Baked Apples

Two years ago, dear friends of ours from Edwards Orchard in Rockford, Illinois told us about a potter who makes ceramic apple bakers. Chris, the potter, is from Missouri and she makes the prettiest apple bakers you have ever seen! Each one is unique and it is fun to see the differences in each of her pieces. Our friends also shared this simple recipe for baking apples with butter and brown sugar.

 

Today the kids had a short day at school so after we ate lunch in Eckert’s Restaurant, we chose to bake dessert at home. I love this recipe because you can make it with any kind of apple. Today we baked four different varieties and held a vote to determine the best!

First we cored the apples. Then we peeled a band around the middle of each apple before placing them in the baker. Note: if you don’t have access to apple bakers, we recommend using a small Pyrex glass bowl or a oven-safe ramekin for each apple.

 

 

Next we pushed about 1 tablespoon of butter into the middle of the apple, followed by brown sugar and a dash of cinnamon. Different varieties of apples bake at varying rates so I tested ours with a knife and removed them from the oven after 40 minutes. Then I put together a plate of the four kinds of apples for the kids to try and drizzled them with the baking sauce. We baked a Granny Smith, a Jonathan, a Fuji and a Golden Delicious and this go-around the winner was Jonathan! It’s tangy flavor complimented the brown sugar and butter quite well. According to my nine-year old food critic and daughter “It is definitely the best because it tastes the most like an apple pie.” Give this recipe a try and see what YOU think bakes the best!

Eat well this fall, Angie

BAKED APPLE

1 apple
1 ceramic apple baker or oven-safe small bowl
1 Tbs butter
1-2 Tbs brown sugar
Dash of cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel a small strip of skin around the equator or “waist” of an apple. This allows steam to escape and the apple will most likely keep its shape when baked.

Core the apple and place it on an apple baker. (The center spindle of an apple baker helps cook the inside portion of the apple.) Stuff the hole of the apple with softened butter followed by the brown sugar. Sprinkle the top of the apple lightly with cinnamon. Place the apple and baker on a baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes. The baking time may be more or less, depending on the variety of apple and how soft you like your baked apple. The baked apple may be eaten in the pottery baker or it can be removed and placed in a small dish. Drizzle the sauce from the baker over the apple. Optional Ingredients: chopped pecans, raisins.