each with 1/2 tsp of the rolled oats. Add a dash more cinnamon to the top of each.


3. Completely cover each apple with foil and pinch it closed at the top. Place both in a baking dish for 40-45 minutes, or until apples are tender. Uncover and let cool for a few minutes. Eat!

This would probably be really good with some frozen yogurt, but we ate it plain. We ate this for desert and actually split one, it was pretty filling and so delicious. I originally used a tablespoon of butter in each apple, which was waaay too much, and have scaled it down above. Feel free to add raisins, cranberries, or nuts, whatever sounds good to you!


Enjoy!
Amanda