Baked Apple Delights

When buying apples for my Crockpot Apple Butter, Apple Pie Fritters, and for my husband who eats an apple a day, I decided to make some Baked Apple Delights. These baked apples are a simple way to achieve an almost perfect way to enjoy the purist flavor of an apple. They are peeled, cored, and stuffed with brown sugar and pecans- how yummy is that.  Then they are poached in a lovely bath of apple cider that simmers into a wonderful syrup.  The recipe is quick and easy, and in just 40 minutes (most of it oven time), you have a perfect fall dessert for dinner or a lovely dish for a brunch.

Baked Apple Delights

8 Gala Apples, peeled and cored
3-4 cups apple cider
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place apples in a shallow baking dish without touching. Mix brown sugar and pecan pieces and spoon the mixture in the center of each apple. Pour apple cider over each apple coating well. Bake for 20 minutes then turn each apple over in the apple cider to coat them again and bake 20 minutes. Insert toothpick to check for tenderness of the apple and if needed, bake for additional 10-20 minutes and turn apples again to coat with the apple cider. (This will depend on the size of the apple if additional baking is needed.) Serve cold or room temperature in the apple cider syrup and topped with sweetened whip cream. Garnish with pie crust cutouts in the shape of leaves sprinkled with coarse sugar.

Sweetened Whipped Cream

1 cups cold heavy cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whip cream on medium-high speed using a hand-held or stand mixer until almost stiff. Add powered sugar and vanilla and whip until stiff.