Not Your Grandma's Baked Apples

You've had baked apples before, right?  You know, the soggy texture?  Well I guarantee that these are unlike anything you've had before!  After they are baked, the apples have a nice, crisp texture when you bite into them, but it's not like you're eating a regular apple.

As I have mentioned on previous occasions, Ben likes to make up his own recipes, and I'm fine with that because he is a great cook that can throw anything together and make it taste good (something I cannot do).  These baked apples were made sans recipe. (that's "without" for all of you non-Frenchies!) 

Ingredients
4 Honey Crisp apples
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/3 cup craisins
1/3 cup walnuts
1 tablespoon cinnamon 
4 small pads of butter
maple syrup

Preheat oven to 375 degree. Core the apples (see below picture).  Score the apples around the middle.  Mix brown sugar, craisins, walnuts, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Scoop into apples.  Make sure to pack the mixture down in the apple so you can get as much in there as possible.  Pour a little maple syrup on each apple and add a small pad of butter to the top of each. Bake for 30-45 minutes, depending on how soft you want the apples.  The apples will lose a little color when they are baked, so don't be alarmed!

You can serve these whole in a bowl and even add a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you like!  They taste just like an apple pie!