Sweet, plump, juicy Baked Apples that makes its own caramel sauce!! Just fill halved apples with a simple nut, butter and sugar spiced filling, bake for 40 minutes, and it comes out sitting in a pool of bubbling caramel sauce. It’s like…. magic!
This is a terrific quick and easy dessert for assembling ahead then popping in the oven while you’re eating dinner. Just don’t forget the ice cream!
Today’s recipe is brought into this world courtesy of Modi Apples, bright red balls with a hint of yellow full of crisp juiciness with fabulous apple flavour!
Baked Apples recipe
I’ve been munching on Modi Apples obsessively since I discovered them which, admittedly, was only a couple of months ago when I was asked to try them.
I feel bad saying this, but I must confess I was a wee bit dubious because for as long as I can remember, I’ve approached store bought apples with caution, knowing that it’s actually quite hard to get really great eating ones here in Australia – or at least, here in Sydney.
How wrong I was.
To everyone who’s bitten into promising looking apples only to be sorely disappointed, meet your new favourite apple – Modi.
They get full marks on my Apple Score Card: super juicy, crisp but not hard, and most importantly for me, they have great flavour, something that most of the main stream apples lack.
Added bonus: it’s a good snacking size, a bit smaller than most apples. If you’re looking at my hand for size context, remember what my friends call me – Baby Hands. 😂
With apples this good, I wanted to make something real quick ‘n easy and so sinfully delicious, you’ll want to make this over and over again.
So this is what I came up with – Baked Apples.
But these are not your usual Baked Apples. 🙂 These are self saucing. As in –when you pull this out of the oven, those apples are sitting in a pool of bubbling caramel.
How to make Caramel Baked Apples
Cut apples in half and scoop out core. Fill with a sugar, butter, walnut spiced mixture, piling it high to make a nice mound of the filling. Mix together cornflour/cornstarch and water, then pour this into the pan.
After 40 minutes in the oven, some of the butter and sugar in the filling melts down and through the apples and into the pan and creates a caramel sauce. It’s like…magic!
Want extra caramel sauce? Make some Salted Caramel Sauce!
What kind of apples are best for baked apples?
Any apples are suitable for making baked apples, it comes down to personal taste. I like to use red apples – any type. If you want a bit of tang, use Granny Smith Apples.
Top with a big scoop of ice cream, or even a dollop of cream. It’s the ultimate combo – sweet, crunch, creamy, warm, cold, creamy…. it’s SO GOOD!! – Nagi x
PS If you’re wondering if baked apples are healthy, well, let’s put it this way. The apple part is healthy. Everything else is not. 😂 But it’s much healthier to have Baked Apples for dessert than a giant slice of Chocolate Fudge Cake or Strawberry Cheesecake!
And remember, everything in moderation right? Good food, good life!
More apple recipes
And more warm desserts for cold winter nights
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Caramel Self Saucing Baked Apples
Ingredients
- 4 apples , juicy ones (Modi red apples are ideal, Note 1)
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tsp cornflour/cornstarch
Filling/Sauce:
- 1 cup walnuts or pecans , chopped (or sub with oats)
- 2 tbsp maple syrup (or honey or golden syrup)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 cup brown sugar , packed
- 75 g / 5 tbsp unsalted butter , melted
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
- Mix Filling ingredients together then set aside while you prep the apples – it will firm up and become scoopable (pop in fridge if its super hot where you are).
- Cut the apples in half through the core then use an ice cream scooper, spoon or small knife to scoop out the core (see video).
- Place apples in a baking dish so they are reasonably snug – you don’t want heaps of space around them. Pile Filling on the apples – I use an ice cream scoop.
- Mix cornflour with a splash of the water, mix to dissolve, then add remaining water. Pour around the apples.
- Cover with foil, bake 20 minutes. Remove foil, then bake a further 20 minutes until the crumb is deep golden and the apples are tender (but not sloppy soft) and there’s a syrupy caramel in the pan (it thickens a bit more when serving).
- To serve, spoon over caramel sauce, then top with ice cream and serve with more sauce!
Recipe Notes:
LIFE OF DOZER
Modi Apple boy!
These were delicious as a dessert with ice-cream but definitley only needed one half so had the other half with my porridge this morning – absolutely devine.
*divine – but in my head I was saying deeeeevine LOL
Make this as a last minute Xmas dessert! Easy and crowd pleaser!
Hi Nagi,
Once again, you have come up with a fabulous recipe! I made these baked apples tonight (using Courtland apples) for company and they were delicious and very rich with caramel. Thank you for such a wonderful and easy recipe.
Okay, I’m married and too old, but I can’t help falling in love. Everything of yours that I have fixed is terrific. Your personal touch, your style, and your no-overkill approach to cooking are my ideal. I hope life is treating you well, as you have been a treat added to my life. Lived in Sydney for four years and loved every minute. Cheers!
Awwww Bill thank you!! N x
I made this last night for unexpected guests – very quick and easy and the guests (and I) loved it! I used pink lady apples and needed to cook for an extra 20 minutes, on a higher temperature – but that might just be my oven.
Modi apples weren’t yet at my Coles so I used pink lady apples. As suggested by another Nagi disciple pink ladies require an extra 10 minutes. A perfect weeknight dessert & so delicious. I am a dessert monster so i ate 2 pieces – life is short.
You and I would get along just fine!! N x
Hi. I have made this recipe twice and most delicious. Do you think that I could make it in a slow cooker?
If yes, for how long?
I haven’t tested it in a slow cooker but I suspect the liquid won’t reduce down to a caramel in a slow cooker and the topping won’t have the nice crispy bits from the oven browning. N x
Hi Nagi,
Making apples at moment. Just wondering if you use fan forced!
I love all your recipes. Have given my daughter your website as well
Michelle
My. Grandmother used to make something similar but she used whole cored apples
Could I do this recipe with pears do you think?
Pears are juicier and don’t hold together as well as apples – my only concern would be that they would fall apart. N x
This was sensational! The best way to describe this is a hybrid between an apple crumble and a sticky date pudding.
Possibly one of the simplest desserts I’ve made. Also great for feeding a crowd.
Can u make this without spices. Not a fan of cinnamon or cloves.
Sure can Tina, try nutmeg in their place if you like or omit all together. N x
Oh this is gooood ! Can’t wait to try it out on a bigger group of friends. They will love it and it’s so easy. Another winner Navi.
Hello I have just been given a lot of apples, will this recipe freeze do you think?
These were so delicious! Everyone in my family loved them, and wants me to make them again. We used honey crisp apples because that’s what we had available, they were perfect for this recipe.
Absolutely love this recipe ! I wanted baked apple without all the crisp kind of ingredients. You came thru!! All your recipes are easy and delicious Thank you!!!
Great recipe! I baked my 35 minutes and they were a bit a bit crunchy so stick to the 40 minute. Love your website.
Loved your caramel self saucing baked apples. I didnt have walnuts so used a combo of pine nuts & almonds. Delicious. Thank you:)
This looks great for Thanksgiving! Would vegan butter be an okay substitute for the butter in this recipe?
I made this for a vegan friend using Earth Balance instaed of butter. It was delicious!
I haven’t tried sorry Krystal – would love to know if it works the same! N x
Another diVINE recipe from the amazing Nagi👍🏼