Baked Apples

Baked apples are a simple and delicious dessert, perfect as an after-dinner treat or as a snack. Here is the classic recipe, with an Italian touch that always makes the difference.

Ingredients

• 4 apples (Golden Delicious or Annurca for a typically Italian flavor)
• 4 teaspoons of brown sugar
• 4 teaspoons of honey (wildflower or acacia)
• Ground cinnamon to taste
• Grated lemon zest
• Butter as needed
• 1/2 glass of sweet white wine (for example, a Moscato or an Italian Passito)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Wash the apples and pat them dry. Remove the core with an apple corer or a knife, being careful not to pierce the base of the apple to prevent the juices from leaking during baking.
3. Arrange the apples in a baking dish lightly greased with butter or lined with parchment paper.
4. Fill the cavity left by the core with a teaspoon of brown sugar, a teaspoon of honey, a dusting of cinnamon, and a bit of grated lemon zest.
5. Place a small piece of butter on top of each apple.
6. Pour the sweet white wine into the dish, around the apples.
7. Bake for about 30-40 minutes, or until the apples are soft. During baking, occasionally baste them with their own juices to make them even more flavorful.
8. Serve the apples warm or at room temperature.

Trivia

Baked apples are a dessert that lends itself to many variations. In some Italian recipes, for example, walnuts or pine nuts are also added inside the apples before baking to add crunch and flavor. If you like, you can serve this dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or with whipped cream.