Cinnamon Baked Apples

The sweet cinnamon aroma of a baked apple pie is a treat all by itself. But apple pie crust packs a fat and calorie punch that makes it only an occasional treat. Here’s an easy recipe that just might become your apple-a-day!

Servings: 4

Equipment: oven, sharp knife, baking dish

How long does it take?

40 minutes

What's in it?

4 medium-sized apples
1/4 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest
pinch of ground cinnamon
4 cinnamon sticks

How to make it:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: Prepare the apples.
Remove the core from the apples by cutting around the stem and removing a cone-shaped piece. Leave the bottom of the apple intact.

Step 3: Prepare the filling.
Remove the zest (the yellow outer skin) from the lemon with a grater, zester, or a sharp knife. In a small bowl, mix together the honey, lemon zest, and ground cinnamon.

Step 4: Bake the apples.
Place the apples in a medium-sized baking dish. Fill each apple with a spoonful of the honey mixture. Place one cinnamon stick in each apple. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

Baked apples taste great hot, warm, or cold. Leftover apples will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Try one for breakfast!

Nutrition breakdown:

Calories 146, Protein 0 g, Carbohydrate 39 g, Fat 0 g, Dietary Fiber 4 g, Vitamin C 8 mg (16% of RDA), Vitamin E 1 mg (11% of RDA)

What's in it for you?

An apple a day (especially when it's one of your five to nine servings of fruits and/or vegetables each day) can increase your chances of keeping the doctor away.

Apples are a great source of fiber, which keeps your digestive tract moving smoothly.

Chef's tip:

What's zest? Besides a zippy attitude, zest is the flavorful outer portion of the skin of citrus fruit (lemons, limes, and oranges). It can be removed from the fruit (usually a lemon, lime, or orange) with a grater, sharp knife, or special utensil designed for the job called a zester. Avoid the pith (the white inner skin) when you peel off the zest. That white stuff can be bitter.