Nitrate & Nitrite Free Cinnamon-Walnut Baked Apples
Warm, tender baked apples filled with a golden walnut-oat mixture are the kind of dessert that makes the whole kitchen smell like a hug. Firm varieties like Honeycrisp or Braeburn hold their shape beautifully in the oven, so you get a soft but structured apple that cradles every bit of the filling. The mixture of rolled oats, raw walnuts, maple syrup, and warm spices — cinnamon, ginger, and a whisper of turmeric — bakes into something almost caramel-like and deeply satisfying. Every single ingredient here is exactly what it says it is: whole, unprocessed, and completely free of the cured or preserved additives that can sneak into packaged snacks and store-bought sweets. That makes this a genuinely worry-free treat, not just a compromise. A finishing drizzle of honey takes it over the top, but honestly, these are stunning straight out of the dish on their own.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 4 medium firm baking apples (such as honeycrisp or braeburn)
- ½ cup raw walnuts, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ⅛ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ½ cup water
For serving
- 1 tbsp honey, for drizzling (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Using a melon baller or small spoon, core each apple from the top, removing the seeds and creating a cavity about 1 inch wide and 1½ inches deep, leaving the bottom of the apple fully intact so the filling stays in place.
- 2
In a small mixing bowl, combine the chopped walnuts, rolled oats, maple syrup, olive oil, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, and salt. Stir until the oats and walnuts are evenly coated and the mixture holds together loosely.
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