Description
Warm baked apples with feta, honey, and cranberries combine sweet and savory flavors in a delightful autumn-inspired dish. Rustic charm meets elegant simplicity, ensuring you savor each balanced, comforting bite of this Mediterranean-style dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 medium apples (such as Honeycrisp or Gala)
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
Sweeteners and Flavorings:
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the culinary workspace by warming the oven to 375°F (190°C) and coating a baking vessel with a light protective layer.
- Transform whole apples into delectable vessels by carefully extracting their cores, maintaining a sturdy base to cradle the forthcoming filling.
- Craft a harmonious mixture by blending crumbled feta, vibrant cranberries, aromatic cinnamon, and smooth vanilla extract until ingredients intertwine seamlessly.
- Nestle the hollowed apples within the prepared baking dish, gently filling each cavity with the tantalizing feta medley, ensuring a snug and even distribution.
- Enhance the flavor profile by generously drizzling golden honey across the apple surfaces and crowning each with a delicate butter medallion.
- Envelop the baking dish in aluminum armor, allowing the apples to steam and soften in the oven’s gentle embrace for approximately 25-30 minutes.
- Unveil the apples by removing the foil shield, returning them to the oven to achieve a gloriously caramelized and golden exterior during a brief 5-10 minute transformation.
- Allow the baked apples a momentary respite to cool slightly, optionally adorning with fresh mint leaves for a vibrant finishing touch before presenting these aromatic treasures to eager diners.
Notes
- Choose crisp, firm apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for best texture and shape retention during baking.
- Soften feta slightly at room temperature before mixing to create smoother, more evenly distributed filling.
- Adjust sweetness by using different honey varieties like lavender or wildflower for unique flavor profiles.
- For gluten-free or vegan options, replace butter with coconut oil and use dairy-free feta alternatives.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 203
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 174 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 16 mg