Baked Brown Butter Apple (Printable Version)
Tender baked apples with rich brown butter, tahini drizzle, cinnamon, and honey for a comforting dessert.
# Ingredient List:
→ Apples
01 - 4 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Gala), cored and halved
→ Brown Butter
02 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
→ Filling & Seasoning
03 - 2 tbsp chopped walnuts or pecans
04 - 2 tbsp raisins or dried cranberries
05 - 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
06 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
07 - Pinch of sea salt
→ Tahini Drizzle
08 - 3 tbsp tahini (sesame seed paste)
09 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
10 - 1 to 2 tbsp warm water, as needed for consistency
11 - Pinch of sea salt
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper.
02 - Place the cored and halved apples cut side up in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Melt butter over medium heat in a small pan until it foams and turns golden brown with a nutty aroma (around 3 to 4 minutes). Remove from heat promptly.
04 - Drizzle the browned butter evenly over the apple halves.
05 - Mix walnuts, raisins, 2 tablespoons of honey, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Spoon this filling into the hollow centers of the apples.
06 - Cover the baking dish loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 10 minutes more, until apples are tender and lightly caramelized.
07 - Whisk tahini, 1 tablespoon of honey, and a pinch of salt together. Gradually whisk in warm water until the sauce reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.
08 - Allow baked apples to cool slightly, then drizzle with tahini sauce and serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Brown butter transforms a simple baked apple into something rich and almost decadent without any fuss.
- It comes together in under an hour and feels elegant enough for guests but easy enough for a weeknight treat.
- The tahini drizzle adds an unexpected creaminess that makes people ask what you did differently.
02 -
- Don't skip the moment where you watch the butter brown—it goes from perfect to burnt in about 30 seconds, so stay close and trust your nose.
- If your tahini seems too thick or separated, a splash of warm water and a few whisks will bring it back to life.
03 -
- Core your apples carefully with a melon baller or sturdy spoon—you want to remove the seeds but keep the bottom intact so the filling doesn't fall through.
- If you can't find tahini or want a vegan version, substitute almond butter whisked with a touch of maple syrup and sea salt for a similar creamy richness.