Baked Apples with Feta, Honey, and Cranberries Recipe
Baked Apples with Feta, Honey, and Cranberries combine the natural sweetness of apples with a savory feta filling, enhanced by the tartness of cranberries and warm cinnamon. This easy-to-make dessert offers a delightful balance of flavors, perfect for a cozy treat or elegant dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Apples and Filling
- 4 medium apples (such as Honeycrisp or Gala)
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Toppings and Garnish
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, divided
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Core the apples: Carefully core each apple, leaving about ½ inch intact at the bottom to hold the filling securely inside.
- Mix the filling: In a small bowl, combine the crumbled feta cheese, dried cranberries, ground cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Stir well until the mixture is evenly combined.
- Stuff the apples: Place the cored apples upright in the prepared baking dish and fill each apple cavity with the feta and cranberry mixture, pressing gently to pack the filling.
- Add honey and butter: Drizzle honey evenly over the top of each stuffed apple. Then place a small pat of unsalted butter on top of each apple for richness.
- Bake covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or until the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Brown and finish: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until the tops of the apples are golden and slightly caramelized.
- Garnish and serve: Let the baked apples cool for a few minutes. Sprinkle with chopped fresh mint if desired for a burst of freshness, then serve warm to enjoy the perfect sweet and savory flavors.
Notes
- Choose firm, sweet apples like Honeycrisp or Gala to maintain shape and provide natural sweetness.
- For a vegan alternative, substitute feta with a vegan cheese and use a plant-based butter option.
- Adjust sweetness by adding more or less honey according to taste preference.
- Make ahead and refrigerate the stuffed apples, then bake just before serving to save time.
- Fresh mint garnish adds color and a refreshing flavor contrast but can be omitted.
