Description
Baked apples showcase a delightful fusion of sweet and tangy flavors from France. Goat cheese and cranberries nestled inside warm, caramelized apples create a perfect autumn dessert you’ll savor with pure culinary joy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 firm apples, halved and cored
- ½ cup (120 ml) crumbled goat cheese
Flavor Enhancers:
- ¼ cup (40 g) dried cranberries, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) honey
Seasonings and Extras:
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Optional Garnish:
- Chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius), creating an ideal environment for even apple roasting.
- Carefully slice apples in half, meticulously scooping out the core to form a perfect hollow for the upcoming filling.
- Arrange apple halves in a ceramic baking dish with the cut side facing upward, generously brushing each half with extra virgin olive oil to encourage delicate caramelization.
- Craft a luxurious filling by gently mixing crumbled artisan goat cheese with finely chopped tart cranberries, ensuring a harmonious blend of tangy and sweet flavors.
- Generously spoon the cheese and cranberry mixture into the center of each apple half, allowing the filling to mound slightly above the rim.
- Transfer the prepared apples to the preheated oven and roast for 15-20 minutes, watching for the apples to become tender and the cheese to develop a gentle, molten texture.
- Once baked, retrieve the dish and enhance the apples with a delicate drizzle of golden honey, then sprinkle freshly chopped thyme leaves and a whisper of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- For an elegant finish, garnish with roughly chopped walnuts, adding a satisfying crunch and visual appeal to the dish.
Notes
- Select firm, ripe apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith that hold their shape during baking and provide a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness.
- Prep the apple halves carefully by scooping out seeds and creating a generous cavity for the luxurious goat cheese and cranberry filling.
- Olive oil helps create a beautiful caramelized exterior, bringing out the natural sugars and enhancing the apple’s golden-brown finish.
- Crumbled goat cheese adds a creamy, tangy element that perfectly complements the sweet and tart cranberry mixture.
- Fresh thyme and honey provide a sophisticated flavor profile, transforming this simple dish into an elegant appetizer or dessert.
- Toasted walnuts contribute a delightful crunch and nutty undertone, elevating the texture and visual appeal of the baked apples.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 125 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg