Home » Dessert » Baked Apples with Brown Sugar

Baked Apples with Brown Sugar

Recipe Level: Easy

This is a simple recipe to enjoy during the autumn and winter. These baked apples with brown sugar are like little individual apple crumbles without any fuss. The filling is similar to a crumble with oats, nuts and cinnamon!

Baked by Alie Romano

Professional Baker and Recipe Developer

* Make sure to read the entire article. Every step matters, and I’ll provide helpful tips along the way!

Baked Apples with Brown Sugar

Baked apples with brown sugar is the kind of dessert that can easily be whipped up for tonight’s dinner. It’s a simple recipe with simple ingredients but is loved by all.  And it’s a great way to use up those fall and winter apples! They are like little individual apple crumbles but without any fuss and are perfect for a cool autumn day!

The brown sugar filling is packed with hearty oats, butter, cinnamon, sugar and a pinch of nutmeg. It’s everything you love in a crumble topping but is piled high right in the juicy apple itself! Each apple is warm and cozy with rich, nutty flavours. And the brown sugar gives the depth that we all start to crave in the cooler months. Because of that, these baked apples with brown sugar make an autumn dessert not to miss!

Baked Apples with Brown Sugar

Ingredients

  • Cortland apples, or any baking apples
  • Unsalted butter
  • Pecans
  • Brown sugar
  • Large flaked oats
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg

What are baking Apples?

Besides apples tasting delicious on their own they are also great to bake and cook with. But not all apples can hold heat while baking to keep their shape and texture! Some apples will break down into a sauce.  This is great if that was the plan but not so good if the plan was to make a pie! So, it’s best to know which varieties will hold their shape and firmness during the cooking process. 

Baking Apple Varieties

Baking apples are best for making pies, crisps, and other baked treats. Of course you can use one apple variety for a recipe or try mixing varieties together to take the flavour to new depths! Here are the top varieties of baking apples in Ontario:

  • Northern Spy 
  • Cortland
  • Ginger Gold
  • Fuji
  • Gala
  • Granny Smith
  • Mutsu (Crispin)

How to Store Apples  

No one enjoys a soft, mealy apple! So it’s important to store your apples properly to retain that crisp flesh and crunch. According to Ontario Apple Growers here’s how;

  • “To keep the crunch in Ontario apples, store them in perforated plastic bags in your refrigerator crisper. Cold, humid storage ensures that apples maintain their crispness, juicy texture and full flavour.”
Baked Apples with Brown Sugar

How To Make Baked Apples with Brown Sugar

Step One: Make your filling, add butter, pecans, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Rub the mixture together into clumps. Set aside. Then, half and core each apple (leaving the bottoms intact). Using a melon baller, scoop out the centre of each apple to create a little well.

Step Two: Place the apples cut side up in a baking dish. Add the filling into the apples. Then, pour approx. 1 inch of water in the bottom of the dish with the apples in it. Bake until the apples are soft and baked all the way through.

Baked Apples with Brown Sugar
Print

Baked Apples with Brown Sugar

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

This is a simple recipe to enjoy during the autumn and winter. These baked apples with brown sugar are like little individual apple crumbles without any fuss. The filling is similar to a crumble with oats, nuts and cinnamon. The brown sugar gives this recipe more depth.

  • Author: Alie Romano
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 40 mins
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: Canadian

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 3 Cortland apples, or any baking apples
  • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup (30 g) pecans, chopped
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1/4 cup large flaked oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350ËšF. Set aside a pie dish or an 8×8 baking dish.
  2. In a bowl add butter, chopped pecans, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon and nutmeg. Then, using your fingers rub the mixture together until all ingredients are well incorporated and starting to clump together. Set aside.
  3. Next, half and core each apple, leaving the bottoms intact. Using a small melon baller, scoop out the centre of each apple to create a little well (note: if your apples are browning rub lemon juice over them). See images above for a reference.
  4. Place apples cut side up in a pie dish or an 8×8 baking dish.
  5. Divide the filling between the prepared apples.
  6. Pour approx. 1 inch of water in the bottom of the dish with the apples in it.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the apples are soft and baked all the way through.
  8. Serve warm with ice cream.

Notes

The baking time will depend on the size and thickness of your apples. Watch carefully near the end as you don’t want to overbake the apples!

For extra sweetness add more brown sugar to the tops of the apples. Or to elevate the recipe even more add my caramel rum sauce.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: half an apple
  • Calories: 183
  • Sugar: 17.7g
  • Sodium: 44mg
  • Fat: 9.8g
  • Saturated Fat: 4.1g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 24.7g
  • Fiber: 3.7g
  • Protein: 1.4g
  • Cholesterol: 15mg

Did you make this recipe?

Write a review and let me know!

Share a photo and tag me on Instagram @bakingforfriends_

I can’t wait to see what you’ve made! xo alie

FAQ’s

Should I peel baked apples?

No, it’s best to leave the skins on when making baked apples. The skins act as a small barrier and help hold the apple together.

Can I make baked apples ahead of time?

Although baked apples are best enjoyed the same day you can make them ahead if needed. Bake the apples, let them cool completely, cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Then reheat in an oven at 325˚F for approx. 8minutes.

What’s the best baking apple?

The best baking apple depends on your specific tastes. The most popular apples are, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Cortland and Gala.

You may also like:

Simple Apple Crisp
Simple Apple Crisp
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mikayla Woo
Mikayla Woo
2 years ago
Rating :
     

All the goodness of an apple crips but without the hassle of peeling and slicing; it comes together in a quick 35 minutes.

I made this recipe on a one of those moody rainy days and it really hit the spot. It was the perfect amount of sweetness and boosted my family’s mood instantaneously.






Life is uncertain, but dessert doesn't have to be!

Make Ahead Lemon Cream Cheese Bars

These make ahead lemon cream cheese bars are bright, creamy and smooth with pockets of lemon bursts throughout! The bars feature tangy lemon curd that's swirled into the cream cheese filling and baked onto a graham cracker crust.

Alie Romano

Meet

Alie

I'm a professional baker, recipe developer & photographer behind Baking For Friends. I specialize in classic & comforting baking. I hope you enjoy the recipes & find inspiration of your own to bring your family & friends together over home-cooked food!

2
0
Let me know what you think of this recipe!x
()
x
Peach Cobbler

Bake like a Pro

Discover 5 Secrets to Baking

16108
Share to...