Stuffed Baked Apples

I LOVE baked apples in winter, there is something about the combination of apple with cinnamon and nutmeg that warms my soul. This recipe is one of my favourites because you can eat it for dessert or breakfast and it follows my philosophy that food must be packed with goodness and flavour.

Eating for Health

I know I say this a lot (if you’re a regular visitor to my blogs), but food really is medicine. What we put into our body has a huge impact on how we feel and function, so you want to pick foods that nurture and support you. We’ve touched on the nutritional benefits available from eating apples in a previous post which you can view here. Here’s some of the other goodness you will get from the ingredients in this recipe:

• High in dietary fibre.
• Low in fat and sugar.
• Gluten free, dairy free and free of artificial sugars, preservatives and additives.
• Contains pectin which feeds your good gut bacteria and prevents chronic disease.
• Contains quercetin a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
• Cinnamon has been shown to regulate blood glucose and lower cholesterol.
• Nutmeg has antibacterial effects against bacteria that can cause dental cavities and gum disease.
• Nuts are a great source of protein, monounsaturated fats, vitamin E and magnesium.
• Contains probiotics (yoghurt) to support digestion and gut health, immunity, and mood.

Ingredients

• 4 Apples with Cores Removed ( I used organic Jazz apples, but any apple will do).
• 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon.
• 1 tsp Ground Nutmeg.
• 1/2 cup of Raw Mixed Nuts.
• 1/3 cup of Dried Raisins, Sultana’s or Cranberries (I used sultana’s)
• 1/4 cup of gluten free rolled oats (you can use normal oats if you aren’t gf).
• 2 Tbsp shredded coconut.
• 1 Tbsp Coconut Oil plus extra for rubbing onto the apple skin.
• Yogurt of your choice (I used plain cashew yoghurt to make the recipe dairy free).
• Raw local honey.

Method

1. Preheat a fan forced oven to 160 degrees Celsius.
2. Line a baking tray with baking paper or grease with coconut oil.
3. Remove the core from the apple using an apple corer or small knife.
4. Rub a small amount of coconut oil over the skin of each apple.
5. Place the apples on the baking tray.
6. Crush the nuts using a food processor or rolling pin.
7. In a bowl add the nuts, oats, coconut, sultanas, cinnamon and nutmeg.
8. Mix until the nutmeg and cinnamon are blended through the other ingredients.
9. Add the coconut oil to the dried mixture and rub in with your fingertips until ‘crumbs’ form.
10. Spoon the mixture into the apples and pile it up on top (cutting the top of the apple so you have a flat surface helps keep the mixture on).
11. Drizzle fresh local honey over the stuffed apples.
12. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the mixture on top is golden brown and the apples are soft.
13. Divide the apples into bowls and serve with the yoghurt (you can substitute this for ice cream if desired).

Enjoy in good health!