Mexican Baked Apple Dessert with Cinnamon and Chili Recipe
A simple dessert made from baked apples seasoned with cinnamon, a touch of chili, and drizzled with lime juice. It’s like a classic baked apple pie without the crust, but with a Mexican twist of gentle heat and a citrusy note. A great way to use up apples that are starting to wilt in the fruit bowl.
This dessert combines the comfort of classic baked apples with a surprising Mexican-inspired twist: a touch of chili and fresh lime juice. The gentle heat, warm cinnamon, and bright citrus make it more complex than a typical baked apple, while still being quick and easy to prepare.
Chef's tips
Choose firm, slightly tart apples so they hold their shape while baking and don’t collapse. Taste your chili beforehand – some varieties are much hotter than others, so adjust the amount to your preference. If your apples are very sweet, you can reduce the sugar slightly and rely more on the natural sweetness of the fruit and raisins.
How to serve
Serve the apples warm with thick natural yogurt, vanilla ice cream, or a spoonful of lightly whipped cream. For extra crunch, sprinkle with additional chopped nuts just before serving. A drizzle of honey or maple syrup works well if you prefer a sweeter dessert.
Ingredients
- apple - 4 pieces
- sugar - 3 tablespoons
- cinnamon - 1 teaspoon
- chili pepper finely chopped or ground - 0.25 teaspoons
- butter - 20 g
- lime - 1 piece
- raisins - 40 g
- nuts e.g. walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds - 30 g
- water - 50 ml
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 190°C (top and bottom heat). Lightly grease a baking dish with butter or line it with baking paper.
- Wash the apples. Cut off the top part like a small “hat”. Scoop out the cores with a teaspoon, leaving the bottom intact so you get a little “bowl”.
- Pour hot water over the raisins and soak for 5 minutes to soften, then drain. Chop the nuts into smaller pieces.
- In a small bowl, mix the sugar, cinnamon, chili, and chopped nuts. Add the raisins and mix again.
- Fill the hollowed apples with the prepared mixture, gently pressing it down with a teaspoon. Place a small piece of butter on top of each apple.
- Arrange the apples in the baking dish. Pour about 50 ml of water into the bottom of the dish so a light sauce forms during baking.
- Bake the apples for 20–25 minutes, until they soften – the skin will crack slightly and the flesh will be soft when pierced with a knife, but not completely falling apart.
- After removing from the oven, let the apples rest for 5 minutes. Then drizzle each one with lime juice and spoon a little of the sauce from the bottom of the dish over the top.
- Serve warm, on their own or with a spoonful of plain yogurt or vanilla ice cream.
Storage
Resztki przechowuj w lodówce w szczelnym pojemniku. Przed podaniem podgrzej krótko w piekarniku lub mikrofalówce – najlepiej smakują na ciepło.
