Description
Delight in the comforting flavors of Cinnamon Oatmeal Stuffed Apples paired with a rich Homemade Vanilla Custard Sauce. This warm, baked dessert features tender apples filled with a cinnamon-spiced oatmeal mix, nuts, and dried fruit, served with a smooth, creamy custard that adds a perfect vanilla sweetness.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Stuffed Apples
- 4 large apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
- 1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)
- 1 cup water (for baking)
For the Vanilla Custard Sauce
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Core the Apples: Wash and core each apple carefully, leaving the base intact so it can hold the filling securely.
- Make Filling: In a bowl, combine rolled oats, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, salt, and melted butter. Stir in chopped nuts and dried fruit if using to add texture and flavor.
- Stuff the Apples: Generously fill each apple with the oatmeal mixture, pressing lightly to pack it down. Arrange the filled apples upright in the prepared baking dish.
- Add Water and Bake: Pour 1 cup of water into the bottom of the baking dish to keep the apples moist. Cover the dish with foil to retain steam and bake for 25-30 minutes until the apples are tender.
- Start Custard Base: While apples bake, combine milk, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, whisking constantly until the mixture comes to a simmer and thickens slightly.
- Combine Egg Yolks and Vanilla: In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks and vanilla extract together. Gradually whisk in the warm milk mixture to temper the eggs and prevent curdling.
- Cook Custard Sauce: Return the combined mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring continuously until the custard thickens to a creamy consistency.
- Cool Custard: Remove the custard sauce from heat and let it cool slightly to thicken further and develop flavor.
- Serve: Plate the warm baked stuffed apples and drizzle generously with the warm vanilla custard sauce for a decadent dessert experience.
Notes
- Choose firm apples that hold their shape well when baked, like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith.
- For a nut-free version, omit the nuts and replace with extra dried fruit if desired.
- The custard sauce can be prepared ahead and gently reheated before serving.
- Adjust sweetness by varying the amount of brown sugar and sugar in the custard to your taste.
- Leftover custard can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
