Honey-Spice Apple

Four minutes in the microwave and you’ve got warm, tender baked apples oozing with honey, cinnamon, and plump raisins. This is the fastest path to a cozy dessert for two, and it tastes like something that spent an hour in the oven.

Coring the apples creates a natural well for the raisins and honey-cinnamon mixture. Paring a strip of skin from around the middle is a smart old trick. Without that release, the skin contracts as the apple cooks and the whole thing can split open and lose its shape.

The honey and cinnamon melt together as they heat, pooling in the core and soaking into the raisins. A pat of butter on top bastes everything as it melts down the sides.

Serve warm with a pour of cold cream for that hot-cold contrast that makes simple desserts feel special.

Kitchen Tips

• Choose firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. Softer varieties like McIntosh turn to mush in the microwave.
• Pack the raisins into the core firmly so they soak up the honey as it melts. Loose raisins just fall out.
• Cover tightly with plastic wrap or a microwave-safe lid. The trapped steam is what cooks the apple evenly all the way through.
• Check at 3 minutes. Microwaves vary, and overdone apples collapse into mush. Fork-tender is what you want, not falling apart.

Variations

• Replace raisins with dried cranberries or chopped dried apricots for a tangier filling.
• Add a pinch of ground ginger or nutmeg to the honey-cinnamon mix for a more complex spice blend.
• Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream instead of cream for an apple-pie-a-la-mode experience.