Maple Baked Apples with Dried Fruit and Nuts

• 1/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons roughly chopped dried cherries
• 3 tablespoons chopped dried figs
• 2 tablespoons roughly chopped sliced toasted almonds
• 2 tablespoons roughly chopped toasted pecans
• 6 large, firm baking apples, such as Cortlands, cored but not peeled
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

1. 1.
2. Preheat the oven to 400F.
3. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, dried fruit, and nuts.
4. 2.
5. Place the apples in a baking pan or casserole dish and stuff their cavities with the fruit and nut mixture.
6. Place a piece of butter on top of the stuffing.
7. 3.
8. Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into the bottom of the baking pan and bake the apples, basting every 5 to 7 minutes, until they are tender, 25 to 35 minutes.
9. 4.
10. When the apples are tender, transfer them to a serving platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
11. Pour the pan juices into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.
12. Simmer the mixture until it becomes syrupy and reduces to a sauce, about 10 minutes.
13. Serve over the apples.
14. Serve with yogurt, whipped creme fraiche, or ginger ice cream.

brown sugar, dried cherries, almonds, pecans, baking apples, unsalted butter, apple cider, maple syrup

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/maple-baked-apples-with-dried-fruit-and-nuts-106057 (may not work)