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Stuffed baked apples are one of the best fall desserts. But why limit yourself to just eating it in the fall? The warm flavors from the cinnamon and brown sugar make such a yummy treat for any time of year!! 

two completed plated stuffed baked apples on white plates against a white background

There’s nothing better than a whole baked apple, especially when it’s filled with delicious ingredients like brown sugar, walnuts, and spices.

If you enjoy cooking with apples, then you are going to love cooking up this easy apple cranberry crisp, some apple crescent rolls, and of course, a vegan apple pie!

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Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • Festive but simple dish to prepare for the holidays.
  • Easy but impressive! Baked stuffed apples are super easy but make a stunning dish to serve friends and family.
  • Healthy apple dessert. Less sugar with all the health benefits of eating apples such as providing the body with vitamins, minerals and fiber, a healthy immune system, improved gut health and more!

What You Need for This Recipe

Let’s take a look at the simple ingredients you need to make baked stuffed apples. For the full list and quantities, check the recipe card further down on the page.

ingredients for Stuffed Baked Apples measured out against a white surface
  • Apples: You will be using fresh apples for this recipe! See below for my favorite options.
  • Brown sugar: You can use light or dark brown sugar.
  • Uncooked oatmeal: Used to make the apple crisp stuffing for this recipe.
  • Walnuts: Go well with apples but you can also use pecans or experiment with other nuts.
  • Raisins: An easy pantry staple but you can use just about any dried fruit or shredded unsweetened coconut.
  • Spices: Cinnamon, grated nutmeg and ground cloves adds just the right amount of warmth to the overall flavor.
  • Vegan margarine: Plenty of ‘buttery’ flavor without any dairy adds to the flavor and richness of this apple dessert.

What Apples are Best for Stuffed Baked Apples?

Some apples are better for eating fresh, and some are better for baking. The best baking apples are the ones that keep their shape. Here are three of the best apples to consider trying for the stuffed baked apple recipe.

  1. Granny Smith. These tart apples help keep any apple recipe from being too overly sweet. They also hold their shape beautifully when baked.
  2. Cortland. Though on the smaller side, these apples are a good balance of sweet and tart. They also hold their shape very well, which is perfect for baked stuffed apples.
  3. Honeycrisp. These apples are probably the easiest to find and are sweet, but they are still mild enough to play well in any baked good.

How to Make Vegan Baked Apples

Keep scrolling to the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and recipe instructions!

  • 1) Begin by preheating the oven to 375 degrees F. Using an apple corer (or, if you’re like me and don’t have one, a melon baller or, failing that, a paring knife, though be really careful if you go the knife route), remove the stem and core of the apples, leaving the bottom intact. 
  • 2) Next, you will mix all the remaining ingredients except for the water, and pack them into the hollowed-out apples.

TIP: You might have some extra, depending on the size of your apples. You can hollow out another apple, or save the remainder for another day. 

  • 3) Next, top each apple with half the margarine (if you’re using it) and put the filled apples in a baking dish. (I used an 8″ by 8″ square Pyrex dish.)
  • 4) You will then add the water to the baking dish, cover loosely with foil, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake for 20 minutes more. 
  • 5) For the final step, you will remove it from the oven, transfer it to a plate, and let the apples cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. (You can also re-cover them with the foil and let them sit for up to half an hour.)

The resulting dessert is perfect for any occasion!

Expert Tips and FAQs

  • You can modify your filling to include some different flavors. Feel free to use chopped almonds or pecans instead of walnuts or omit the nuts altogether if that’s your preference.
  • Are you having a hard time keeping your apples upright?  You can cut the bottom of the apple to level it out. Be sure not to cut into the cored hole in the apple.
  • When stuffing the apples, make sure to pack the apples with filling.
What can I use to hollow out the inside of the apple?

An apple corer, melon baller, spoon, or pairing knife will all work well for hollowing the apple.

What is the best type of apple to use when baking?

There are many great apples to choose from, but Granny Smith, Cortland, and Honeycrisp are my top three choices! 

How long do stuffed baked apples last in the fridge?

Baked apples are best consumed right away, but they can stay fresh in the refrigerator for three days. To reheat a single baked apple, microwave it for about a minute. 

completed stuffed baked apples on white plates against a white background

Variations

More Vegan Fruit Dessert Recipes

Photos by Alfonso Revilla

completed stuffed baked apples on white plates against a white background

Stuffed Baked Apple

5 from 70 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
It’s time top get festive with this fancy but super simple dessert! This Baked Stuffed Apple will make a big entrance at your family dinner!

Ingredients 

  • 2 medium apples
  • 2 tablespoons of packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of uncooked oatmeal
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons of raisins
  • ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon
  • Pinch of grated nutmeg
  • Pinch of ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon of kosher salt (or ¼ teaspoon table salt)
  • ½ tablespoon of vegan margarine (optional)
  • 1 cup boiling water

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Using an apple corer (or, if you're like me and don't have one, a melon baller or, failing that, a paring knife, though be really careful if you go the knife route), remove the stem and core of the apples, leaving the bottom intact. Mix all the remaining ingredients except for the water, and pack into the hollowed-out apples. (You might have some extra, depending on the size of your apples. You can hollow out another apple, or save the remainder for another day.) Top each apple with half the vegan margarine (if you're using it), and put the filled apples in a baking dish. (I used an 8" by 8" square Pyrex dish.)
  • Add the water to the baking dish, cover loosely with foil, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake for 20 minutes more. Remove from the oven, transfer to a plate, and let cool 5-10 minutes before serving. (You can also re-cover them with the foil and let them sit for up to half an hour.)

Video

Notes

  • You can modify your filling to include some different flavors. Feel free to use chopped almonds or pecans instead of walnuts or omit the nuts altogether if that’s your preference.
  • Are you having a hard time keeping your apples upright?  You can cut the bottom of the apple to level it out. Be sure not to cut into the cored hole in the apple.
  • When stuffing the apples, make sure to pack the apples with filling.

Nutrition

Calories: 284kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 3gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gSodium: 620mgPotassium: 393mgFiber: 7gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 235IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 1mg

Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Additional Info

Author: Stefan
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Method: Oven
Diet: Vegan
Tried this recipe?Please tag us at @PlantBasedOnABudget! 🙂

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Such a great fall recipe! This would work well for breakfast, too. I made this with pecans instead of walnuts and it was oh so good!

  2. 5 stars
    These were great. I have an apple tree that just keeps giving, and I’ve been looking for some healthy apple recipes. Thank you!

  3. 5 stars
    Yum! These were a hit! So simple to prepare and turned out perfect. Such a warming, yummy treat for fall. Can’t wait to make it again 🙂