Cinnamon-Walnut Baked Apples
Staff | Delicious Living- Serves: 6 people
- Calories per serving: 341
Meringue-coated baked apples filled with healthy-fat walnuts and antioxidant-rich cranberries give this old-fashioned treat a new twist. These can be made without the meringue; they are still delicious! Buy apples of uniform size for even baking; a small apple serves one, while large apples can be cut in half.
Directions
- To make the syrup, mix cider, date sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower heat, simmer for 5 minutes, and add vanilla extract. Remove from heat.
- Wash apples and remove cores, but do not cut all the way through to the bottom. Peel a wide strip around the top edge.
- Preheat oven to 350°. Mix together walnuts, date sugar, lemon peel, and dried cranberries. Fill each apple with walnut mixture to within 1/4 inch of top. Insert a cinnamon stick into the center of each apple.
- Place apples upright in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Pour prepared syrup over apples. Bake for 30–40 minutes or until tender, basting frequently with pan syrup.
- While apples are baking, make meringue, if using: Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Slowly add sugar and continue beating until stiff and shiny. Blend in vanilla extract.
- When apples are done, remove from oven. Increase oven temperature to 450°. Spoon or pipe meringue decoratively over the upper one-third of each apple. Return apples to oven and bake for another 3–4 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- To serve, pour hot syrup onto each plate and place a baked apple on top. Remove cinnamon stick before eating.
PER SERVING: 341 cal, 25% fat cal, 10g fat, 1g sat fat, 0mg chol, 3g protein, 64g carb, 5g fiber, 6mg sodium
