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The dessert, Regional

Baked apples with salted butter

Baked apples with salted butter are a seasonal dessert for 6 people, cored and stuffed with salted butter, brown sugar, raisins and cinnamon before baking. They take 20 minutes of active work, can be prepped in the morning for the evening, and rate as very easy at about €1.00 per person. The trick is scoring the skin so the apples don't burst in the oven.

Soft baked apples with salted butter, brown sugar and raisins, topped with a spoon of thick cream, it's warm and comforting.

Baked apples with salted butter
For
6 people
Work
20 min
Total time
1 h 15
Prep
Prepared the same day
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.00
Calories per person
290 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

Under the cracked skin, Boskoop apples turn soft and fragrant, soaked in a juice of salted butter and brown sugar. Plump raisins add a chewy bite throughout, and cinnamon brings back the smell of childhood fall desserts. There's no pastry and no custard to cook, just apples that fill the kitchen with a warm scent as they bake.

It's the kind of dessert you want after a family dinner or a get together with friends in fall or winter, following something heartier like a gratin or a braised meat dish. It's made in the morning and waits quietly in the fridge, freeing you up for the rest of the meal. Served warm with a spoon of thick cream, these apples win over kids and grandparents alike.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before Nothing to do
  2. The same day 3 steps, 30 min
  3. Before the guests arrive 1 step, 40 min
  4. When it's time to serve 1 step

In the morning, plump the raisins, mix the filling and stuff the cored apples, then keep the dish in the fridge until your guests arrive. Right before they arrive, bake the apples for 40 minutes, basting them halfway through. At serving time, bring the apples to the table warm with their juice, and set the thick cream alongside in a small bowl.

The ingredients

6 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Boskoop apples 6

Dairy

  • Soft salted butter 60 g
  • Thick heavy cream 20 cl

Pantry

  • Brown sugaroften in the pantry 80 g
  • Raisins 60 g
  • Ground cinnamonoften in the pantry 1 tsp

Allergens Lactose

The recipe, moment by moment

The same dayDuring the day, whenever you get a moment.

  1. Plump the raisins in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain them. 10 min

    A splash of rum in the water adds a nice flavor.

  2. Mix the soft salted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and raisins together. 5 min

    Mash the butter with the sugar using a fork, it's faster that way.

  3. Core the apples without piercing through, score the skin around the middle, fill each hole with the mixture and place them in a baking dish. 15 min

    Use an apple corer, or a paring knife, leaving a base at the bottom.

Before the guests arriveThe last hour, right before the doorbell rings.

  1. Bake the apples at 180°C for 40 minutes, basting them with the cooking juice halfway through. 40 min

    Pour a little water into the dish so the apples don't stick.

When it's time to serveThe final touches, right in front of your guests.

  1. Serve the apples warm, coated with their juice, with the thick cream on the side.

    Reheat them for 10 minutes in the oven if they've cooled down.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick Boskoop apples, or Reinette if you can't find them, since they hold their shape in the oven instead of turning to mush.
  • Leave a solid base of flesh under the cored hole, otherwise the juice leaks out the bottom and the dish turns dry.
  • Baste the apples well halfway through baking with their own juice, that's what gives them a shiny glaze and a caramelized top.

The variations

  • Swap the raisins for chopped dried apricots or dried cranberries for a tangier bite.
  • For a dairy free version, use a salted plant based margarine instead of butter and skip the cream on the side.
  • For kids, stir a few chocolate chips into the filling along with the raisins, they melt slightly as the apples bake.
  • To save time on the day, make the filling the night before and keep the cored apples in lemon water in the fridge.

What to serve it with

  • A scoop of vanilla ice cream
  • Coffee or a cinnamon tea
  • A few butter shortbread cookies

Storage

Baked apples keep for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container. Reheat portions for 10 minutes in a 180°C oven before serving, they don't freeze well since the texture of the flesh breaks down.

Questions about this recipe

What apple variety works if I can't find Boskoop?

Try a Reinette or an Elstar, both are firm apples that hold up well in the oven. Avoid very juicy or mealy apples, since they release too much water or fall apart while baking.

Can I core the apples without an apple corer?

Yes, a paring knife works fine, just turn the blade around the core without piercing the bottom. Always leave a base of flesh so the filling and juice stay inside the apple.

How do I know when the apples are done?

A knife tip should slide easily into the flesh without resistance, and the skin should be slightly split on top. If they still feel firm after 40 minutes, give them a few more minutes.

Can I use something else instead of thick cream?

Regular heavy cream works too, or Greek yogurt for a lighter, tangier finish. Some people also like a scoop of vanilla ice cream instead of the cream.

Can baked apples with salted butter be made ahead?

Yes, during the day. The recipe needs 20 min of work in total, split up like this, the same day, 3 steps, before the guests arrive, 1 step, when it's time to serve, 1 step.

How long does it take to make baked apples with salted butter?

Allow 1 h 15 in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 20 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "very easy".

How many calories are in baked apples with salted butter?

About 290 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does baked apples with salted butter cost?

About €1.00 per person, that's €6.00 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose. Remember to ask your guests about their allergies before putting your menu together.

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