Baked Apples

Brunch. The Holidays. Tuesday.

These things have something in common that many a warm-blooded human can identify with. What is this? The desire to treat ourselves and splurge. Oh and heaven forbid we have brunch during the holidays!

As a personal trainer and healthy living coach as well as a lover of food (okay, a bit of a foodie) I often struggle when bringing dishes to events, and sometimes hosting myself.  You see... I like good food, and I want to bring or serve good food.  I also don't want to be "that girl" who always brings the vegetable tray (though, I'll be honest... I often bring a vegetable tray along with my homemade Easy Guacamole!).

As a whole, most meals I can generally handle, and my clients are okay with my suggestions of what they can bring for certain events.  However brunch, especially Holiday brunch is the kicker. 

Never fear, I got you.

These sugar-free baked apples are A-Mazing.  Think apple pie without the crust.  Really.  Of course, if you want you can add a bit of sweetener (I'll make my suggestions in the recipe), but really... you don't need it.  I promise.

This recipe is so easy, you can make it for any size crowd.  Cut it in half... or quadruple it. It's lovely as a decadent dish as part of a fabulous brunch, or serve along side frozen yogurt for a treat!  There are lots of options... so make it yours. 

Baked Apples

4 apples
2 Tbsp Cinnamon (or less, to taste) 
2 Tbsp Water
(Optional- brown sugar and/or sweetener such as stevia)

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Cut clean apples into wedges and place in baking dish (you can peel your apples if you want. I don't- it takes more time and I have no problem with skins) 
3. Put water in baking dish & sprinkle apples with cinnamon.  I like of cinnamon, but as I mentioned before- I don't put any sweetener on my apples.  If you want to put a couple tsps of brown sugar and/or stevia on the apples, you may want to lower the amount of cinnamon.  That, or if you just don't love lots of cinnamon.  You do you. 
4. Bake for 30-45 minutes... you will smell the apples. They will smell heavenly. 
5. Remove from oven when at desired softness, and stir. 
6. Enjoy! (try to wait until they cool a bit... things that are baked are hot...) 

Before putting in oven.

After removing from oven. 

After stirring. Yum!