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!
Yes! Like! Me! . . . . The sugar and butter are ‘there’ in such small amounts it really does not matter per person . . . methinks a tad more cloves and cinnamon for my first try . . . . OK! OK – probably some frozen yogurt for me alongside . . .
YES! You got it Eha 🙂 This is probably the “healthiest” dessert on my site! N x
I hunted down Modi apples to make this. Alas! One was rotten inside – smelled and looked right at buying. luckily I had a Pink Lady in the fruit bowl. Both apples worked well though the Modi has a more even shape to cut in half. We all really liked it, but I felt it was missing acidity, so I’ll make it with lemon or orange juice squeezed over the next time – maybe some rind in the mix as well.
Made this sensationally clever dessert again the other day and added the juice of half a lemon- 1/4-ish hand squeezed into the nut mix and the rest hand squeezed randomly over the apples and ‘sauce’ mix just before putting it into the oven. Also added 1/4 tsp of vanilla essence to the nut mix. It worked well- changed the flavour quite a bit, but definitely didn’t damage the original; worth a try if you enjoy the citrus tang.
I really dislike cloves – what else would you suggest?
Hi Ruth! Bruce’s suggestion is great – a little pinch of fresh nutmeg, otherwise, just leave cloves out! N x
Maybe a little fresh nutmeg? Clove can be over powering for sure!
I have never seen Modi apples here in Ontario Canada. They sound a lot like Honey Crisp Apples, they have a really short season so are super expensive but it is so worth the money spent on them. Crisp and juicy and come in various sizes.
Apples and caramel just go together
Delicious looking recipe a must try.
Thank you for posting it.
Cat
Actually yes! They are quite similar to honey crisp – maybe a touch less sweet though 🙂 But similar texture and juiciness! N xx
Thanks!! Good to know
that’s a lot of sugar. what’s the breakdown?
Hi Jennifer! It works out at less than 1 tbsp sugar per piece which I didn’t actually think was that bad! Unfortunately I don’t recommend reducing the sugar because otherwise it might compromise on how the sauce thickens 🙂 N x
Hi Nagi.
Baked Apples Recipe.
As I’m a diabetic, what can I substituted for the brown sugar and maple syrup please ?
Thank you Nagi. I will try it on a small portion first.
Annette
I haven’t tried it, but maybe coconut palm sugar would work as a brown sugar substitute here? They say it’s somewhat better for diabetics?
Hi Annette! I’m so terribly sorry, I can’t think of a substitute 🙁 They are needed to get the consistency of the sauce right. I’m so sorry 🙁 N x
Baked apples? Looks pretty good Nagi! My favourite apples at the moment are Envy apples…..very tasty!!
Ooh yes! Envy apples are great too 🙂 Try the Modi, they really are amazing! N xx
Haven’t seen any Modi’s…..but I’ll try one if I ever do.
Hi Wanda! Are you in Canada? If so, I was just saying to another reader that Honey Crisps are pretty similar 🙂 N x
Yes I’m in Canada. Thanks for the suggestion. I love Honey Crisps too!
Love the combination of caramel and baked apples 🙂 Honestly, today I was thinking about making homemade caramel ice cream sometime soon. I love desserts made of apple and baked apples with caramel sauce and ice cream looks perfect!
It’s a SIGN!!! It’s calling your name! 🙂 N x
We dont have Modi apples here- what else would be a good sub ?
:}
Hi Beth! Any crisp, juicy apples will do just fine 🙂 N x