Description

Baked Apples with Feta, Honey, and Cranberries is a delightful combination of sweet and savory flavors. This easy-to-make dessert features tender baked apples stuffed with a creamy and tangy feta cheese mixture, sweet dried cranberries, and warm cinnamon, all drizzled with honey for a luscious finish. Perfect for a cozy fall treat or an elegant dessert to impress guests.

Ingredients

Scale

Apples

4 medium apples (such as Honeycrisp or Gala)

Filling

½ cup crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup dried cranberries
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Toppings and Cooking

2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, divided
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a baking dish to prevent sticking.
Core the apples: Carefully core each apple leaving about ½ inch intact at the bottom so the filling stays inside during baking.
Mix the filling: In a small bowl, combine the crumbled feta cheese, dried cranberries, ground cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Stir well until ingredients are evenly mixed.
Stuff the apples: Place the cored apples in the prepared baking dish and stuff each one with the feta and cranberry mixture, pressing it down gently to fill as much as possible.
Add honey and butter: Drizzle honey generously over each stuffed apple, then place a small pat of unsalted butter on top of each to add richness during baking.
Bake covered: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25-30 minutes until the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
Brown and finish: Remove the foil and continue baking for another 5-10 minutes to lightly brown and caramelize the tops of the apples.
Garnish and serve: Allow the baked apples to cool slightly, then sprinkle with freshly chopped mint if desired. Serve warm for the best flavor experience.

Notes

You can use any sweet and firm apple variety like Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji for best results.
To make the dessert nut-free and vegetarian, avoid adding any nuts or animal-based gelatin toppings.
For a dairy-free option, substitute feta with a plant-based cheese alternative.
Fresh mint garnish adds a refreshing aroma but can be omitted if unavailable.
Ensure not to core the apples all the way through to prevent the filling from leaking out during baking.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 stuffed baked apple
Calories: 220
Sugar: 28g
Sodium: 280mg
Fat: 7g
Saturated Fat: 3.5g
Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 35g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 15mg

Keywords: baked apples, feta cheese dessert, honey and cranberry apples, sweet and savory dessert, fall recipe, easy baked fruit dessert