Whole30 Baked Apples

a baked apple with filling inside and two on the right in the background. three pecans in the left background.

Oven-baked apples with a crunchy pecan filling that will warm you right up! Great a la mode if you’re having a sugar craving, or as a side dish to a pork loin to bring just a hint of sweet to the savory main dish. Gluten free, no sugar added, paleo, and Whole30.

Course Dessert, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free

Keyword #apples, #paleo, whole30

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 50

Total Time 1 20

Servings servings

Calories 413kcal

Author Taryn Solie

Equipment

one 8x8 square glass baking dish
a microplane/zester
A cutting board
A large sharp knife
a melon baller or pointy spoon (something to scoop out the apples with)
A whisk
A spatula or wooden spoon
A medium sized bowl
Aluminum foil

Ingredients

4 apples Gala

Filling

2 teaspoons ghee (or butter) melted
2 egg yolks
2 teaspoons ginger grated
2 teaspoons almond flour
1 tablespoons coconut cream
1 teaspoons lemon zest (a heaping teaspoon)
½ cup pecans
6 dates

For the bottom of the dish:

¼ cup ghee (or butter) melted
¾ cup apple juice (no sugar added if on a Whole30)

For the tops of the apples once filled:

½ teaspoon ghee (or butter) melted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Chop the pecans on a cutting board with a large sharp knife and toast for 4 to 5 minutes in the oven, until fragrant and starting to brown. Set aside when done.
Wash apples and, using the cutting board, cut off the tops with the knife, just enough to remove the stem and create a flat surface.
Scoop out the core of the apples with a melon baller (or sharp spoon), creating a hole 1.5-2 inches deep and 1.5-2 inches wide per apple (depending on the size of the apples). Set apples aside while you make the filling (if they get a little brown on the inside from being exposed to air it’s fine, just don’t leave them out for too long).
In am medium-sized bowl, whisk the 2 tablespoons of ghee, egg yolks, ginger, almond flour, coconut cream, and lemon zest until well combined.
Remove the pits from the dates and chop the dates into small pieces.
Combine dates and toasted pecans with other filling ingredients in the bowl using a spatula or wooden spoon. Stir until well combined.
Pour the ¼ cup melted ghee and the apple juice into the 8x8 dish.
Stuff the apples with the filling using a spoon. The filling will not be completely level with the top of the apples.
Place a piece of aluminum foil securely over the apples. It’s okay if the foil is not completely closed against the sides of the dish, but it should be mostly closed.
Place the dish in the oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until the apples are soft and can be pierced with a fork (you may need to use a pointed knife to pierce the skin depending on how sharp your fork is).
Remove from oven and let cool at least 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

*Gala apples are fairly sweet. If Gala apples aren't available near you, try Fuji, Cameo, or Honeycrisp.

Nutrition