What started out as a simple recipe to mix Gluten Free granola and baked apples, turned into a family night of experimenting with desserts. We’re not a Gluten Free family, but with more and more friends turning Gluten Free, I’m becoming more aware of a need to learn to create and cook so that I’m not stressed when friends come over. Plus, I love creating new recipes, so adapting favorites to make them Gluten Free is a fun way to create.
A few weeks ago, Middle saw a picture of baked apples and asked about them. A huge fan of applesauce, and his brother a lover of apple pie, I was happy to add baked apples to my “to make” list.
I’ll be honest, the recipe I created was only “eh”, at first. The flavor didn’t mix enough into the meat of the apple, and the baked apple idea was a bomb. But when it comes to desserts, I’m not one to let a recipe just sit and die with horrors of disappointment. By adding a spoonful of Vanilla Bean ice cream (we used Turkey Hill which is Gluten Free, but check the brand websites to determine which ice creams are gluten free) and drizzling with caramel, we determined we were on our way to something good.
What resulted from our trials: a gluten free soupy baked apple ice cream sundae that pleased every palette in the house.
Ingredients
- Apples (one per person)
- Butter
- Fresh Lemon Juice
- Maple Syrup
- Favorite Spices such as Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, etc.
- Vanilla Ice Cream (we used Turkey Hill. If you need Gluten Free, check websites to make sure the brand and flavor is is Gluten Free)
- Udi's Gluten Free Granola
Get Cooking
- Preheat oven for 400 degrees
- Wash apples and cut off the tops
- Scoop the seeds out of the apples (this part isn't as easy as it seems, depending on the size and heartiness of the core. A melon baller or serrated grapefruit spoon may help. I used a paring knife, but the sharp point stuck through the apple which wasn't ideal.)
- Place the apples in a 1/4 - 1/2 inches of water in a baking dish
- Fill the opening with a pat of butter, a few drops of lemon juice, about 1 teaspoon of maple syrup, and sprinkles of favorite spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg (we sprinkled ours on top. I recommend sprinkling on top and inside the cavity so that it mixes in to the apple-meat
- Bake for 45 minutes at 40 degrees
- Take apples out of oven and place each in a bowl with a scoop of ice cream. Optionally, remove the apple skin (which will easily pull off.)
- Sprinkle with Udis Gluten Free Granola and Caramel sauce
- Serve and allow your guests to mix together their own flavored, warm, crunchy ice cream.
- Eat it quickly! The ice cream will melt as the apple is still so warm
Thanks to Udi’s for sending me Gluten Free samples (such as the Granola used in this recipe) to encourage me to learn to cook Gluten Free.
© 2012, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.
Twitter: robinelton
says:
I always wondered if the apple would cave in on itself! I think it was in ‘Animal Vegetable Miracle’ that she tried making soup in the pumpkin and it just fell apart in the oven… but then peppers stand up to this treatment easily, so I don’t know.
But as I’m always telling the kids, how it looks isn’t nearly as important as how it tastes
Twitter: juliempron
says:
yeah, this was pretty ugly–but even if it weren’t it would still taste yummy. I think it stands up well because I kept most of the meat inside. Wonder if she carved too much of the pumpkin insides out?
OMG this looks heavenly- Going to buy apples!
Twitter: juliempron
says:
I can’t wait to make it again in the fall!
Twitter: mommybknowsbest
says:
I’m not gonna lie, the peel in the picture scared me a little but overall it sound yummy! Thanks for sharing, ps I love cinnamon!
Twitter: juliempron
says:
I know. I tried to hide the peel because it’s un-appeeling (haha. pun intended) but it’s realistic. It fell off most of the apples and wrinkled on the ones it didn’t fall off of.
Of course, there are lots of kinds of apples… who knows? maybe there would have been a better one to try?