Baked apples pack all the flavor of apple pie, without the extra effort. Just toss thinly sliced apples with some sugar and spices, and then the oven takes care of the rest! The one variety of apple that I usually stay away from is Red Delicious. Yes, they’re red, but their texture is usually mealy and crumbly, and the flavor is underwhelming. Here are the 8 most popular apple varieties for baking:
Fuji Honeycrisp Granny Smith (if you like them slightly tart) Braeburn Gala Pink Lady Golden Delicious Jonathan (or Jonagold, which is a hybrid)
There are a few other apple varieties that are famous for apple pie, like Esopus Spitzenberg or Northern Spy, but those names aren’t often available in my local stores.
How to Bake Apples
However, if you’re making this dessert for guests you want to impress, take the extra time to peel them first. The apples will feel extra tender that way, more like an apple pie filling.
Serve baked apples just like you would a slice of apple pie. I like to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream (there are lots of dairy-free options available if you need one), or you can serve with coconut whipped cream on top.
Toss the apples with coconut sugar, spices, tapioca starch (which will help the sauce thicken up as it caramelizes), and a splash of orange juice to help keep everything moist and flavorful.
The liquid will thicken up even more once you uncover the pan, and the apples should be nice and tender, with a slight bite. (So they’re not total mush!)
How to Use the Leftovers
Leftover baked apples make an amazing topping for steel cut oats or overnight oats the next morning, too. More Healthy Holiday Desserts
Vegan Pumpkin Pie Vegan Pecan Pie Flourless Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Vegan French Silk Pie Healthy Flourless Chocolate Cake No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Pie Healthy Gingerbread Cookies Almond Flour Sugar Cookies
If you try this Baked Apple recipe, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like it. And if you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too! We can all benefit from your experience. — Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite holiday dessert?
