Pecan-and-Dried Fruit Baked Apples

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 6 large Gala or Rome apples, cored
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened and divided
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons rum (optional)
• Garnishes: whipped cream, toasted pecans

Preparation

1. Place pecans on a baking sheet, and bake at 350° for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, stirring once. Set pecans aside.
2. Make 4 evenly spaced vertical cuts through each apple, stopping halfway from bottom. Brush insides of apples with lemon juice. Place apples in a 9-inch pie plate.
3. Combine 1 tablespoon butter, raisins, and next 4 ingredients. Stuff mixture evenly into apples, pressing into center of each apple. Top evenly with remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Pour cider, vanilla, and, if desired, rum around apples in pieplate.
4. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 20 minutes, basting twice every 30 minutes or until apples are tender. Transfer apples to a serving dish, reserving juices, and keep warm.
5. Pour juices through a wire-mesh strainer into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until mixture is thickened and is syrup consistency. Drizzle over warm apples; garnish, if desired. Serve immediately.