Roasted Spiced Apple

Ingredients

• 2 firm apples
• 2 tablespoons rolled oats
• 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon butter, softened
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• A small drizzle of honey (optional)
• Plain yogurt, to serve (optional)

Method

1. Heat the oven to 180C (350F).
2. Core each apple, leaving the base intact to hold the filling, and sit them in a small baking dish.
3. In a bowl, mix the rolled oats, chopped walnuts, cinnamon, nutmeg and softened butter into a rough crumble.
4. Spoon the mixture into the centre of each apple, pressing it down gently and mounding a little on top.
5. Add a splash of water to the base of the dish and cover loosely with foil. Bake for 25 minutes.
6. Remove the foil and bake for a further five to ten minutes until the apples are soft and the topping is golden. Serve warm, with a drizzle of honey and a spoon of yogurt if you like.

Why it earns a place on the plate

A baked apple is a quiet kind of treat, the sort of warm, comforting snack that feels like a small reward without much fuss. As it roasts, the kitchen fills with the smell of cinnamon and softening fruit.

The apple itself turns meltingly tender and naturally sweet, so very little extra sweetening is needed. The oat and walnut topping adds a homely crunch along with a little fibre and richness, and the spices make it taste far more special than the short ingredient list suggests.

It is lovely in the afternoon with a cup of tea, or as a gentle finish to dinner. Pair with your daily two capsules of Solva if that fits the moment you take them.