Ingredients:

  • 4 large firm baking apples (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith blend)
  • 2 Tbsp softened unsalted butter (for filling)
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar (for filling)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries
  • 2 Tbsp dark rum or apple juice (optional)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (for topping)
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats (not instant)
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar (for topping)
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter (for browning)
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease the baking dish. Carefully core the apples, ensuring you leave about a 1/2-inch thick wall at the bottom. Score a light line around the circumference of each apple.
  2. Prepare Filling: In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins/cranberries, and rum/juice. Mix until well combined.
  3. Make Brown Butter: Melt the 4 Tbsp of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until it foams, subsides, and brown specs form at the bottom (nutty aroma). Immediately pour the hot butter into a heatproof bowl to stop cooking.
  4. Make Crumble Topping: Add flour, oats, brown sugar, and salt to the bowl with the browned butter. Use your fingertips to rub the mixture together until coarse, shaggy crumbs form.
  5. Assemble: Place the prepared apples in the baking dish. Generously stuff the cored centers of each apple with the filling mixture. Top each apple evenly with the brown butter crumble topping.
  6. Bake: Pour about 1/4 inch of water or apple cider into the bottom of the baking dish. Bake for 35–45 minutes, or until the apples are tender when pierced with a fork, and the topping is golden brown and bubbling.
  7. Rest & Serve: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly (about 10 minutes) before serving warm, perhaps with vanilla ice cream.