Baked Apples with Butterscotch Topping

Baked apples are a great treat to make in the fall when apples are in season, the evenings are getting cooler, and you want a hot, satisfying dessert. Look around your market for local apple varieties to try with this recipe.

Baked Apples with Butterscotch Topping

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Baking time: 45 to 60 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

4 baking apples (McIntosh, Rome Beauty, Golden Delicious, or Granny Smith)

Half of a lemon

1/2 cup raisins

2 tablespoons honey

3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

1/2 cup butterscotch topping

1.Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

2.Core the apples (don't cut them in half) using an apple corer. Remove the peel from the upper 1/3 of the apple. To prevent browning, rub the peeled part of the apple with the lemon and squeeze a few drops of lemon juice inside each cut apple. Place the apples in a 9-inch square baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the raisins, honey, and 2 tablespoons of the chopped nuts. Stuff each apple with the raisin mixture. Pour a little bit of water in the bottom of the pan, about 1/4-inch deep.

3.Bake, uncovered, until the apples are tender (not mushy), from 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the apples. Let the apples cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Place each apple on a serving plate. Drizzle each apple with some of the sauce in the pan, the butterscotch topping, and the remaining nuts.

Per serving: Calories 426 (From Fat 138); Fat 15g (Saturated 2g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 150mg; Carbohydrate 76g (Dietary Fiber 7g); Protein 5g.