Bring on the healthy desserts to keep things in balance for the holiday season! Cashew, maple and oat-stuffed baked apples are a popular fall recipe.
It's time to put the pantry on lockdown. There is Halloween candy in the house! (Cue horror movie scream.) We bought the big Costco bag, full of many of my favorite mini chocolate bars. And the only way I can deal with having it in the house is by NOT OPENING IT until 5pm on Halloween night. "Not open = off limits" in my world.
Then again, if I completely deny myself...well, that's not good for anyone. Bitter, snarly - a perfect match for that witch costume hanging in my closet.
So, I compromise. And that is where these awesome baked apples come in. Hail to the baked apples!
The vessel itself (you know, the apple) is full of vitamins and other good nutrients (scroll down to A Helping of Health for details), so that's a good start. What really makes or breaks baked apples on the "health" scale is what you put inside.
I started by cutting the apples in half because, for me, a full stuffed apple is more than I need for a snack or dessert. The only part I scooped out was the core, leaving the rest of the apple intact.
What I decided to stuff the apple was inspired by what was inside my pantry. NOT the Halloween candy.
Cashews, cinnamon, oats and maple syrup. I could have added in some butter or brown sugar, but I was looking for a more natural sweetener and I found that the syrup glued everything together, making the butter somewhat unnecessary.
I opted them in the oven and 25 minutes later, we were treated to a satisfying, perfectly sweet dessert. By all means, serve the stuffed apples with some frozen yogurt or plain yogurt if want an extra dollop of creaminess.
A Helping of Health:
We've heard it since we were little. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." While that is just a fun saying to toss around when your kid insists that candy is truly the best thing for him, there's some truth behind it.
- Apples are a powerhouse source of Vitamin C. However, take note that most of that Vitamin C is stored near the skin, so eat the peel whenever possible.
- Doctors keep telling us to eat more fiber, which helps to prevent heart disease (amongst other things). Apples contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Plus, fiber makes us full for longer, which can help ward off cravings for junk food. (I need all the help I can get!)
- Antioxidants are the nutrients that help to reduce the risks of certain cancers. Wouldn't you know that apples are chockfull of antioxidants?
Other healthy apple recipes:
Blackberry and Apple Crumble
Whole Wheat Apple Spice Muffins
Spaghetti Squash with Apples & Toasted Pecans
Printable Recipe
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Light Maple Cashew Baked Apples
Ingredients
- 2 large Braeburn apples
- ⅓ cup oats gluten-free brand, if desired
- ⅓ cup raw cashews chopped
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, stir together the oats, cashews, maple syrup, cinnamon and salt.
- Cut the apples in half through the stem. Using a paring knife and small spoon, scoop out the core.
- Divide the oat mixture evenly between the apple halves.
- Place the apples in a baking dish filled with ¼-inch water.
- Bake until the apples are tender when pierced with a fork, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve.
Notes
Recipe found on cookincanuck.com
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Amanda+@+The+Kitcheneer
I want this for breakfast! And beautiful photos!
Colleen (Souffle Bombay)
These are such a great snack idea...so funny last week, I attempted to make a sliced baked apple with "leftover" Halloween candy - umm yeah, that turned out about as good as it sounds...blech! Yours however...perfect!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
Gorgeous baked apples! I love that you sliced them in half instead of cooking whole!
Angela {Mind Over Batter}
Thank heavens for you!! We had a handful of kids stop by to trick or treat this year. You know what that means? I'm eating ALL the candy!! This is a recipe me and my hips can get behind.
Aggie
I have to start making desserts like this...my kids have been in major ice cream mode since summer and I am having mom guilt 🙂 I love apples, and these look SO good!
anne
Where can you find Braeburns in the Fraser Valley? I've looked and looked for them but I'm told the season is over and I'll have to wait for next year.
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic
Wow. Now that's a delicious treat that I wouldn't feel guilty about eating!
Susan
I think this is the most awesome looking baked apple I've ever seen! I could totally eat this for breakfast (is that allowed?!). Plus you added cashews, which wins in my book.
Paula-bell'alimento
I picked up two big bags of apples today! Hello baked apples ; )
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious
These look so good! I can't be trusted around Halloween candy either. We decided to give out glow bracelets instead so we don't have to have any in our house.