Name: Blooming Baked Apples with Cinnamon Nice Cream
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Ingredients: 4 medium apples; ¾ cup rolled oats; ¼ cup dried cranberries; 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts; 2 tablespoons apple cider; 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 3 medium ripe bananas, cut into 1-inch chunks and frozen at least 2 hours; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Prep-time: 30 minutes / Ready In: 1 hour 15 minutes
Makes 4 blooming apples + 2 cups nice cream
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These show-stopping baked apples feature all the best flavors of fall: Sweet apples, tart cranberries, earthy walnuts, and warming cinnamon. While they might look complex to make, a few simple knife strokes produce the beautiful blooming look that even the most inexperienced chef can master. The crumbly granola topping offers a delightfully crunchy contrast to the soft fruit and frosty nice cream that’s served on the side. You can think of this dessert as a deconstructed apple pie that preserves all the delicious flavors without any flour or added fat! To make this recipe gluten-free, make sure to use certified gluten-free oats.

Tip: Use baking or multipurpose apples, such as Granny Smith, Gala, or Jonathan, which are more tender after baking.

For more apple desserts, check out these tasty ideas:

By Nancy Macklin, RDN, Sep 15, 2022

Ingredients

4 medium apples
¾ cup rolled oats
¼ cup dried cranberries
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons apple cider
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 medium ripe bananas, cut into 1-inch chunks and frozen at least 2 hours
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Using a melon baller, core apples but do not cut through the bottom of the apples. Cut each apple into 8 segments, leaving them attached at the bottom. Place apples in a 2-quart baking dish. Add ½ cup water to bottom of the dish. Cover tightly with foil. Bake 45 minutes or until apples are tender.
In a small bowl stir together the next five ingredients (through maple syrup) and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon. Spoon into centers of baked apples. Bake, uncovered, 15 to 20 minutes more or until apples are very tender.
Meanwhile, for nice cream, in a food processor combine frozen bananas,the remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and the vanilla. Process until smooth and creamy, stopping processor a few times to scrape down sides. Serve immediately for soft-serve. For firmer nice cream, transfer mixture to an airtight freezer-safe container; freeze 1 to 2 hours.
Serve each apple with a scoop of Cinnamon Nice Cream.

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7 Comments

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(4.5 from 2 votes)

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Marilyn6 months ago

Is there a goof substitute for the apple cider if I can’t find it?

Lisa6 months ago

45 min bake time in first part is SO off. My apples were totally fallen and over-softened. No way to bake further with filling. It would be a 5-star recipe if the cook time was correct.

Célia Nunes6 months ago

How long do you think the cooking time should be? Half an hour? Less?

Angel6 months ago

Thanks for confirming what I was thinking….cooking time seemed WAY too long!

Susan8 months ago

Get the app Copy Me That. You can save any recipe there. It is a wonderful tool.

Julie Stephens8 months ago

Neither FOK – Recipes nor FOK Meal Planner has this recipe. How do I save it?

Deanna8 months ago

Right above the Ingredients there is a “Share”. You can save it to Pinterest, etc from there.

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about the author

Nancy Macklin, RDN

Nancy Macklin has a bachelor of science in dietetics from Iowa State University and a Master of Science in health services administration from the University of Saint Francis. Macklin worked as a hospital-based clinical dietitian, providing counseling for diabetes, heart disease, and weight loss and as a food service director in health care dining sites. She now serves as a test kitchen dietitian, developing 500+ recipes per year. She is a member of the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics and International Association of Culinary Professionals. Find her on LinkedIn.

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