To choose an apple as an official state fruit wasn’t random. Vermont grows 130+ varieties of apples and every autumn apple lovers benefit from the amount and quality of this fall fruit.
It is a real pleasure to walk along the markets’ strolls full of sweet and sour, big and small, colorful apples as beautiful as in the Snow White fairytale.
Vermont Apple Orchards with Maple Syrup are two beautiful symbols of the state that fill our lives with wonderful flavors and inspire cooks to create new healthy and tasty meals.
We also enjoy combining these two ingredients while cooking and have found great maple-apple ideas on how to use them at breakfast, lunch and dinner time.
The recipe we would like to share today is a perfect morning meal that is easy, light and full of bright sunny flavors! So, we hope you will like it and adopt for your cooking routine.
Baked Apples Stuffed with Oats and Nuts
Tender baked apple pairs great with oatmeal, nuts and light maple syrup sweetness. Add to this bouquet of flavors cinnamon and nutmeg and you will get an outstanding result! So, to cook this beautiful morning meal you need:
- 4 Vermont apples (big enough to stuff them)
- butter – 6 tablespoons
- maple syrup – ½ cup
- old-fashioned oats – 1 cup
- cinnamon – 1 teaspoon
- nutmeg – 1 teaspoon
- salt – ¼ teaspoon
- brown sugar – ¼ cup
- walnuts (pecans) toasted and chopped – ¾ cup (divided)
When everything is lying at hand we can start cooking.
First of all, turn on an oven and preheat it to 375°F. Then wash four beautiful apples. With the help of a small knife carefully cut a circle around the stem three-quarters of the way down. Use a teaspoon to scoop out insides. Discard the core, chop and work the remaining scooped-out apple into the oatmeal before it’s cooked.
Put butter in a small saucepan and melt it on low heat. Remove from heat and stir in maple syrup (set aside a little (about ¼ cup) for drizzling over baked apples). Divide the mixture between apples and brush inside.
Now steps to prepare the yummy filling: in a medium saucepan, combine the remaining water, oats mixed with chopped apple chunks, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 6-7 minutes. When most of the liquid is absorbed, stir in brown sugar and chopped walnuts (½ cup) – combine well. Remove from heat.
Evenly load the oatmeal mixture into the apples. Before putting them into the hot oven, top with remaining walnuts. Bake for 15 minutes. After fruit is ready and still very hot – drizzle with remaining butter mixture and serve. Bon appetite!
The first thing in the morning is to do everything to set the right mood for the whole day. We suppose we have discovered the easiest way to do this is to cook healthy and delicious breakfast! With this recipe, you have all chances to make the following day special!
