When creating the perfect baked apple, you must choose the right variety of apple and be plentiful with the butter and booze, that go in the cavity of the apple with the dried fruit. This delicious warming baked apple dessert can be served with a generous scoop of ice cream, and will be perfect for your dinner party this Winter! Be sure to pop by our Greengrocers for your apples! 

Ready in 60 minutes (plus overnight time for the fruit to soak in the cider brandy)

Serves 6

Ingredients

100g dried fruit, such as sultanas, raisins and chopped prunes

50ml cider brandy

100g unsalted butter, softened

2 tbsp light muscovado sugar

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

½ tsp ground cinnamon

6 fairly large eating apples

Method

Place the dried fruit into a small bowl and pour over the cider brandy. Leave on the side for at least an hour or ideally overnight. Beat the soaked fruit into the softened butter, sugar, lemon zest and cinnamon.

Core the apples and score them around their circumference with a sharp knife to stop them from bursting. If the apples do not stand up, then slice a slither off the base of each apple. Stuff the apples with the spiced fruit butter, then arrange the apples in an ovenproof dish, smearing any left-over fruit butter over the top.

Cover with foil and place in a preheated oven (150°C/Gas Mark 2). Bake for 50-60 minutes, until soft but not collapsing. At around 35-40 minutes, remove the foil from the apples, and spoon the buttery juices over the apples, return to the oven for the remaining 15-20 minutes. Serve the apples with the juices spooned over them and a scoop of ice cream on the side.