Vanilla Orange Baked Apples (Printable Version)

Warm apples stuffed with cinnamon, vanilla, and orange zest, baked until tender and fragrant.

# Ingredient List:

→ Fruit

01 - 4 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Gala varieties)
02 - Zest and juice of 1 orange

→ Filling

03 - 4 teaspoons brown sugar
04 - 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts (optional)
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
07 - Pinch of salt

→ Topping

08 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
09 - 1/4 cup water

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
02 - Wash and core the apples, creating a cavity without cutting all the way through the bottom.
03 - In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, walnuts (if using), cinnamon, vanilla extract, orange zest, and a pinch of salt.
04 - Place apples in a baking dish. Fill each cavity with the sugar-nut mixture and drizzle with orange juice.
05 - Top each apple with a piece of butter.
06 - Pour 1/4 cup water into the bottom of the baking dish.
07 - Bake for 35 minutes, or until apples are tender but still hold their shape.
08 - Serve warm, spooning some of the pan juices over each apple.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The orange zest cuts through the sweetness and makes these taste surprisingly sophisticated
  • They come together in about ten minutes of active work
  • Your kitchen will smell like vanilla and citrus for hours afterward
02 -
  • The water in the pan prevents the apples from drying out and creates a syrupy sauce
  • Really pack the filling into those cores so every bite is flavorful
  • Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving so they are easier to handle
03 -
  • Use a microplane for the orange zest to get just the fragrant outer layer
  • If your apples wobble, slice a tiny bit off the bottom to create a flat base

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