Description

Delicious Smoked Apples offer a sweetly smoky twist on classic fall treats. Featuring sweet Fuji or Honeycrisp apples stuffed with a rich mixture of melted butter, brown sugar, dried cranberries, walnuts, cinnamon, and nutmeg, these apples are slowly smoked to tender perfection. Served warm, they pair beautifully with vanilla ice cream for a comforting and flavorful dessert that’s perfect for cozy autumn evenings.

Ingredients

Scale

Apples

6 medium to large apples (Choose sweet varieties like Fuji or Honeycrisp for best flavor)

Filling

6 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
0.5 cup brown sugar (packed)
0.5 cup dried cranberries
0.5 cup walnuts (chopped)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg

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Instructions

Preparation Steps: Begin by gathering all your ingredients and tools, including a smoker, grilling rings or a cast iron skillet, and a coring tool for the apples.
Preheat Smoker: Set your smoker to 275°F and allow it to reach the temperature to ensure consistent cooking.
Core the Apples: Carefully core each apple by removing about three-quarters of the way down to create space for the filling without puncturing the bottom. This preserves the apple’s structure during smoking.
Make the Filling: In a bowl, mix melted unsalted butter with brown sugar until blended. Gently fold in dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg to create a sweet and spiced filling.
Fill the Apples: Spoon the prepared filling evenly into each cored apple, packing it firmly to ensure the flavors meld during smoking.
Arrange Apples in Smoker: Place the filled apples on grill rings or in a cast iron skillet to keep them stable in the smoker.
Smoke the Apples: Smoke the apples for 1 to 1½ hours, until they become tender but still hold their shape. The slow smoking infuses them with a subtle smoky aroma and enhances their natural sweetness.
Serve: Remove the apples carefully from the smoker and serve immediately. They are delightful on their own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for added creaminess and contrast.

Notes

Choose sweeter apple varieties like Fuji or Honeycrisp for the best flavor contrast with the smoky filling.
Ensure not to core all the way through the apples to prevent the filling from leaking out during smoking.
Using grill rings or a cast iron skillet helps stabilize the apples and prevents tipping in the smoker.
Serve warm for the best taste and texture; the smoked apples pair exceptionally well with vanilla ice cream.
Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated, though fresh is best.