Nutmeg 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 incredible. The filling comes together with just a bowl and a spoon — chopped walnuts and rolled oats get tossed with maple syrup, olive oil, and a trio of warming spices before being pressed into each cored apple and roasted until caramelized and fragrant. Cinnamon leads the flavor here, with ginger and turmeric adding gentle depth without any of the sharp, sometimes overwhelming bite that nutmeg can bring to baked fruit dishes. For anyone who needs to avoid that particular spice, this recipe delivers all the cozy, autumnal satisfaction you'd expect without any substitutions or workarounds — it was simply built that way. A drizzle of honey at the end is optional but genuinely worth it, adding a glossy finish that plays beautifully against the toasty filling. Firm apples like Honeycrisp or Braeburn hold their shape through the long roast, so you get a soft but structured result rather than a collapsed, mushy mess. It's an effortless, crowd-pleasing dessert that feels far more impressive than the ingredient list suggests.
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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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