Sweet Apples In The Oven - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 firm apples (such as Mutsu, McIntosh, or Granny Smith)
4 tablespoons dark brown sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 pinch ground cinnamon or 1 pinch ginger (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400.
Butter a gratin dish just large enough to hold the apples.
Using a sharp knife or an apple corer, core each apple without cutting all the way through to the bottom.
Arrange the apples in the buttered gratin dish and fill each one with 1 TBS sugar and 1 TBS butter.
Sprinkle with cinnamon if using.
Add a little water, to make a thin layer, to the bottom of the dish.
Bake until the apples are soft but still hold their shape, 30-35 minutes.
Serve warm or lukewarm.
Variations:* Soak 2 TBS raisins or surrants in 2 TBS dark rum or Cognace.
Spoon these into the apples along with the sugar and butter before baking.
*Chop a small handful of unsalted nuts and add to the butter and sugar filling.