Description
Delight in these Caramel-Stuffed Bloomin’ Apples, a perfect dessert that combines tender, baked apples filled with gooey caramel squares. Enhanced with a buttery cinnamon-sugar glaze and served warm with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce, this recipe offers a comforting and indulgent treat that’s simple to prepare either in the oven or air fryer.
Ingredients
Scale
Apple and Filling
- 4 firm, crisp apples (such as Honeycrisp)
- 8 chewy caramel squares
Butter Mixture
- 4 Tbsp melted butter
- 1 Tbsp packed brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
For Cooking and Serving
- Cooking spray
- Vanilla ice cream, for serving
- Caramel sauce, for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Butter Mixture: Preheat the oven to 375°F or the air fryer to 350°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon until well combined.
- Prepare the Apples: Slice the tops off each apple and carefully use an apple corer to remove the core, stopping before reaching the bottom to keep the apple intact. Place each apple cut-side down and make thin crosswise slices around the apple, being careful not to cut through the bottom, creating a blooming effect.
- Stuff the Apples: Insert two caramel squares into the cavity of each apple, ensuring they are well-filled and the caramel will melt during cooking.
- Brush with Butter Mixture: Using a brush, generously coat the tops and inside crevices of the apples with the prepared butter-cinnamon-sugar mixture to add flavor and promote caramelization.
- Cook the Apples: For oven method: Lightly grease a baking dish with cooking spray, place the apples upright, and bake for about 30 minutes or until tender. For air fryer method: Place the apples in the basket and cook at 350°F for approximately 20 minutes until soft and the caramel has melted.
- Serve: Remove the warm apples from heat and serve immediately, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with caramel sauce for an irresistible dessert experience.
Notes
- Choose firm and crisp apples like Honeycrisp to ensure they hold shape during cooking.
- Be careful not to slice all the way through the apples to keep the bloomin’ effect intact.
- Cooking times vary depending on the oven or air fryer model; check apples for tenderness before removing.
- For a dairy-free option, substitute butter and ice cream with plant-based alternatives.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed baked apple with toppings
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
