Chicken Free Ginger-Cardamom Baked Apples with Walnuts
Warm spices, sticky honey, and toasty walnuts tucked inside a soft, caramelized apple ā this is the kind of dessert that makes the whole kitchen smell incredible. The filling comes together in one bowl, with fresh ginger and ground cardamom doing the heavy lifting on flavor, while a touch of turmeric adds a subtle warmth that feels almost exotic without being overpowering. Coconut oil binds everything together beautifully, and the lemon-water bath at the bottom of the baking dish keeps the apples moist and creates a light, glossy pan sauce perfect for spooning over the top. As the apples bake, their skins wrinkle and the edges caramelize just enough to give you that deeply satisfying contrast between tender fruit and a slightly crunchy, spiced walnut crown. A scatter of pomegranate seeds at the end adds a jewel-bright pop of color and a little tartness that ties the whole thing together. This is naturally free of any meat or poultry ā every ingredient here is plant-based or pantry-friendly, so there's nothing to swap or second-guess. It works equally well as an elegant dinner party dessert or a cozy weeknight treat you can pull off with minimal effort.
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Learn more āIngredients
4 servings
- 4 large firm baking apples (such as honeycrisp or braeburn)
- Ā¾ cup raw walnuts, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- Ā½ tsp ground cinnamon
- Ā¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ā tsp fine sea salt
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- Ā½ cup water
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
For serving
- 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375Ā°F (190Ā°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 2 inches deep, leaving a solid 1/2-inch base so the filling stays in.
- 2
In a small mixing bowl, stir together the walnuts, honey, grated ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, salt, and melted coconut oil until the mixture is evenly coated and holds together loosely.
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