Apricot Baked Apples - cooking recipe

Ingredients

6 large apples (use a good flavored variety, such as Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, or Russet)
3 tablespoons real butter, cut into 6 pieces
1/3 cup apricot preserves
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 lemon, juice and zest of, grated

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350F and spray an ovenproof dish with cooking spray.
Core apples.
With point of the knife, make a cut in the skin about 1/3 of the way down the apple, cutting through the skin about 1/8\" deep.
This prevents the apple from exploding during baking.
Arrange apples in prepared dish.
Spoon preserves into the core and dot with butter.
Drizzle with maple syrup and lemon juice.
Sprinkle with lemon rind.
Bake for 30 minutes, baste with pan juices, and bake for an additional 30 minutes (or until apples reach desired doneness).
Serve immediately.