Baked Apples

Baked apples are a simple and delicious dessert, perfect as an end to a meal or as a snack. Here is the classic recipe, with an Italian touch that always makes a difference.

Ingredients

• 4 apples (Golden Delicious or Annurca for a typically Italian flavor)
• 4 teaspoons of brown sugar
• 4 teaspoons of honey (wildflower or acacia)
• Cinnamon powder to taste
• Grated lemon zest
• Butter as needed
• 1/2 glass of sweet white wine (for example, a Moscato or an Italian Passito)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Wash the apples and dry them. Remove the core with a corer or a knife, being careful not to pierce the bottom of the apple to prevent the juices from escaping during cooking.
3. Arrange the apples in a lightly buttered baking dish or lined with parchment paper.
4. Fill the void left by the core with a teaspoon of brown sugar, a teaspoon of honey, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and a bit of grated lemon zest.
5. Put a small piece of butter on top of each apple.
6. Pour the sweet white wine into the pan, around the apples.
7. Bake and cook for about 30-40 minutes, or until the apples are soft. During cooking, baste them occasionally with their own sauce to make them even tastier.
8. Serve the apples warm or at room temperature.

Curiosity

Baked apples are a dessert that lends itself to many variations. In some Italian recipes, for example, nuts or pine nuts are also added inside the apples before baking to add crunchiness and flavor. If you wish, you can accompany this dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or with whipped cream.