Baked Honeyed Apples with Macadamia Nuts – Big Island Bees

Autumn is in the air and the evenings in Kona are getting nippy.  If you are looking for a flavorful , elegant yet simple dessert that evokes the feeling of Fall, this is the recipe for you. This dish is as tasty as apple pie, but it takes a fraction of the time and effort.  Of course, a scoop of vanilla ice cream makes everything taste better, but I enjoyed these hot, syrupy apples spooned over Greek yogurt. Any which way, they are delicious.  I used Macadamia Nuts in the recipe because, besides tasting so good, I like to support our local industry.  However, feel free to substitute them with almonds or hazelnuts.

Ingredients:

Serves 6

• 1/3 cup Macadamia Nuts
• 1/3 cup Big Island Bees Organic Lehua Honey with Cinnamon
• 3 Tablespoons unsalted, melted butter
• 2 Tablespoons Amaretto liqueur ( optional)
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Vanilla extract
• 3 apples
• Hawaiian sea salt

Directions:

1. Roast the Macadamia nuts at 350F on a baking sheet for 4 minutes or until very lightly browned. Do not over roast. Let them cool, then chop the nuts and set them aside. Keep the oven on at 350F.
2. In a small bowl, mix the honey, the melted butter, the amaretto ( if using) and vanilla extract.
3. Pour 1/4 of the mixture at the bottom of a baking dish that is large enough to hold 6 apple halves.
4. Peel the 3 apples, then slice them in half, lengthwise. Remove the core.
5. Place the apple halves in the baking dish on top of the portioned honey mixture.
6. Pour the remaining honey mixture on top of the apple halves in the pan. Gently flip the apples around until they are well covered in the honey mixture. Make sure that the apples go into the oven with the round side up in the pan.
7. Roast the apples in the preheated 350F oven for 40 minutes. Use a spoon to baste the apples every 15 minutes. After 40 minutes, add the chopped Macadamia Nuts. Incorporate the nuts into the syrupy mixture in the pan on the sides of the apples, not on top. Roast the apples for another 15 minutes.
8. The apples are done when they look golden and well caramelized.
9. Let the apples cool slightly , then serve, spooning the nuts on top. Sprinkle with a bit of Hawaiian sea salt.
10. These luscious apples are delicious served on their own, or on top of a scoop of vanilla ice cream or yogurt.