Apples Baked with Pecans and Raisins Recipe

Apples Baked with Pecans and Raisins

Serves 6

Baked apples make a cozy finish to a late winter meal. In this recipe, dried apricots add a hint of sunshine, pecans offer crunch and raisins bring depth to the not-too-sweet filling. Serve the apples plain, or decorate them to resemble a mousejust like Stuart.

6 sweet-tart apples such as Jonathan or Granny Smith
⅓ cup brown sugar
½ cup raisins
¼ cup chopped pecans
¼ cup chopped dried apricots
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
3 Tbs. unsalted butter, cut in small pieces
1 ½ cups apple cider or juice

Preheat oven to 350F.
Core apples, taking care not to pierce through bottoms, and pare strip from around each top. Mix brown sugar, raisins, pecans, dried apricots, cinnamon and nutmeg in mixing bowl. Stuff each apple with 1/6 of mixture. Dot tops with butter. Place apples in baking dish large enough to hold them comfortably. Pour cider or juice around them.
Bake 30 to 40 minutes, basting every 10 minutes or so, or until tender. Serve warm or at room temperature.