Stuffed Apples ~ In The Crock-Pot or In The Oven

Piping hot, tender apples, filled with dried fruit and soft pecans, baked with brown sugar and spices; this was an excellent dessert that didn't heat up the house or require more than a few minutes of effort on my part. I baked the apples in the crock-pot this time. However, I'm including oven directions as well, if that is more your style.

I've made Cinnnamon Baked Apples and Brown Sugar Cinnamon Applesauce in the Crock-pot many times, but this was the first time I tried stuffing them. I loved the way all of the different flavors combined and my kids went nuts over these apples.

Stuffed Apples
Yield: 4 servings
(printable recipe)

4 granny smith apples
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup raisins, light and dark work well
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon cardamom or cinnamon
4 teaspoons butter

Wash and core the apples, removing at least a 1" center in each apple. Set the apples on a plate. Stir together the dried fruit, pecans, brown sugar, salt and cardamom or cinnamon. Fill each apple with this mixture, packing it firmly into each apple.

CROCK-POT DIRECTIONS: Place the filled apples in the bottom of the crock-pot. If you have a smaller crock-pot, you can raise a couple of the apples by sitting them on top of wadded up balls of foil in between the other two apples. (This is how I cooked ours this time.) Top each apple with a teaspoon of butter. Cover with lid and cook for about 2 hours on high, until the apples are fork tender. If you would like to cook on low, this should take 4-5 hours.

OVEN DIRECTIONS: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the filled apples in a muffin tray. Top each apple with a teaspoon of butter. Bake until fork tender, about 20 minutes.

Serve each apple with a dollop of Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream or a scoop of Vanilla Bean Ice Milk or Ice Cream, if desired. Enjoy!





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