Sunday, October 14, 2012

When There’s No Time For Pie – Maple Baked Apple


Apples are the rubies of the autumn season, and I carried home a tote brimming with juicy locally-grown Gala, Macintosh and Cortland apples from the Long Island Fair.  
With a bowl-full of such magnificent specimens glistening on the kitchen counter– and a crisp note in the air – it is natural that the imagination turns to apple pie.   But, a good pie takes time and must be gently nurtured through crust and filling.  Alas, my October schedule is anything but pie-friendly.
Maple Baked Apple is a fine alternative for the time-starved chef, infusing the kitchen with the tempting aroma of maple, cinnamon, butter and walnuts.   I use a baking dish from my friend Joan, especially designed for baked apple.  The center cylinder warms the apple from within, cooking it to creamy perfection.  
And, no rolling pin or flour smudges required. 
Maple Baked Apple - adapted from tasteofhome.com 

Ingredients
2 teaspoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon dried cranberries
1/8 teaspoon ground roasted cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon butter
Additional melted butter for basting
1 medium apple

Method
Preheat oven to 375° F.  Combine the first seven ingredients in a small bowl.  Wash and core apple, and peel the skin from the top third.  Place apple in an oven-safe baking dish and fill the apple cavity with the maple walnut mixture.   Bake for 45 minutes until tender.   Baste apple with additional melted butter halfway through baking. 

©2012 T.W. Barritt All Rights Reserved

10 comments:

  1. I love it. All of the apple goodness of pie in one dish. I don't recall ever seeing those cute baked apple dishes. Well, it's another thing to keep my eyes out for.

    Hope you're having a great weekend T.W.
    Sam

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous7:36 AM

    A classic apple recipe that I so much love!

    Looks very appetizing & yummy too!

    Have a great & fun Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love that baked apple dish -- so clever. My husband would love all of the sweetness in this apple, and wouldn't even miss the pie crust.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear T.W., This is perfect. Growing up with apple trees in my backyard, these were often on the menu for dessert and they are delicious!!
    A wonderful gourmet version. Blessings friend. Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the baking dish. Great post, gets you in the mood for Fall. I love a good Macintosh apple.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The rubies of the season indeed. I love that line:)

    That's a whole lotta delicious apples, T.W! It's unfortunate that apples don't freeze well but if you have a slow cooker, you could make some applesauce! It comes out great in the crock. Apple butter too:)

    Of course I too would much prefer a single serving of goodness all baked up in that Maple Baked Apple of yours. Of course, I would need to add just a tiny scoop of chocolate ice cream:) Cool "cooker" too")

    Thanks for sharing, T.W...

    ReplyDelete
  7. aah this look really delicious I love all with apples T.W really I love and loved your apples pictures these are gala I love fuji apples too but grammy smith are amazing to same bakery:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. What an adorable apple dish! I've never seen one like it.
    My mother made baked apples all the time...don't know why I don't. You've brought back memories of an easy to make and super good apple treat! (Of course, we always poured some cream on top.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love baked apples. It will be interesting to see if the deer have left me any apples in my orchard when I get back from Germany.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am making this ! we are blessed with a big crop this season and I get tired of just eating them fresh and don't usually feel like spending two hours making a pie.

    ReplyDelete