BAKED APPLE WITH SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE
One of my favourite scents is the kitchen is the scent of apples baking in the oven – as the nights close in and a chill creeps into the air, comfort food beckons – cosying up on the sofa in our PJ’s with a bowl of baked apple soaked in our super healthy sugar free salted caramel sauce is just about perfect.
Ingredients
- 4 medium apples
- 1/2 tsp coconut oil
- 4 tbsp salted caramel sauce
Instructions
- Line a muffin tray with squares of greaseproof paper or use tulip muffin cases if you have them
- Core the apples with an apple corer or a sharp knife
- Run your knife around the circumference of the apples, about half way down so that you cut the skin – this will give the apples room to expand without bursting their skin
- Rub the coconut oil all over the apples
- Place the cored apples in the cases and cook in the oven forbetween 30 and 45 minutes – the timing will very much depend on the type of apple you are using so keep checking the apples – they are ready when they are fully tender
- Once they are ready take them out of the oven and poor your Salted Caramel Sauce into the centres of the apples until it just spills out over the top
- Serve warm
Notes
THE SCIENCE BIT
It’s hard to believe that this easy-to-make pudding is bursting with nutrition. APPLES contain a long list of phytonutrients such as quercetin, catechin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid. Studies have shown that a typical apple (skin on) only has about between 10mg to 15mg of vitamin C, but its antioxidant effect is the same as 1500mg of vitamin C. Phloridzin (exclusively found in apples), has been associated with providing benefit to asthma patients improving lung health in general and in prevention of bone loss. Chlorogenic acid, has been linked with improved blood sugar balance as it slows down the release of glucose into the bloodstream. Quercetin has been shown to have antiviral, anti inflammatory and anti histamine effect – the superfood hat trick for the kids with gut and immune problems. The nutritional value of this SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE is also spectacular – it has anti microbial and anti fungal properties through the raw honey and coconut milk and is loaded with healthy gut healing fats – ghee is rich in vitamins A, E and K and butyric acid , a short chain fatty acid – beneficial intestinal bacteria convert fiber into butyric acid and then use that for energy and intestinal wall support.
