Description
Indulgent custard stuffed baked apples invite comfort and warmth to your dessert table. Sweet caramelized apples cradle rich, creamy custard, creating a delightful finale you’ll savor with pure satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits:
- 6 large apples
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- Cinnamon sticks (for garnish)
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
Wet Ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, cubed
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 375°F and position a rack in the middle. Carefully remove the apple tops and delicately excavate the centers using a spoon, maintaining substantial wall thickness. Reserve approximately 1/2 cup of extracted apple flesh.
- Create the filling by combining oats, flour, granulated and brown sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a mixing bowl. Incorporate cold butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Generously fill each hollowed apple with the prepared mixture, allowing a slight overflow. Place the stuffed apples in a baking dish and transfer to the preheated oven.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, monitoring until the apples become tender and the filling develops a golden-brown crust.
- For the custard, whisk egg yolks and sugar in a separate bowl until the mixture transforms into a pale, thick consistency.
- Gently heat milk in a saucepan until small bubbles form around the edges. Carefully temper the egg mixture by adding two tablespoons of hot milk, whisking continuously to prevent curdling.
- Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the milk pan. Simmer on medium-low heat, stirring consistently until the custard thickens to a smooth, coating consistency, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the custard from heat and incorporate vanilla extract. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve to ensure a silky texture.
- Allow the baked apples to rest for 15 minutes. Serve warm, drizzling the custard alongside and garnishing with cinnamon sticks for an elegant presentation.
Notes
- Choose crisp, firm apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for best texture and structure when baking.
- Dice saved apple flesh finely to incorporate into filling for extra flavor and reduce food waste.
- Use unsalted butter to control salt levels and prevent potential over-salting in the crumbly mixture.
- Consider toasting oats briefly before mixing to enhance nutty flavor and add depth to the filling.
- Quickly temper egg yolks by adding hot milk gradually to prevent scrambling and ensure smooth custard.
- Strain custard through fine sieve to remove any potential egg bits for silky, professional-quality sauce.
- For gluten-free version, substitute regular flour with almond flour or gluten-free blend in filling.
- Keep custard warm but not hot when serving to maintain ideal creamy consistency without separation.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 311 kcal
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 103 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg