1 February 2025

Granola-Stuffed Baked Apple

This Granola-Stuffed Baked Apple is the ultimate cozy dessert or snack for the cold season. The sweet filling, made of oats and nuts, adds a twist to a simple fruit, enhancing its soft texture and making it even more nutritious. I love enjoying it just out of the oven and adding a final touch by drizzling some honey on top to make it even more delicious.

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Cooked apples have always been my grandmother’s go-to sweet recipe, as apples were in her home. She had diabetes so she could only eat apples due to their low sugar content. Because of this, whenever she craved something sweet, she would chop some apples and bake them with cinnamon until tender. Nevertheless, even though my nonna’s recipe is very tasty, I wanted to try something different. This oat stuffing makes a difference by adding texture and making the apple even more nourishing.

The ancient Romans and Greeks would roast or stew apples, and later, in medieval times, they were used in both sweet and savory recipes, flavored with spices and sweeteners. Then, in the 18th and 19th centuries, baked apples with cinnamon and nuts became a popular dish in the U.S. Today, the Granola-Stuffed Baked Apple remains a staple dessert in the fall and winter due to its comforting qualities.

Before storing the Granola-Stuffed Baked Apple in the fridge, it’s important to let it cool to room temperature to prevent the fruit from becoming soggy. Then, place the baked apple in an airtight container, and it can be kept for up to 3-4 days. Additionally, when you’re ready to reheat, bake it in the oven at 175°C (350°F) for about 10-15 minutes, or microwave it for 1-2 minutes.

Ingredients for filled baked apple

Apple: the best varieties for this recipe are the Honeycrisp or gala apples, as they are sweet, juicy, and firm, allowing them able to hold their shape while baking. Apples absorb flavors like cinnamon, and help keep the granola stuffing together, creating a cohesive and delicious dessert.

Rolled oats: they have a chewy, hearty texture that absorbs the juices released from the apple when baked. Oats add substance to the stuffing and help bind the other ingredients, providing a firm structure. Additionally, rolled oats are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, contributing to the dish’s nutritional value.

Coconut oil: it acts as a binding agent that keeps the granola stuffing together, adding moisture and ensuring the ingredients stay in place during baking. Moreover, coconut oil is a healthy plant-based fat, and when baked, it helps give the granola stuffing a light, crispy texture on top.

Peanut butter: it adds a creamy, nutty flavor, giving the granola filling a savory undertone that balances the sweetness of the Granola-Stuffed Baked Apple. Additionally, peanut butter helps bind the oats and other ingredients together, creating a cohesive and firm mixture. Finally, this nut butter is a great source of protein and healthy fats, providing a long-lasting energy and making the dessert more satisfying.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

How to prepare a soft and sweet apple

For the oat filling: in a bowl, add rolled oats, chopped nuts, cinnamon, dried cranberries, chia seeds, and a pinch of salt.

In a saucepan, melt the coconut oil, then add honey and peanut butter, whisking to combine. Once well combined, pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and mix.

Cut off the top of the apple and hollow out the center using a spoon. Set the bottom piece aside to cover the apple before baking in the oven.

Fill the apple with some of the granola and place it on a lined baking sheet, covering it with the bottom piece. Bake the apple in the oven at 180°C for about 25-30 minutes.

Serve with a drizzle of honey on top.

My tips for delicious and healthy fruit dessert

You can bake the apple in the air fryer at 180°C for about 20-30 minutes.

Serve the baked apple with some yogurt on top.

Sprinkle some dry coconut chips on top of the baked apple.

You can substitute honey with plant-based sweeteners such as maple or agave syrup.

Did you try this recipe? Don’t forget to share it with me tagging @nutritiouslysofia on Instagram!