Healthy Baked Apples with Maple Pecans

These healthy baked apples with maple pecans are a delicious way to enjoy seasonal fruit.  This simple, healthy dessert is perfect for entertaining.  Great for Halloween, Thanksgiving or anytime you want a quick and easy, delicious treat.

Today I am posting one of the simplest desserts I know – baked apples. This minimalist recipe is low in sugar, full of nutty flavour and crunch. It contains a handful of ingredients and comes together in just over 30 minutes.

Baked apples recipes tend to use whole apples, stuffed with raisins, sugar, oats and other ingredients.  I decided to make this recipe even easier by simply cutting the apples in half and covering each half with a generous amount of pecan nut mixture.  This shortens baking time and there is no need to baste the apples either.  What’s more, the maple pecan topping gets nicely browned and tastes fantastic with the softened (though not mushy) apples.

I love using pecan nuts and maple syrup in the same recipe.  They are just so good together and can be used in a number of different recipes.  Not necessarily desserts.  For example I used this flavour combination in this Maple Pecan Overnight Oats with Sweet Potato Recipe.  I also made 2 autumn salads with them.  Maple Glazed Celery Root Salad with Apple and Pecans and Beetroot Zucchini Apple Ribbon Salad with Pecans and Maple Vinaigrette.

Equipment you’ll need

• Kitchen scales and measuring spoon
• Blender, apple corer and cutting board
• Bowl and large spoon
• Large baking sheet and parchment paper

How to make healthy baked apples with pecans: step-by-step

1.The maple pecan combination in this easy baked apples recipe is not only delicious, it also adds a lovely crunch to it.  Which is why it is important not to turn the pecans into powder.  You’ll only need to blitz them for a few seconds, long enough to break them into small pieces.

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2. Core the apples and cut them in half.

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3. Place a generous amount of the maple pecan mixture on top of each apple half and bake for 25 minutes (180 C).  Remove from the  oven, leave to cool for 5 minutes and enjoy!

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Top tips

• Use sweet rather than sour tasting apples.
• Be careful not to overblend the pecans.
• Swap pecans for walnuts or other nuts if you like.
• I used a bit of salt but you can omit that if you use salted butter.
• Best served warm.

Other autumnal dessert recipes you might like:

Pumpkin Ricotta Cake

Dairy Free Pumpkin Brownies

Blackberry Prune Squares

Pumpkin Cake with Dark Chocolate Drizzle

Pumpkin Spice Skinny Cupcakes with Lemon Icing

Check out also this collection of 27 healthy cacao recipes for everyday.

Keep in touch!

How have these baked apples turned out for you? Let me know in the comments below, thanks!

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Print Recipe

5 from 7 votes

Healthy Baked Apples with Maple Pecans

These healthy baked apples with maple pecans are a delicious way of enjoying seasonal fruit.  This simple, healthy dessert is perfect for entertaining. Great for Halloween, Thanksgiving or anytime you want a quick and easy, delicious treat.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time35 mins

Course: Dessert, Healthy Snack

Cuisine: International

Keyword: baked apples, pecans

Servings: 4 people

Author: Monika Dabrowski

Ingredients

• 4 sweet apples such as Gala
• 140 g pecan nuts
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp butter melted
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/5 tsp fine sea salt

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 F/ 180 C/ gas mark 4.  Line a medium baking tray with non-stick baking paper and set aside.
• In a blender whizz up the pecans until crumbly, combine with the maple syrup, butter, cinnamon and salt and stir thoroughly.  Set aside.
• Core the apples and cut in half.  Top each half with the pecan mixture and bake in the middle of the oven for 25 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 5 minutes.  Enjoy warm!

Notes

• Use sweet rather than sour tasting apples.
• Be careful not to overblend the pecans.  
• Swap pecans for walnuts or other nuts if you like.
• I used a bit of salt but you can omit that if you use salted butter.
• Best served warm.

Recipe Link Parties

I am bringing this easy baked apple recipe to #CookBlogShare.  Also sharing with Fiesta Friday.  This week’s co-hosts are Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook and Jen @ Apply To Face Blog.