Oatmeal & Date Baked Cinnamon Apples
During the 30-day real food and fitness challenge there have been days I really wanted a healthy dessert option, but a plain ol’ apple wasn’t making the cut. The real food criteria: it couldn’t be packed full of sugar or butter. So I found a recipe for a baked apple dessert, and after subbing the brown sugar for dates and adding in some healthy pecans, I no longer had a boring apple but a warm and spicy dessert made from 100% unprocessed foods. I love it when sweet meets healthy, and I bet you do too.
This is a super easy dessert your family will love. You can make the recipe for a crowd, or cut the recipe down to 1/4 and make a treat for yourself; it makes getting in a serving of fruit extra special.
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{Oatmeal & Date Baked Cinnamon Apples}
A sugar-free and guilt-free baked apple desert that will warm you up during the cold winter months! Dates are subbed for sugar, and the toasted pecans add extra crunch.
Adapted from: Baked Apples Stuffed with Oatmeal and Spiced Brown Sugar
Servings: 4
Ingredients
4 apples like Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji
1/4 cup rolled oats
8 small pitted dates or 4 Medjool dates
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
4 tbsp chopped pecans
2 tsp coconut oil
Directions
In a food processor or coffee grinder combine dates with 1 tbsp oats, blend until dates are crumbly. In a small bowl mix ground dates with remaining oats, spices, and pecans.
With a paring knife remove the apple core, leaving the bottom 1/2 inch of the apple intact, then widen the opening at the top of the apple so you have room to pack in the filling. Poke a few holes around the rim of the apple to keep it from splitting in the oven.
Divide filling into each apple, then top each apple with 1/2 tsp coconut oil. Place each apple into a greased muffin tin. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, or until apple is soft and topping is browned.
Nutrition info per apple: 200 cal, 8 g fat (2 g sat fat), 34 g carb, 2 g protein, 6 g fiber
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