Baked apples in brandy

We're on a real dessert kick lately. Pumpkin ice cream pie, chocolate fudge baby cakes and now baked apples. 

Though, unlike the other sweets, you could kinda sorta convince yourself the apples have some nutritional value. Being fruit and all. That and baked apples are supremely easy and made with ingredients you probably have on hand.

And nothing (NOTHING) makes your house smell better than apples simmering in brandy and brown sugar.

Here's what you need and how you do it

4 apples (whatever variety you prefer)

Canola oil

4 Tablespoons butter or margarine, room temperature

4 Tablespoons brown sugar

Several healthy splashes of brandy (or bourbon or whatever liquor you fancy. Amaretto?)

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

4 teaspoons jam (any flavor, though apricot, fig or ginger work well)

1/4 cup raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix the butter, brown sugar, brandy, cinnamon, allspice, jam and raisins. Set aside.

Core the apples. A corer would really come in handy here, but I just did it with a sharp-pointed knife.

Pare a strip of skin around the middle of each apple (to keep them from bursting in the oven.)

Spray a small baking dish with canola oil and set apples inside. Fill apples with butter/brown sugar mixture. Drizzle remaining mixture around outside of apples.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until apples are tender and brown sugar mixture is syrupy. Serve with vanilla ice cream or cheese.

Comments

[Johanna]

Hi there!! Just wanted to give you a heads up that I love your site (I've been lurking for a few weeks) and the concept behind it. So much, in fact, that I linked to it in my blog, as part of a Lunchtime Links section I'm starting. Please come check it out if you feel so inclined, and of course please let me know if you'd rather I stopped linking you.
Thanks!!! :)

[kcinnova]

oh. my. goodness. YUM!!!

[peabody]

Mmm, baked apples, so comforting.