If you live in Calgary like I do, you have already lived through a taste of winter. On the southeast side, it was a couple of days of bitter cold, with a good dose of icy wind and blowing snow. Of course, now it is warm out again and the sun is shining….because we live in the Wild West out here, where we are both prairies and mountains. When it was still cold, I wanted nothing more than a comforting cup of hot cocoa….but I couldn’t drink that. I restarted the Gut Makeover after we finished our move and sugar, caffeine and chocolate are definitely not a part of that. I thought of something else instead. Something comforting, takes 5 minutes and is a good breakfast, too! I am thinking of making it for my kids for breakfast tomorrow. It is a good alternative to cheese and meat plates or oatmeal. It’s very quick to whip up and gut-friendly. So here are my simple steps to a quick cinnamon baked apple recipe, with the recipe card on the bottom.
- First, you need good apples. Buy organic if you can, since apples are covered with the most pesticides. If you can’t, wash thoroughly before using. The organic apples at my market were not up to par this time, so this is not an organic apple in the photo. I try to buy them when I can since they are part of the “Dirty Dozen” , but I also watch quality and price (you can only do as much as the wallet allows, amiright?). Chop apples into bite size chunks.
- For sweetness, you need to add half a banana. Slice it and add it to the apples. I cut each slice in half so that they melt better, but you can leave them in full slices if that works for you. The bananas will mush up and melt into the apples after they are cooked, adding sweetness and a creamy textural element.
- Baked apples normally have butter, but I am eating dairy-free at the moment, so I used coconut oil. Not only is it more friendly, I find it really adds to the dish. The coconut oil is used to create a bit more moisture for the apples to cook in and makes a nice gooey caramel-like sauce when everything melts with it.
- Spice time! I stuck with the classics, nutmeg and cinnamon. I add just a pinch of nutmeg or I feel it tastes like woodsy soap…anyone else get that taste when something has too much nutmeg in it?
- To add more texture and a heartiness to the dish, sprinkle on one of your favourite nuts before baking in the microwave. Slightly cooking them makes them easier to digest and they get all warm and lovely. I have found that walnuts, pecans or almonds work best but you can experiment! I used walnuts this time.
- Bake in the microwave for a couple of minutes, stir and add in another one of your favourite nuts as an additional topper, if you like. I did like and added pepitas to get a little extra crunch, but hemp seeds, flax seeds, poppy seeds or sunflower seeds would work just as well.
Enjoy!
Five Minute Cinnamon Baked Apples
A quick baked apple recipe that is great for breakfast, dessert, or to warm you up on a cold day.
Ingredients
- 1 medium apple
- 1/2 banana
- 1 tsp coconut oil refined
- 1 tsp cinnamon or to taste
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- 1 handful walnuts (or favourite nut)
- 1 tbsp pepitas (or favourite nut or seed)
- 1 Tbsp plain yogurt (optional)
Instructions
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Chop apple to bite size chunks and add to small microwaveable bowl.
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Take a banana and cut it in half. Slice half of the banana in thin slices and arrange on top of the apples.
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Measure out 1 tsp of your coconut oil and divide in four on top of the apples, making sure to get each side with a little bit of the coconut oil.
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Grab your nutmeg and add a pinch or two over the apples. Measure out 1 tsp of cinnamon and sprinkle over the contents of the bowl, making sure to get all of the fruit. If this doesn't look like enough cinnamon, feel free to add to taste. (Sometimes I use as much as a Tbsp. or two).
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Add a handful of the walnuts or your favourite nut. Chop into smaller pieces if desired.
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Put in the microwave, uncovered, for one minute on High. Take out and stir- watch your fingers as the bowl may be hot! Place back into the microwave and cook for one more minute on High. Take out and stir again. Test the apple pieces with a finger or fork for doneness. Apples should be soft but not mushy, with a bit of firmness in the middle. If not quite done, put back in the microwave for 30 seconds on High or until apples feel done.
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Take out of the microwave and add the pepitas for a little crunch. If you don't like pepitas, you can add your favourite seed or nut. Have fun with this recipe. Dried cranberries, raisins or even chopped up peaches or grapes are great toppers or additions. For extra creaminess, and if you're not dairy-free, top with a dollop of plain yogurt. Enjoy!
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