Best Baked Apples

Ingredients

• 7 large (about 6 ounces each) Granny Smith or cooking apples
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
• 1/3 cup coarsely chopped pecans, toasted
• 3 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon finely grated zest from 1 orange
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of table salt
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons apple cider

Directions

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Peel, core, and cut 1 apple into 1/3 inch dice.
3. Combine 5 tablespoons of the butter, brown sugar, cranberries, pecans, oats, orange zest, cinnamon, diced apple and salt in a large bowl; set aside.
4. Shave a thin slice off the bottom (blossom end) of the remaining 6 apples to allow them to sit flat.
5. Cut the top 1/2 inch off the stem end of the apples and reserve.
6. Peel the apples and use a melon baller or small spoon to remove a 1 1/2 inch diameter core, being careful not to cut through the bottom of the apple.
7. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in a 12 inch nonstick, oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Once the foaming subsides, add the apples, stem side down, and cook until the cut surface is golden brown, about 3 minutes.
8. Flip the apples, reduce heat to low, and spoon filling inside, mounding excess filling over the cavities; top with the reserved apple caps.
9. Add the maple syrup and 1/2 cup cider to the skillet.
10. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until a skewer inserted into the apples meets little resistance, 35-40 minutes, basting every 10 minutes with the maple syrup mixture in the skillet.
11. Transfer the apples to a serving platter. Stir up to 2 tablespoons of the remaining cider into the sauce in the skillet to adjust consistency.
12. Pour the sauce over the apples and serve.