Guilt-Free Sweet: Baked Apples

7/23/2013

Guilt-Free Sweet: Baked Apples

Apple pie is one of one of those foods that just makes me feel nostalgic and happy. Probably because I always have it on Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday, and one bite brings me back to all the years of celebrating with my fam. Well, because I try not to make the my Thanksgiving indulgences a daily habit (especially in the middle of summer!), I tried to come up with a dessert that would satisfy my apple pie craving in a fabulously guilt-free way. And it's not in the form of a pie, but in a baked apple, stuffed with sweetness from dried figs, honey, vanilla, and my favorite spices, and a satisfying crunch from walnuts and rolled oats. Finish these babies off with a dollop of whipped topping, or my latest and greatest favorite, HaloTop's healthy ice cream! . . . Oddly enough, I'm actually eating a scoop of their Lemon Cake flavor as a blog to you, and the childlike happiness that I experience when I eat a bowl of ice cream is multiplied by the satisfaction of knowing how healthy each delicious bite is for me (low sugar, high protein, and only 70 cals)! Love!

Anyway back to my baked apples - this sweet treat will definitely cure your autumn apple pie craving in a super light, fresh, and summery way!

Here's what you need to whip these cuties up . . .

Ingredients

3 apples - I used Braeburn and Granny Smith
1 lemon slice
6 dried figs, chopped
6 whole walnuts, chopped
3 tbsp gluten-free rolled oats
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 tbsp honey
Your favorite  whipped topping or HaloTop Ice Cream

Serves 3.

Slice off the top and bottom of the apple, and using a melon baller, scoop out the core and inside of the apple, creating a "bowl" for the filling. Make sure to leave some room on the bottom and not to go all the way through the apple. 

Squeeze/rub a slice of lemon over the top of the apple so it doesn't turn brown. Then mix together your filling - the figs, walnuts, oats, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. Take a couple spoonfuls of this mixture and fill up your apple "bowls"! Drizzle a little more honey right over the top of the apples and place into a Pyrex baking dish. Add some water to the baking dish - enough to cover the bottom of the dish and the bottom of the apples. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes. Top with light, natural whipped topping or your favorite HaloTop flavor!