Scrummy Baked apples with fruit and caramel                          

I'd like to tell you about a delicious dessert, the following serves four but you can adjust it to suit.

Ingredients

4 fair sized eating apples

2 handfuls of dried fruit, ( if you havn't had time to do this yourself then the supermarket bags of chopped apricot, raisins and bits are a great time saver)

50g of brown sugar

50g butter

Zest of an orange

284ml double cream

1 tbsp icing sugar

2 tbsp flowing/runny honey

Pinch of mixed spice

1 stem ginger piece chopped

A splash of whisky (optional ...but this is a Scottish Dish :0)

Now how to do it.....

Turn your oven to 180C/350F or Gas mark 4 to warm up.

While the oven is warming up remove the core from the apples with an apple corer or sharp knive, (being careful to keep the apples in one piece) then place them on a baking tray.

Put the sugar, butter,dried fruit, stem ginger and orange zest into a saucepan. Heat and stir until all the sugar has disappeared and the butter has melted and you now have a caramel sauce.

Carefully pour the sauce into the middle of the apples and any excess over the apples together with the honey. Place in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

While the apples are gently cooking, whip the icing sugar,mixed spice and double cream until soft peaks appear, then fold in the whisky, (it's usually around now that the men arrive and ask if they can 'help'.)

After 20 minutes cooking the apples should be ready to serve with a large spoonful of whipped cream.

Total preparation and cooking time about 25 minutes.

I hope you like this recipe and have fun trying it out. 

     Janet