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I served these to some infamously famous picky eaters, and was thrilled when they asked for second helpings!
Active Work Time: 10 minutes
Time to Taste: 40 minutes
Servings: 8
No: dairy*, eggs, gluten, nuts*, soy
(* = optional)
ingredients
- 4 large apples, washed, halved, and cored
- 2 Tbs. ghee or butter (optional, if dairy is an issue)
- 1 Tbs. cinnamon
- 1 cup apple cider/ juice
Any or all of the following:
- Virtuous Goo, about 1 Tbs. per apple
- ¼ - ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ - ½ cup dried cherries
- ¼ - ½ cup goji berries
- ¼ - ½ cup dried apricots, sliced
- ½ - 1 cup chopped walnuts, almond, and/or pecans (or sunflower seeds, if avoiding nuts)
- homemade cinnamon whipped cream (see note below)
- vanilla or cinnamon ice cream (or non-dairy frozen treat)
how to make it
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Place halved apples cut side up in a large baking dish (9X12” should work, but it will depend on the size of the apples). If they look unsteady, slice the tiniest sliver off the “bottom” to help them stay upright.
- Divide the ghee or butter among the apple cores, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Pour apple cider over the apples, and cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake the apples for 25 to 30 minutes, or until you can poke them with a knife and they seem perfect to eat (don’t overcook them, as you want them to retain their shape).
- Remove from oven and cool a bit.
- Place each half on a dessert plate, and either construct the splits yourself (I like ice cream, then whipped cream, then I sprinkle all the dried fruits and nuts and Virtuous Goo on top). I think part of the fun of the dessert is having dessert-revelers construct their own, so I recommend putting all the options in little bowls, and having people serve up their own splits. Enjoy!
helping hands
Kids really love to create their own apple splits…very empowering!
notes
- I nutrified this recipe from wonderful Emily Luchetti’s version of apple splits in, “A Passion for Desserts.” Her version requires reducing apple cider for a sauce, and re-hydrating some fruits in apple cider. That was good, but it required more time and another pot, two things Smart Foods cooking tries to minimize! (Plus, I don’t think the cooked sauce and fruits version tastes any better.)
- Now, about that whipped cream…I LOVE whipped cream (it’s my personal weakness), especially when it comes out of my whipped cream maker! It’s so easy, too: take a pint of organic cream, add 1 to 2 Tbs. agave nectar, and a few sprinkles of cinnamon. If you’re using a whipped creamer, just follow the instructions. Otherwise, pour the cream in a bowl, and beat until it starts to thicken. Add the agave and cinnamon, and whip until the perfect consistency to plop on top of any dessert.
This is a Smart Foods Healthy Kids recipe. Get more yummy, healthy, kid-friendly ideas at www.smartfoodshealthykids.com.
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