Beautiful Baked Apples

While feeding my Pinterest addiction the other day I came across a lovely recipe for Pear Pies.  This unique recipe used pear halves wrapped in puff pastry and then filled with a blue cheese concoction of some sort.  I didn’t make it.  I’m not a huge blue cheese fan, but they looked gorgeous and I was inspired.  I didn’t have pears on hand, but I did have apples.  And I didn’t have puff pastry but I had pie crust.  In fact, I don’t think I actually used any of the ingredients in the Pear Pie recipe.  But that didn’t stop me from making the most beautiful and fantastic apple “pies” ever.

I actually made these for breakfast this morning.  Yes, you heard me right.  Apple pie for breakfast.  Don’t look at me like that.  It’s fruit!  It’s baked!  It was amazing!  I might have to try the pears next.

Beautiful Baked Apples. You could eat it just like this if you want.

Or you could dress it up a little.  Yum!

Beautiful Baked Apples

2 granny smith apples
1 refrigerated pie crust
1 beaten egg
4 tsp. brown sugar
1/3 cup walnuts (toasted)
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbsp. dried cranberries
Whipped cream (optional)

Preheat oven to 400˚.  Peel apples.  Cut each apple in half and scrape or cut out the core and seeds.  Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silpat mat.  Place the apples cut side down.

I used granny smith apples but use whichever kind you like (some hold their shape better than others when cooked).

Unroll the pie crust and cut into fourths.  Cover each apple half with a fourth of the crust, stretching or trimming if necessary.  If you want to get fancy with it, you can cut a few leaf and stem shapes using the scraps.  Stab a few holes all over.  Brush with beaten egg.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

All dressed up and ready to cook.

Using a mortar and pestle or food processor (or chop/crush using whatever method you want), mix brown sugar, walnuts, cinnamon, and cranberries.  Set aside.

I got this mortar and pestle for Christmas from my lovely daughter and this was the test run. I love it!

Remove apples from oven,  gently invert on a plate.  Scoop 1/4 of the brown sugar mixture onto the apple.  Top with a dollop of whipped cream and dig in. Makes 4 servings.

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