So, I’ve been trying to stick to this AIP thing, you know, the Autoimmune Protocol diet. It’s tough, especially when you get that craving for something sweet. Regular desserts are totally out. I was really missing a little treat after dinner.
I decided I had to figure something out. Couldn’t just sit there feeling sorry for myself, right? I spent some time scrolling online, looking for ideas. Found a bunch, but they all seemed kinda complicated or needed weird ingredients I didn’t have.
Finding a Simple Idea
Finally, I landed on something that looked doable – baked apples. Seemed simple enough. Apples, cinnamon, maybe a drizzle of maple syrup (making sure it was the real stuff). Okay, I thought, I can handle this. Didn’t need any fancy flours or binders I couldn’t find.
Getting Started
So, I went to the kitchen. Grabbed a couple of nice, firm apples. Washed them off. Then came the tricky part – coring them. I don’t have one of those fancy apple corer tools. I just used a small knife, carefully cutting around the core. Made a bit of a mess, not gonna lie, but got it done without slicing my finger off. Success!
I wanted a little something extra inside. I remembered I had some raisins and shredded coconut (unsweetened, of course – always gotta check the labels!). I mixed those in a small bowl with a good shake of cinnamon and a tiny splash of maple syrup. Just enough to make it stick together a bit.
Stuffing and Baking
Then, I stuffed that mixture into the hollowed-out apples. Packed it in there pretty good. Placed the apples in a small baking dish. Poured maybe half an inch of water in the bottom of the dish – someone online said that helps them steam and not dry out. Seemed like a good idea.
Into the oven they went. I set it at, maybe 375 F? Something like that. Didn’t really time it perfectly, just kept an eye on them. The kitchen started smelling amazing, all warm and cinnamony. That was the best part so far.
The Result
After maybe 30-40 minutes, they looked soft and bubbly. I carefully took them out. Let them cool down for a bit because molten apple is no joke.
And you know what? They were actually pretty good! Soft, warm, sweet but not too sweet. The raisin and coconut filling was tasty. It wasn’t like a fancy cake or anything, but it totally hit the spot. Felt good to make something myself that I could actually eat.
- Washed and cored the apples (the hard part!).
- Mixed raisins, coconut, cinnamon, and a little maple syrup.
- Stuffed the apples with the mixture.
- Put them in a baking dish with some water.
- Baked until soft.
- Let them cool slightly before eating.
It was a simple thing, really. Took a bit of effort, mostly the coring part, but totally worth it. Nice to know I can still have a dessert now and then. Definitely doing this one again.
