Stuffed Apples with Spiced Dates

Stuffed Apples with Spiced Dates

 

These spiced, stuffed apples are healthy enough to be eaten anytime, anywhere but are so good they could pass as a decadent dessert!  They are 100% healthy (NO SUGAR ADDED) so you'll feel SO GOOD about treating yourself to this delightful dish!  The secret is in using dates as a natural sweetener, which are jam-packed with antioxidants and potassium just to name a few,  as opposed to brown sugar which has NO nutritional value!  Same taste but with a boost of vitamins in every bite! 

 

 

 

First, cut your apples.

 

*Helpful tip - cut the bottoms off as well for a flat base*

 

Next, core the apples to make a nice little bowl.  Be sure to save the insides for the filling!

 

Look how pretty these look on the inside!!!

 

Now we're ready to stuff and bake them.  Don't you love it when what is good for your body tastes good too!?!

 

Ingredients:

4 Granny Smith Apples (unpeeled)

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup dried fruit (chopped)

1/4 cup chopped dates

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup apple juice

 

Directions:

1.)  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.)  In a small bowl, combine chopped fruit, dates, pecans and cinnamon. 

3.)  Slice tops off apples and hollow out the center of each apple to create a bowl (I used a knife to cut out the center and then scooped the rest with a teaspoon.)

4.)  Chop up the apple centers (discarding seeds) and add it to your filling mixture.

5.)   Stuff each apple with filling mixture and place in an oven safe dish.  Pour apple juice on bottom of baking dish.

6.)  Bake at 350 for approximately 50 minutes. 

 

*Can be served as a side drizzled with honey or maple syrup.  Or serve it as a low fat dessert and top it with whipped cream or frozen yogurt!*