Baked Apples with Caramelized Raisins, Nuts, Spice & Amaretto
Servings 6
Ingredients
6applesuse good baking apples such as Gala, Braeburn or Honeycrisp
1/2cupraisins
1/2cupwalnuts and pecans coarsely chopped
1/2cupbrown sugar
1teaspooncinnamon
1/4teaspooncardamom
2tablespoonsbutter
1/4cupwater
Topping
4tablespoonsbutter
1/2cupbrown sugar
Tops from appleschopped
1/2cupcoarsely chopped pecans and walnuts
Liquid from cooked apples
2tablespoonsAmaretto
Vanilla or Caramel Praline ice cream or frozen yogurt
Instructions
Cut the tops off the apples and save for later.With a knife, coring tool, or grapefruit spoon, scoop out the core leaving the very bottom of it intact.Place apples right side up in a casserole dish.
Mix raisins, nuts, brown sugar, and spices in a bowl.Fill the cavity of each apple with this mixture.Place a small piece of butter on top of the filling in each apple.Pour water in the bottom of the pan around the apples and cover with foil.Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and then remove foil.Continue to bake, uncovered, for another 10 minutes or until a knife easily pierces the apple, but the apple is not mushy.Remove apples from oven and reserve liquid for the sauce.
Meanwhile, melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat and stir in brown sugar. Add cooking liquid from apples and Amaretto and bring it to a boil.Reduce heat and simmer until volume is reduced and the sauce becomes syrupy. Add nuts and extra raisins if you like!
To serve, place a scoop of ice cream or yogurt over apple and drizzle sauce overall.