Baked apples are an absolute classic in the Christmas and winter seasons. You can easily make them yourself—all tips for preparation and healthier fillings – including a baked apples recipe.
Especially in the cold, dark season, many are long for comfort and delicacies that are good for the soul.
But it doesn’t have to be the tempting, high-sugar, high-calorie temptations such as Baumkuchen, cinnamon stars or gingerbread that sweeten your life around the clock.
How about baked apples as a healthier alternative? Here you can find out how the baked apples from the oven work best and which fillings make the classic even healthier – including a baked apple recipe.
Baked Apples – Popular Winter Classics
Baked apples have been the classic treat for the Advent season and on frosty winter days for generations. For a very traditional baked apple, as it was prepared in the past, you only need three ingredients: sugar, cinnamon and of course, an apple.
The apple was then placed in the hot oven or fireplace until it burst open and was nice and soft. Then sprinkle it with cinnamon and sugar – and the baked apple classic was done.
Over time, the cored baked apple filled with sweet ingredients has become popular, which today mostly comes out of the oven. And the best thing is: there are no limits to your creativity for the delicious fillings.
This Is How You Achieve A Healthy And Delicious Filling
The sweet filling is the most exciting thing about baked apples. Whether classic with marzipan, nutty or even savory – everyone can live it up here.
To prevent the baked fruit from turning into an incredible calorie bomb, here are a few ideas on preparing the baked apples a little healthier.
- Sweetness: Instead of brown or white sugar, you can use date syrup, maple syrup, rice syrup or apple pulp. Goodbye, refined sugar.
- Fruits: First, the hollowed-out apple pulp can be used and cut into small pieces. Raisins, dried figs, dried cranberries or dates also fit.
- Spices: To make the baked apple wonderfully Christmassy or wintry, you can stir cinnamon, pumpkin spice, speculoos or gingerbread spice into the filling. I’m the icing on the cake: a few lemon or orange juice squirts.
- Healthy fats: Nuts are at the forefront – and they come in all sorts and colors. Almonds are ideal with or without skin, roasted hazelnuts, salted pistachios, walnuts, or pecans. But nut butter can also be stirred in – a perfect substitute for butter.
- “The mass”: To create volume, oat flakes, millet flakes, and puffed quinoa can be used instead of the raw marzipan mass. To get the mass “sticky” and compact, ingredients such as nut butter, maple or date syrup, juicy Medjool dates, or an egg white should be used.
Make Baked Apples Yourself – You Should Pay Attention To This
But before you can enjoy it, you have to prepare your baked apple first. It’s easy with these tips:
- Suitable apple varieties: tart, juicy apples such as Boskoop, Cox Orange, Elstar or Jonagold. A perfect contrast to the primarily sweet fillings.
- Cut a thin slice from the bottom of the apple – this way; the baked apple will stand better in the ovenproof casserole dish.
- Cut off a lid about 1 cm thick at the top. You can either cover the baked apple with it when baking or cut the lid into small pieces and use it for the filling.
- Carefully core the apple with an apple corer or a tablespoon. Important: Under no circumstances should you pierce the base; otherwise, the filling will later run out of your baked apple. It is best to leave a 0.5-1 cm border.
- Just fill it with your favorite ingredients and put it in the oven.
- If you are in a hurry, you could also prepare the baked apple in the microwave: cook it for three to five minutes at 600 watts.
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