When I was in college, I would often grab an apple from the dining hall to put in my backpack before heading to class. Then, I’d forget all about it until that night. That’s when I would whip up a Microwave Baked Apple right in my dorm room. It smelled wonderful and tasted amazing with all that cinnamon and buttery goodness.
You’ve probably been guilty of taking an apple from the dining hall or the continental breakfast at the hotel, and then weren’t sure what to do with it. This treat takes next to no time at all to make, and it’s very simple — even if you are a novice at cooking.
A baked apple is a great healthy alternative to apple pie. It has less sugar, and it definitely hits that spot if you’re having a craving for something sweet.
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What kind of apples are for baking?
They often say Granny Smith are favorites for baking, but I don’t like them as they are just too tart. My favorite apples for anything are Macintosh. They are like the sweet tarts of apples. They usually debut in the Fall, and you can find them for a few months at the grocery store.
We also love Golden Delicious and Gala apples. My middle teenage loves apples, too, and his favorite are Honeycrisp apples. Do you have a favorite?
I have made baked apples with all kinds of apples. There is not a “wrong apple” to use. So, if all you have is a Red Delicious — don’t worry about it not being a proper baking apple.
What size apple for baking in the microwave?
For this particular recipe, I used a small Honeycrisp apple. Apples come in all sizes. But remember that the larger your apple, the longer the cooking time will be.
If you use a small to medium sized apple, this recipe should be done in about 2 minutes. But, if you end up using a large apple, be prepared to add an extra minute or two to the cooking time. You’ll know your apple is done when you poke the apple with a fork and you can feel the softness.
How to make a Microwave Baked Apple?
To get your apple ready for baking, you’ll want to remove almost all the core — except for the very bottom of the apple. This will be the hardest part. You have to be careful. I have found scoring the apple with a knife and then using a spoon to scoop out the insides was the easiest way I kept the bottom of the core intact.
The reason behind leaving the bottom is because if you core out the entire middle, the sugar butter mixture you pack in the center of the apple just runs right through the apple.
Also, always put your apple in a bowl to microwave it. If you use a saucer, when you remove the apple from the microwave, it can roll around and dump the super hot sugary mixture onto your skin, which will burn. I have personal experience with this, and it’s not fun.
More Dessert Ideas
Baked Apples in the Microwave
Ingredients
- 1 Apple - cored
- 1 tablespoon white or brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened
- a pinch of cinnamon
Instructions
- Core the middle of the apple, but keep the very bottom intact. This works well with a knife and then spoon to dig it out.
- Mix together the cinnamon, sugar, and softened butter and then add it into the center of the apple and over the top if necessary. Shake a bit of cinnamon over the top.
- In a microwave safe bowl, heat the apple for about 2 minutes.
- Microwaves vary so poke your apple with a fork. When it's soft, it's done.