From pie at Thanksgiving to cookies at Christmas, the holidays are undoubtedly a season of indulgence. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with using food for celebration, too much sugar can take a toll on our health over time, and come January, we typically feel like we need a bit of a reset. Fortunately, eating healthy doesn’t have to mean giving up treats entirely. Baked apples are a great way to enjoy something sweet without causing a major blood sugar spike in the process. Here’s how we make them.
Ingredients:
- 4 medium-sized apples, we recommend Granny Smith or Honeycrisp
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
- 2 tablespoons raisins
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup water
- Optional: Greek yogurt for serving
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Wash and core the apples. You can leave the skin on for added nutrition and texture, or peel them if you prefer.
- In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, oats, walnuts, raisins, and spices.
- Place the cored apples in a baking dish. Spoon the filling mixture into the center of each apple and press down gently to ensure it’s tightly packed.
- Pour the water into the bottom of the baking dish. This will help to create steam and keep the apples from drying out.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the apples are tender. Carefully pierce one of the apples with a fork to check for doneness.
- Once baked, remove the apples from the oven. Let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve warm, or top each apple with a dollop of yogurt as a low-sugar alternative to vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!
