Pecan Stuffed Apples with Caramel Sauce Recipe

By
Joshua Bousel
a photo of Joshua Bousel, a Contributing Writer at Serious Eats
Joshua Bousel is a Serious Eats old-timer, having started sharing his passion for grilling and barbecue recipes on the site back in 2008. He continues to develop grilling and barbecue recipes on his own site, The Meatwave, out of his home base of Durham, North Carolina.
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Updated August 30, 2018
20120928-224325-pecan-stuffed-apples.jpg
Joshua Bousel

Recipe Details

Pecan Stuffed Apples with Caramel Sauce Recipe

Active 60 mins
Total 60 mins
Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

  • For the Stuffing
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 5 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 4 golden delicious apples
  • 2 tablespoons fresh juice from 1 lemon
  •  
  • Caramel sauce, warmed
  •  
  • Type of fire: two-zone indirect
  • Grill heat: medium-high

Directions

  1. To make the stuffing, in a medium bowl, mix together pecans, 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Set aside.

  2. To make the glaze, combine remaining 3 tablespoons butter, remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until sugar is just melted, then remove from heat.

  3. Halve apples and, using a melon baller, scoop out core and flesh to create a cavity, leaving a 1/2-3/4-inch of flesh remaining. Brush apples with lemon juice to prevent browning.

  4. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange the coals on one side of the charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Brush flesh side of apples with glaze. Place apples over hot side of grill, flesh side down, and cook until apples brown and develop grill marks, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer apples to a cutting board or platter, flesh side up.

  5. Stuff each apple with 1/8 of the pecan stuffing. Place apples on cool side of grill, cover, and cook until apples are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

  6. Remove apples to a platter, drizzle with caramel sauce, and serve.

Special equipment

  • Gril

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