Baked Apples

Enjoy your delicious Baked Apples! They make for a comforting and delightful dessert, especially during the fall season.

Ingredients:

• 4 large baking apples (such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans), optional
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup apple cider or apple juice
• Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for serving (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Core the Apples:

• Wash and core the apples, leaving the bottom intact to create a well for the filling.

3. Make the Filling:

• In a bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, chopped nuts (if using), and softened butter.

4. Stuff the Apples:

• Stuff each apple with the filling mixture, pressing it down into the well.

5. Place in Baking Dish:

• Arrange the stuffed apples in a baking dish.

6. Pour Apple Cider:

• Pour apple cider or apple juice into the bottom of the baking dish, ensuring it surrounds the apples.

7. Bake:

• Bake the apples in the preheated oven for about 30-40 minutes or until the apples are tender. You can baste the apples with the juices from the pan halfway through baking.

8. Serve:

• Once baked, remove the apples from the oven. Serve them warm, drizzled with the caramelized juices from the baking dish.

9. Optional Toppings:

• For an extra treat, serve the baked apples with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.