Vanilla Walnut Baked Apples with Oat Crumble
Enjoy a warm and comforting dessert featuring baked apples filled with a vanilla-scented walnut oat crumble. This easy American-style dessert blends the natural sweetness of apples with crunchy walnuts and aromatic vanilla, perfect for cozy evenings or family gatherings.
Ingredients
Check ingredients as you go.
- Apples
- Filling
- Apples
- Serving
Let’s make it
Preparation
Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F). Prepare a baking dish large enough to hold the apples upright.
Preparation
Core the apples from the top, leaving about 1/2 inch of the bottom intact. Slice off the tops and set aside. Toss the apples in lemon juice to prevent browning and place them standing upright in the baking dish.
Filling
In a mixing bowl, combine chopped walnuts, rolled oats, brown sugar, salt, and ground cinnamon if using. Add cold unsalted butter and vanilla extract. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to blend the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Assembly
Spoon the oat crumble mixture generously into each cored apple, pressing down lightly to fill. Place the reserved apple tops back onto the filled apples for presentation.
Cooking
Bake the apples in the preheated oven for about 40 to 50 minutes or until the apples are tender and the crumble topping is golden brown.
Serving
Remove from the oven and let the baked apples cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Optionally, dust with powdered sugar just before serving for an elegant touch.
Tips & notes
For extra flavor, add a pinch of nutmeg to the oat crumble mixture or serve the baked apples with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Use a sharp knife to core apples carefully to avoid breaking bottom.
Saving it for later
Store leftover baked apples covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven before serving to retain texture.
Reheating
Reheat in a preheated oven at 175°C (350°F) for about 10 minutes until warmed through. Avoid microwaving to preserve the crumble texture.
