During my freshman year at the University of Vermont, I became a pro at apple picking, and at cooking up all those apples I picked. I probably know at least 20 different ways to bake an apple!
So ever since college, it just doesn’t feel like fall without a slew of apple recipes rotating through my kitchen. Luckily, apples are a great healthy choice. One small apple has about 80 calories and delivers great vitamins and 4 grams of fiber. And that means you won’t be hungry after snacking on one (or eating one for dessert). Sure, many of the calories come from sugars, but with all that fiber, it’s unlikely you’ll be sitting down to consume huge quantities of them at one time.
My favorite apple concoction is apple pie a la mode. While I love to occasionally indulge on the real deal, I scratch the cinnamon-apple and cream itch with my healthier individual inside-out apple crumbles! It’s a baked apple with the crumble cozily tucked away on the inside of the apple where the core used to be. I love individual desserts because they feel a smidge fancy. They also have their own portion control built right in. What a perfect way to celebrate fall.
INSIDE-OUT APPLE CRUMBLES
Start to finish: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
4 small sweet apples, such as Honeycrisp or Fuji
1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup rolled oats
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground dry ginger
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon honey
Nutrition information per serving: 240 calories; 80 calories from fat (33 percent of total calories); 9 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 10 mg cholesterol; 20 mg sodium; 36 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 26 g sugar; 7 g protein.
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