with Honey, Walnuts, and Ginger

Baked apples are a holiday season staple. There are dozens of fillings for an endless supply of baked apple options, but the most important thing is the apple. Fuji apples work well because they won't fall apart while cooking. (Some apples tend to explode or become mushy while the Fuji retains its shape.)

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, lightly toasted
• 1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar plus 2 tablespoons
• 4 tablespoons honey
• 3 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 tablespoons cognac
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 large (8- to 9-ounce) Fuji apples
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• Juice from one lemon
• 8 whole cloves
• Vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. Combine walnuts, ½ cup brown sugar, honey, lemon peel, cognac, and fresh ginger in a bowl. Fold in the cream. Let stand about 30 minutes, stir occasionally.

3. Using a melon baller, remove the core and all seeds leaving 1/2 inch of apple on the bottom. Place apples upright in a glass baking dish, add one whole clove to the center of each apple, and with a spoon, fill each apple. (Any excess filling can be piled on top of the apples.)

4. Mix apple and lemon juice together in a small bowl and pour the juice around the apples.

5. To bake, place a large sheet of buttered foil loosely over the apples and bake until just tender, about 1 hour. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining brown sugar and bake an additional 20 minutes or until apples are very tender and sauce is bubbling.

6. To serve, transfer the apples and sauce to individual bowls and top with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.

Other Fruit & Nut Recipes

Apple Pie and Whipped Cream
Apple Tarte Tatin
Apricot Crepes
Baked Bananas
Baked Peaches
Banana Nut & Date Bread
Berry Clafoutis
Blueberry Cobbler
Caramelized Bananas
Classic Pear Tart
Coconut Meringue
Confit of Vanilla-Infused Pineapple
Date Nut Cigar
Flambéed Cherries
Gratin of Berries
Key Lime Pie
Kiwi Marinated in Passion Fruit
Lemon Sorbet
Lychee Ice Cream
Marinated Bananas
Marinated Grapefruit
Mixed Berry Salad
Oatmeal Raisin Ginger Cookies
Orange Custard Tart
Orange Tuiles
Pears Poached in Red Wine
Pistachio Cheesecake
Pumpkin Fritters
Raspberry Tart
Roasted Pineapple
Strawberries and Orange Slices
Strawberry Soup