This Delicious Dessert Will Fulfill Your Sweet Cravings

These sweet gems are rustic yet casually elegant. Diane Rossen Worthington/TCA

I am always looking for desserts that satisfy my sweet tooth but are not too rich. This Seriously Simple old-fashioned but classic recipe for baked apples fits the bill.

You just need to decide what apple variety you want to use, have some maple syrup and cinnamon on hand, and you’re in business. Depending upon your taste preferences, you could choose tart Granny Smith, Pippin, or sweeter Gala, Fuji, or Golden Delicious apples. They each have their own unique character, so try a few and see what you prefer.

The apples are cored, and the skin is left on. Drizzled with maple syrup and sprinkled with cinnamon, these apples let their unique flavor stand out. You can fill the center, if you like, with dried fruits, butter, and nuts, but I prefer this minimal rendition.

I like to baste the apples a couple of times while they bake so the skin will have a shiny wrinkled appearance. These sweet gems are rustic yet casually elegant.

If you want to serve the apples with something light, serve warm with a spoonful of vanilla yogurt. Of course, vanilla ice cream would also be a delicious accompaniment and welcome treat. I like to serve a plate of simple shortbread cookies on the side.

Maple Cinnamon Baked Apples

Serves 6

Note: Make sure there is enough water on the bottom of the dish so the apples will have a thin, syrupy sauce to spoon over.

• 6 medium baking apples
• 3 tablespoons good quality pure maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 cup water
• Vanilla yogurt or ice cream (optional side)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Use a paring knife or apple corer to remove the stem and core from each apple. Make sure that all seeds are removed.

2. Place the washed apples in a glass or porcelain baking dish. Pour 3/4 cup of water in the dish around the apples.

3. Drizzle the syrup over the apples evenly and then sprinkle with cinnamon.

4. Bake apples 45 to 60 minutes, basting a couple of times, until apples are tender when pierced with a knife. Remove from oven and let cool.

5. Spoon sauce from the bottom over each apple so the apples are slightly shiny. Serve warm or at room temperature, with yogurt or ice cream on the side.

Dear Readers: We would love to hear from you. What topics would you like to read about? Please send your feedback and tips to [email protected].