Apples are very versatile—they work well with a variety of nuts, spices, and natural sweeteners. Rome Beauty apples hold up especially well during baking. Here, pecans, vanilla, and dark brown sugar create a winning combination of flavors in skillet-baked apples, irresistible served warm from the oven.
Ingredients
makes 44 thick-skinned, mildly sweet apples, such as Rome Beauty or McIntosh
3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 large vanilla bean, halved lengthwise, seeds scraped and reserved
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons finely chopped toasted (page 53) pecans, plus more for sprinkling
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375°F. Using a cylindrical apple corer, core apples three-quarters of the way down. Arrange apples snugly in an ovenproof skillet or a loaf pan.
Step 2
Stir together sugar, butter, vanilla-bean seeds, and the salt in a small bowl. Divide sugar mixture among apples (about 2 teaspoons each); sprinkle evenly with nuts. Bake until apples are soft, about 1 hour. Serve warm with pan syrup spooned on top.
Nutrition Information
Step 3
(Per Serving)
Step 4
Calories: 187
Step 5
Saturated Fat: 3.8g
Step 6
Unsaturated Fat: 3.9g
Step 7
Cholesterol: 15mg
Step 8
Carbohydrates: 28.8g
Step 9
Protein: .7g
Step 10
Sodium: 66mg
Step 11
Fiber: 3.6gPower Foods