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a halved baked apple with walnuts inside on a plate.
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5 from 21 votes

Maple Walnut Baked Apples

A delicious gluten-free dessert that's easy to make and a healthier option when you want something sweet!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 380kcal
Author Tracy

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 large Honeycrisp apples
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup amber
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar either dark or light
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2/3 cup walnuts halved or pieces
  • 3/4 cup warm water
  • lemon juice optional
  • confectioner's sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • In a small saucepan, add butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and heat over medium-low to melt the butter. Whisk until all of the sugar is dissolved. Pour into a pyrex or another small dish with a pour spout and set aside.
  • Use either a pairing knife and a spoon or an apple corer to core apples, but be sure to not cut through the bottom. Place apples in a baking dish.
  • Add walnuts to cored apples and then slowly pour maple mixture into the apples, filling each a little at a time until all of the syrup is poured into the apples.
  • Add warm water to the dish and bake for 40 minutes until the apples still maintain their structure but are soft.
  • Dust with confectioner's sugar and serve!

Video

Notes

Apple Coring Tips
If you have an apple corer, great. But just be sure to not go through the whole apple.  You want to keep the bottom intact so that all of that walnut maple goodness will stay within the apple.
To use a pairing knife, cut a circle around the stem of the apple and then diagonally into the core. Use a small spoon to then scoop out the stem piece and gently scoop out the core, creating a well inside of the apple. Again, be sure to keep the bottom of the apple intact. 
Browning Apples
Once you cut into an apple, it will start to turn a little brown.  If this browning bothers you, you can use a little lemon juice on a paper towel to pat the inside of the apples to help reduce that browning. However, it does not affect the taste or how the apples will bake.  Once the walnuts and maple syrup mixture is in and they're baked, you'll never notice it.
Substitutions
Apples:  The best apples for this recipe are ones that have a firmer texture but a sweeter taste.  We also like to use Cosmic Crisp, Braeburn, Jazz, Sweet Tango, or Pink Lady apples.  We don't like more tart apples like Granny Smith or apples that don't have as firm of a texture like Red Delicious.  
Walnuts:  Pecans are another great choice!
Butter: We use salted butter for this, but you can of course use unsalted and then just add a little pinch of salt. 
Confectioner's Sugar:  Whipped cream, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, or anything you like on top of apples would be a delicious topping!

Nutrition

Calories: 380kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 53mg | Potassium: 397mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 301IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 1mg