I am crazy about living in New England in the fall. The brilliant reds, fiery oranges, and bright mustard yellows lift my spirit. I love all the cozy New England fall activities, such as apple picking.
But the flavors- this may be my favorite part: apples, spices, and vanilla.
New England Salted Caramel Baked Apples contain the best of these elements. They are a fruit, so must be better for us than the alternatives, right? And they are so delicious. They are one of my favorite fall treats. They are very easy to make, and I can use fruit from my local apple orchards! Read on for my simple recipe for baked apples.
- 6 large baking apples, such as Mackintosh or Cortland
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 Teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 Teaspoons of salted butter
- apple cider or water
- salted caramel ice cream
- Set oven to 350 degrees F.
- Peel only the top half of an apple.
- Core the apple, leaving ½ an inch on bottom intact. I used a small knife and the end of a carrot peeler and cheese knife to remove the core without disturbing the base.
- Pour apple cider or water into a 13X9 glass baking dish until it is just covering the bottom. Place apples hole side up into the dish.
- Mix all spices and sugar in a small bowl.
- Cut the butter into six equal pieces and place it in the apple's cavity.
- Equally distribute the spice mixture on top of the butter.
- Sprinkle each apple with vanilla extract.
- Bake apples for 30 minutes.
- Place apple on the serving dish and serve warm with salted caramel ice cream.
If you cannot find salted caramel ice cream, these apples are perfect alone or with vanilla ice cream. My kids actually like them with coffee ice cream. I can’t say I understand that. Another option would be to make or buy a caramel sauce to drizzle on top of your apples.
While eating your baked apples, close your eyes, and be transported to the mountains of New England.
If you are in New England, tomorrow, go outside and enjoy a few of our fantastic activities. If you need some ideas, read my 19 Favorite New England Activities or 5 Scenic Hikes in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
