Simple Baked Apples with Honey

Serves 4 · 15 min prep · 40 min cook

Ingredients

• 4 large baking apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 tsp flaky sea salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. 1Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly butter a small baking dish that holds the apples snugly.
2. 2Wash and core the apples, leaving the bottoms intact so they form little cups; a melon baller works well for clean cavities.
3. 3In a small bowl stir the honey with softened butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth and fragrant.
4. 4Toss the oats and chopped walnuts into the honey mixture so every bit is lightly coated.
5. 5Spoon the filling generously into each apple cavity, mounding a little on top.
6. 6Set the stuffed apples upright in the prepared dish and drizzle any remaining honey mixture over the skins.
7. 7Bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes, until the apples are tender when pierced with a knife and the filling is golden and bubbling.
8. 8Baste once halfway through with the juices that collect in the dish so the skins stay glossy.
9. 9Remove from the oven and let the apples rest 5 minutes so the juices thicken slightly.
10. 10Finish each apple with flaky sea salt and serve warm, spooning pan juices over the top.