Cinnamon Streusel Baked Apples
Ingredients
- 8 tbspbutter
cut into tablespoon pieces
- 1 tsppure vanilla extract
- ½ cpacked light brown sugar
- ½ call-purpose flour
- ¾ cold-fashioned oats
- ½ cchopped pecans or walnuts
- ½ tspground cinnamon
- ⅛ tspground nutmeg
- ⅛ tspsalt
- 5 mediumhoneycrisp apples )
(can use fuji, jonagold, or granny smith
- 2 tbsplight brown sugar
- ½ tspground cinnamon
- ¾ chot water
- vanilla ice cream
for serving, optional
- salted caramel sauce
for serving, optional
Directions
- 1
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- 2
Place butter pieces in a medium skillet. Melt the butter over medium heat, swirling it in the pan occasionally. The butter will foam and pop, so be careful. Continue to swirl the pan often. Remove pan from heat once the butter starts to brown and smells nutty. There will be small brown bits on the bottom. The butter should be an amber color. Pour butter into a medium bowl.
- 3
Add the vanilla extract and brown sugar to the brown butter. Stir until smooth. Add the flour, oats, pecans, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir until combined. Set aside.
- 4
Cut the apples in half from stem to end. Use a melon baller or small spoon to scoop out the apple core and seeds. Dig deep enough so there is a little room to "stuff" the apples with the filling. Remove the apple stems.
- 5
Pour the hot water in a large cast iron skillet or baking dish. Arrange the apples in the baking dish with the flesh facing up. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon evenly over the apples. Divide the streusel topping between the apples, pressing down so it doesn't fall out.
- 6
Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake the apples for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and carefully remove the foil. Bake for 30-40 more minutes or until the apples are soft and the topping is golden brown. You want the apples to be soft, but not mushy.
- 7
Remove from the oven and serve warm with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce, if desired.
Cinnamon Streusel Baked Apples
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About this Recipe
Indulge in Warm, Comforting Cinnamon Streusel Baked Apples
There's nothing quite like the aroma of Cinnamon Streusel Baked Apples wafting through your home, especially as the leaves begin to turn. This delightful fall dessert is the epitome of comfort, making it the perfect dessert for Thanksgiving or any cozy evening. Imagine tender, sweet-tart apples baked to perfection, crowned with a rich, crunchy brown butter cinnamon streusel topping – it's a match made in culinary heaven!
What makes our baked apples truly stand out is that irresistible streusel topping. We start by browning butter, which infuses the oats, flour, brown sugar, and warm spices with a deep, nutty flavor that elevates every bite. Paired with your choice of honeycrisp apples (or Fuji, Jonagold, or Granny Smith for a different flavor profile), this dessert offers a wonderful balance of textures and tastes.
Tips for Perfect Baked Apples
- Choose Your Apples Wisely: While Honeycrisp offers a fantastic balance of sweetness and tartness, feel free to experiment. Granny Smith will give a tarter contrast to the sweet streusel, while Fuji or Jonagold will lean sweeter.
- Don't Overcrowd: Ensure your baking dish isn't too crowded to allow even baking and browning of the streusel.
- Customize Your Crunch: We love pecans or walnuts in our streusel, but you can omit them for a nut-free version or try a mix of different nuts.
Serve these warm Cinnamon Streusel Baked Apples as a standalone treat or elevate them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce. It's an easy dessert that promises to impress with minimal effort, bringing warmth and cheer to any occasion.