Baked Apples with Caramel Sauce

By JJCR

Ingredients

• Caramel Sauce:
• 6 same-size Granny Smith apples
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 cup apple juice
• 6 sprigs fresh mint
• 8 tbsp. (1 stick) butter
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup evaporated milk
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Core apples, being sure not to puncture bottom of apples, so the juices will remain. Skin 1/2 inch around top of apples at the opening. Fill each cavity with a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar. Top each apple with a tsp. of butter. Place apples in casserole dish and pour apple juice around them. Bake for approximately 1 1/2 hours.


Caramel Sauce:
Melt butter; add brown sugar and evaporated milk in saucepan over medium heat. Cook until bubbly, stirring constantly. Continue to cook 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add vanilla. Place apples in individual compote dishes and top each with an ample amount of caramel sauce and a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics