How to Make Fig and Almond Stuffed Apples

Ingredients

• 4 cooking apples
• 1/4 cup blanched almonds, chopped roughly
• 1/2 cup dried figs, chopped
• 1 tsp cinnamon, ground
• 1 tsp orange zest
• juice one orange
• 4 tbsp butter or walnut oil
• 5 tbsp honey or maple syrup

1. Preheat oven to 180ºC.
2. Core each apple. Peel a thin strip from around the centre of each apple.
3. Place each apple in a baking dish.
4. Mix the almonds, figs, ground cinnamon and orange zest.
5. Stuff this mixture into the empty core of each apple.
   
6. Add a dab of butter or walnut oil at the top of each apple and drizzle with a little honey or maple syrup over each apple.
7. Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes. The apples should not be mushy but they should be tender and holding together well. It is a good idea to check the apples from time to time and carefully scoop the liquid over the apples to keep moist.
8. Remove from oven once cooked.
   
9. Place each apple in a shallow serving bowl. Spoon over the remaining juices prior to serving.
10. Add ice cream or thickened cream if desired. Serve.