We launched baked apples just under a year ago as a 3pm special. Ever since, we’ve run them our breakfast menu at HSQ. Ayr was talking with Tony Russo at about this time last year. He runs Russo’s, where we get a lot of our vegetables. When Tony was a kid he would come through Harvard Square and have baked apples for breakfast. The diners would make a batch and serve them till they ran out.

I hadn’t really heard of these for breakfast before. They’re fun to make up around the holidays (with kids) for breakfast or for a snack (some people add ice cream for a dessert). Cortland apples are my favorite to bake.  Fuji or Gala make good substitutes. If you want to make at home, simply:

Pre-heat oven to 350°F.

Wash apples.

Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon at the bottom of a baking dish.

Core the apples and place in baking dish.

Fill centers with brown sugar and a small pat of butter.

Add about a 1/2 inch of water to baking dish.

Bake, basting every 20 minutes or so, until apples are very soft. (approx. 50 – 75 minutes for Cortlands — 75 – 90 minutes for Fujis or Galas).

Serve warm or at room temperature. Should be soft enough to be eaten with a spoon.

If you make these at home, let me know how they turn out.

We are running these as a 3pm special starting today at all of our locations.