Halloween Apples

Halloween Apples: deliciously spiced apples steamed and caramelized in the flesh of a moist pumpkin cavern. Spooky but so so good. A great treat for the more mature trick or treaters!

Halloween apples: That phrase echoes in my heart even to this day some several years later. This year it is not just an echo, and that despised received treat that was put aside, in the back drop of mass produced manufactured chocolates and candy, has been revived and has more flavor than ever! A mature Halloween treat that even kids may give up some candy for.

Halloween is upon us and ghastly ghouls, witches, and even some princesses, are getting ready to trick or treat. This day especially night holds such dear memories for me. Back in our day, way long way time ago was a time of great travel and huge commodity. You see when we went out Hallowing, we would go for miles, every once on a while stopping back at home to empty pillow cases. The echoes of Halloween apples and trick or treat heard for miles as groups and loads of kids were running from house to house chanting these phrases in hopes of receiving some candy. Amongst the favorites  any kind of mini chocolate bar and if we got a full size bar we would remember, make a mental note of  that house and went back every year.

Chocolate bars were not the only favorite, golden toffee square which melted in your mouth with every mouthful, gummy things, wagon wheels, chips, cheeses, OMG, memories so vivid as those pillow cases of all these goodies rested under the bed after that ghoulish scary night, and once your parents, my mom, went through it all to make sure there were no open candies and things that could potentially hurt us. Every once in a while, and it happened almost every Halloween, we would get one treat that almost any child would cringe at when received, but still say thank you with as much gratitude behind a smile that would not even move a fly. Yes, that ever so hated Halloween Apple! 

What were people thinking, it's Halloween a time of mounds of candy, chocolate, and other unhealthy products that had not an ounce of nutritional value. I know some of you may add that we chanted Halloween apples and that is exactly what we got, but come on!

I remember the end almost of the apples as stories circulated that  razor blades were found in apples given in a treat bag. Or some child choked on a pin that was in the apple. Were the stories true? I don't know, but Halloween apples stock dropped dramatically and then there were none! Except for those die hards who would not give up on an old tradition, and those were far and few in between. For us kids it was a relief and we would be assured a good haul of favorites, and if an apple did make its way into the bag it was thrown out, not by me but my mother saying "you don't know what someone could have put in that apple". I would play into it as saying "Mom please don't throw that delicious healthy apple out, remember the great depression!" only to receive this look from my mom that would translate into "do you want your ear pulled off" and my acting career was over.

Well, it is several years later and it is Halloween day. The treat bowl is stalked for those kids coming to beg for candy. I will make them work for it, lol, just kidding. The kids will get their treats, but how about us more mature kids, what about us!

I have the answer that will propel that Halloween apple stock once again. A delicious treat of sliced apples mixed with several spices and sugar all stuffed in a miniature pumpkin, to be roasted in a hot oven till the flesh is soft and the apples and sugar have caramelized.

I give you: "HALLOWEEN APPLES"!

These days at the farmers markets you see wagons and trays and huge boxes filled with pumpkins. Some to be carved into lavish intricate creations of spookiness or comedic personality, and others to be eaten, whether it be in pumpkin pie, scones, or your favorite latte. We found a lovely recipe idea at one of the vendors at The Old Strathcona Farmers Market, Stocks Berry Farm. Here you will find a lovely woman always dressed beautifully in her floral dress and apron, wearing a smile that could melt mountains. Her name, Elsie. It was here that she had such cute little pumpkins and beside them was this sign with a recipe for apple stuffed roasted pumpkins. Nicoletta and I immediately had the same idea and so with pumpkin in hand and some sweet apples given to us by our fellow blogger Margaret from Kitchen Frau, we were set for our treat of a trick for Halloween.

Trick or treat or Halloween apples? That is the question.

Halloween apples is such an easy recipe, and you are so going to enjoy the aroma that is going to come from your kitchen when this is baking in the oven. All you need is a miniature pumpkin, hollowed out and cleaned, after you cut the top off of course. Apples of your choice or what you may have lingering around. Some spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamon, butter, brown sugar, and to give a bit of texture to this luscious dish, some granola. We used our homemade granola that Nicoletta made last week, that you can find in this link.

I took the apples, cored and peeled  them then cut them into slices and into a bowl they went. To keep them from browning, I squeezed a bit of fresh lemon juice on them and tossed the apple slices a bit.

Into the bowl goes the cinnamon, pinch of nutmeg, and just a bit of cardamon, the butter chunks, some of the granola keeping some to top the apples,and the brown sugar. A quick toss, then in the pumpkin cave they go. Top the apples with some more granola and this witchy little pretty is going into a nice hot oven to roast!

Timer ringing and the Halloween Apples are done. The smell in the house is amazing, the cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon combination along with the melted butter and roasted pumpkin  is a heaven of a scent. Who needs febreeze or incense when you have this, and this you can eat!

The flavors of this recipe are amazing from the apples soft succulent bathed in that steam cave filled with cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon, sugary butter. The granola crunchy, nutty with hits of maple. Each bite a blissful melding of flavors and textures. We added in some gelato we found at the Italian Center Shop. A nice Pumpkin Spiced  gelato, creamy, spicy, rich flavor and smooth texture, to take this dish to ultimate levels of pleasure.

This Halloween for those of us who are kids at heart, treat yourselves to this delectable treat, you may have the kids curious as your face goes into pleasurable formations and that smile brightens the room, and the echoes of Halloween apples is revived!

Viva la Halloween Apples! Trick or Treat?

Thank you Elsie and Stock Berry Farm for the inspiration!

Song of the day: "I put a spell on you" by Bette Midler.

Halloween Apples

★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

No reviews

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

• Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 mini pumpkin
• 2 small apples
• 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of nutmeg
• Pinch of cardamon
• 1 tbsp cold butter
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• ¼ cup granola

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Pumpkin:

1. Cut top off of pumpkin and save for a lid.
2. Clean out inside of pumpkin with a spoon discarding the seeds and pulp, leaving you with a nice hollow bowl.

Apples:

1. Core and peel apples.
2. Cut apple into 2-3 mm slices and place in a bowl.
3. Squeeze lemon juice on top and toss.
4. Sprinkle in cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon and blend.
5. Toss in some of the granola, leaving some to top the apples after.
6. Cut in little morsels of the butter and mix well.

Assembly:

1. Place apple mixture into the pumpkin.
2. Top with remaining granola.
3. Place in a pre-heated 350° F oven for 50 minutes.
4. Take out of oven and serve.
5. We served it with pumpkin spiced gelato.
6. Enjoy!

Notes

You can serve it like it is and eat out of the pumpkin with a nice dollop of ice cream of your choice, or you can put it in a bowl. Either way equally delicious.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2 servings

Recipe Card powered by

Disclosure: All links in our post are NOT affiliate links. They are only about products or places we normally purchase and like.  

Loreto

When I am not cooking, I enjoy playing musical instruments, singing, writing. I have learned over the years to live in gratitude and enjoy the moment.