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Recipe

German-Inspired Christmas Almond Baked Apples

Whole apples bake with almonds, raisins and cinnamon in this German-inspired Christmas dessert. Spoon over the warm apple juices and serve simply.

German-Inspired Christmas Almond Baked Apples
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Ingredients

  • 4 medium firm-sweet apples (about 180 g each), such as Braeburn
  • 1/4 cup (35 g) chopped almonds
  • 1/4 cup (35 g) raisins
  • 1/4 cup (25 g) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons (25 g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) unsweetened apple juice

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 375°F / 190°C. Choose a baking dish that holds the four apples upright with a little room between them. Wash and dry the apples.
  2. Use an apple corer or small melon baller to remove each core from the top, leaving about 1/2 inch of flesh intact at the base. Widen the center to about 1 inch so the filling fits. Do not cut through the bottom.
  3. In a bowl, mix the almonds, raisins, oats, softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, orange zest and salt until the dry ingredients are evenly coated and the mixture clumps slightly.
  4. Stand the apples in the dish and divide the filling among the cavities, mounding any excess on top. Pour the apple juice into the bottom of the dish, not directly over the filling.
  5. Bake for 30–40 minutes, spooning a little pan juice over the apples halfway through. They are ready when a thin knife slides easily into the flesh, but the fruit still stands upright. Very firm apples may need a few more minutes.
  6. If the filling colors too quickly, tent loosely with foil. If the dish becomes dry before the apples soften, add 2 tablespoons of water to the pan.
  7. Rest for 5 minutes. Transfer each apple carefully to a small bowl and spoon over its share of the warm pan juices. Warn diners that the center stays hot longer than the outside.

Whole baked apples make an inviting Christmas dessert without rolling pastry or frosting a cake. Their centers hold a buttery almond, raisin and oat filling, while a little apple juice in the dish keeps the fruit moist and creates a light spooning sauce.

This original version is inspired by German Bratäpfel. Choose medium apples of similar size so they soften at roughly the same time. The goal is tender fruit that still holds its shape, with toasted filling peeking out of each center.

A good apple matters

Avoid using very small apples, which leave little room for the filling. Apple variety and ripeness affect timing, so check tenderness rather than waiting for the skin to burst.

Make ahead

Mix the filling a day ahead and refrigerate it. Core and fill the apples shortly before baking. Refrigerate baked leftovers promptly and reheat covered until hot throughout.

Frequently asked questions

Can I omit the almonds?

Replace them with the same weight of additional oats for a different texture. Check all ingredient labels if cooking for someone with a nut allergy.

Do I need cream or ice cream?

No. The apples and pan juices are the complete dessert. If you add a topping, its nutrition is extra.

Nutrition notes

Nutrition is an approximate editorial estimate per serving, not a laboratory analysis. Brands, substitutions and portion sizes change the values. These original recipe drafts have not been kitchen-tested; use the stated doneness checks as well as timing.

Estimate includes one apple, one-quarter of the filling and one-quarter of the apple juice. Actual intake of pan juices will vary.

Allergens: Almonds (tree nuts); Milk; Oats may have wheat cross-contact. Check all product labels.

Food storage and handling

Refrigerate perishable leftovers in shallow containers within 2 hours, or within 1 hour above 90°F / 32°C. Keep at 40°F / 4°C or colder, use within 3–4 days and reheat cooked leftovers to 165°F / 74°C. Follow any shorter storage guidance given in the recipe.

Illustrative recipe image; presentation may vary. This is not a photograph of a kitchen test.

Per serving

Nutrition facts

Serving size: One filled apple with one-quarter of the pan juices (estimated nutrition)

Calories
335
Total fat
12 g
Saturated fat
4.5 g
Cholesterol
15 mg
Sodium
90 mg
Total carbohydrate
57 g
Dietary fiber
7 g
Total sugars
39 g
Protein
4 g

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