I am always looking for desserts that satisfy my sweet tooth but are not too rich. This Seriously Simple old-fashioned but classic recipe for baked apples fits the bill. You just need to decide what apple variety you want to use, have some maple syrup and cinnamon on hand and you are in business. Depending upon your taste preferences you could choose tart Granny Smith, Pippin, or sweeter Gala, Fuji or Golden Delicious apples. They each have their own unique character so try a few and see what you prefer. The apples are cored, and the skin is left on. Drizzled with maple syrup and sprinkled with cinnamon, these apples let their unique flavor stand out. You can fill the center, if you like with dried fruits, butter and nuts but I prefer this minimal rendition.

I like to baste the apples a couple of times while they bake so the skin will have a shiny wrinkled appearance. These sweet gems are rustic yet casually elegant. Make sure that there is enough water on the bottom of the dish so that the apples will have a thin cinnamon maple syrupy sauce to spoon over. If you are watching your weight, serve warm with a spoonful of vanilla yogurt on the side. Of course, vanilla ice cream would also be a delicious accompaniment. I like to serve a plate of simple shortbread cookies on the side.

Maple Cinnamon Baked Apples

Serves 6

6 medium baking apples (see above)

3 tablespoons good quality pure maple syrup

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¾ cup water

Vanilla yogurt or ice cream, to accompany

1. Preheat the oven to 375F. Use a paring knife or apple corer to remove the stem and core. Make sure that all the seeds are removed.
2. Place the washed apples in a glass or porcelain baking dish. Pour ¾ cup of water in the dish around the apples.
3. Drizzle the syrup over the apples evenly and then sprinkle with cinnamon.
4. Bake the apples 45 to 60 minutes, basting a couple of times, until the apples are tender when pierced with a knife. Remove from oven and let cool.
5. Spoon the sauce on the bottom over each apple so the apples are slightly shiny. Serve warm or at room temperature.