Today, I’m going to share one of my favorite desert recipes – Dutch Oven Baked Apples with Caramel. Dutch Oven Baked Apples use of one of the most versatile foods — apples.

An (Baked) Apple a Day…

By themselves, apples are a healthy, low calorie snack. You’ve probably heard the old saying, “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.” You might think that apples are a boring health food, but you’d be wrong.

The variety of apples found in the United States alone is incredible. Over 2,500 types of apples have been identified and about 100 types are grown commercially. In your local grocery store you’ll easily find as many as ten different varieties of apples — each with their own unique taste, firmness, and sweetness.

Apples are one of the most versatile fruits in cooking because they can be used in so many different types of dishes, such as: beverages (think apple cider), desserts (cobbler, crisps, and pie) entrees (think roast pork), salads (like apple walnut raisin with honey mustard vinaigrette), and side dishes (such as apple sauce).

Baked Apples: Fond Memories, Family Traditions

Not only are apples versatile and healthy, but they also bring back fond memories and family traditions. I learned my recipe for Baked Apples from my Mom when was a teenager in Chicago. 

Apples are a part of our family traditions to this very day. One of our family traditions is to drive out to a Christmas tree farm and harvest our own tree. This year, we headed out to the Christmas Creek Tree Farm in North Bend, WA. The weather was absolutely perfect. It was a little windy but the sun was out most of the day.

We cut down our noble fir and had it trimmed and bailed. I headed into the farm’s lodge and sipped hot apple cider while I got warm in front of the large wood fire. I’ll never forget the smell of that fresh apple cider. It reminds of all the wonderful times I’ve spent with my family searching for the perfect Christmas tree.

The Best Type of Apple for Baked Apples

What are the best types apples to be used with Baked apples? First, you want an apple that’s not too soft or too firm. If you a pick and apple that’s too soft then it will lose it’s shape and turn to mush after about an hour of baking. If you pick an apple that’s too firm, then you’ll need a knife and f

We’re going to use Golden Delicious apples because they are a slightly tart apple that stays firm while baking. One of the by products of this recipe is a sweet sauce that you can serve on top of the finished desert to give the

Dutch Oven Baked Apples Ingredients:

Golden Delicious apples, Cored (eight)
1 tsp Cinnamon
2 cups Raisins
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup syrup
1/2 stick butter
1 caramel
1 cup orange juice
Optional: whipped cream

Prep-time:

30 minutes

Cook Time

60 minutes

Difficulty level:

Easy

Equipment needed:

12 inch Dutch Oven (6 quart)
Parchment paper

Step by Step Instructions

Core eight apples with a paring knife, make sure to remove the entire core of the apple including the seeds. It’s OK if you remove the bottom of the apple.

Place the apples into your dutch oven (on top of the parchment paper) and stuff them and stuff about half full with the raisins.

Fill each apple with brown sugar (on top of the raisins).

Cut the butter into eight pats and place a pat of butter on top of each apple.

Sprinkle cinnamon on top the apples.

Pour maple syrup on top of the apples and add the orange juice to the bottom of the pot.

Bake the apples in the dutch oven for 50 to 60 minutes at 350° Fahrenheit (24 coals total, 16 top, 8 bottom)

After about 45 minutes open the dutch oven and add a dollop of caramel on top of each apple. Place the lid back on top of the dutch oven and cook the apples for another 15 minutes. This will give time for the caramel to melt on top of each apple.

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