Honey & Spice & Everything Nice Baked Apples

by Amy Loeb November 08, 2017

There are a lot of takes on baked apples with honey, but this is my favorite because of the addition of apricots, raisins and savory spices. Serve this dish on its own or with ice cream for a healthful treat that is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 cups Apple Cider
  • 1/2 cup packed Brown Sugar
  • 1/3 cup Stakich Raw Honey or Buckwheat Honey
  • 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp Salt
  • Pinch of Fresh Ground Pepper
  • 6 Unpeeled Apples (cored and halved)
  • 1/2 cup Golden Raisins
  • 1/2 cup Dried Apricots
  • 6 Whole Cloves
  • 2 or 3 Anise Pods
  • 2 or 3 Cinnamon Sticks
  • 1/4 cup Apple Brandy (optional)

Directions

1) In a medium saucepan, combine the apple cider, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for about 25 minutes or so, or until mixture is syrupy and reduced to about 2 2/3 cups.

2) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put the apples, cut side down, in a 12-inch baking pan. Distribute the raisins, apricots, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon sticks, if using, over the apples. Pour the hot syrup over the apples. Cover the pan with aluminum foil.

3) Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until the apples are almost tender, but NOT mushy. Remove apples from the oven, flip them apples over, and add the brandy. Baste apples with the apple cider and apple brandy many times, allowing the apples to absorb the flavor. Let the pan stand, covered, for 15 minutes.

Serve baked apples with the liquid and dried fruits spooned over them in a bowl. Served with whipped heavy cream or ice cream and a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

📸: Popsugar Foods

Related articles

  • Wellness Resolutions You’ll Actually Want to Keep This Year

    by Trisha waytotrisha@gmail.com February 04, 2026
    Every January, we all start with big plans. Eat healthier. Feel better. Finally, take care of ourselves. Then, a few weeks in, those resolutions start to feel like a chore. It’s not that you’re lazy or unmotivated. The real problem? Trying to change everything all at once just doesn’t work. This year, let’s keep things simple. The best habits are the ones that fit naturally into your life, the ones you don’t dread, even on your busiest days.

  • Tips on how to use Stakich’s top three products for ultimate health routine

    by Trisha waytotrisha@gmail.com February 01, 2026
    Whether you're boosting immunity, enhancing energy, or upgrading your daily nutrition, this guide will show you why Stakich bee products can help you in every type of wellness routine.  

  • Propolis: Safe Natural Support for Everyday Wellness

    by Trisha waytotrisha@gmail.com December 05, 2025
    Propolis is a resinous mixture produced by honey bees when they collect sap from trees and mix it with beeswax and enzymes. The result: nature’s own protective compound, used by bees to seal their hive and guard against bacteria, fungi, and weather. Because of its rich composition of polyphenols, flavonoids, and antimicrobial compounds, propolis is now valued as a “bee-made immunity booster” and “ wellness ally.” PMC+2PMC+2

  • Amazing Secrets of Honey Bees: Lesser-Known Facts How Bees Shape Our World

    by Trisha waytotrisha@gmail.com November 03, 2025
    Let’s get real about honey bees for a second: These little guys are basically the world’s MVPs. You think they buzz around making honey for your toast? Bees: The Real Foodies’ Wingmen, Here’s the serious bit: When bees start dropping off, it’s a big red flag for the environment. They’re like those canaries in the coal mine—if they’re not okay, odds are, we’re messing something up (pesticides, climate, you know the drill). Saving the bees isn’t just about saving honey; it’s about keeping our own butts.  
Back to The Buzz