Introduction

Caramel Stuffed Bloomin’ Apples are a delightful treat that combines the natural sweetness of baked apples with rich, gooey caramel. This warm dessert is perfect for cozy evenings and pairs beautifully with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

The image shows baked apples sliced into segments but still assembled in a circular shape, with a light golden-brown cooked texture on the inside. Each apple holds a smooth, round scoop of white vanilla ice cream in the center. On top of the ice cream, a golden caramel sauce is being poured in a thick stream from a small clear glass pitcher held by a woman's hand, dripping down the ice cream and apple segments. Each apple is topped with its original shiny red skin cap with a small stem. The apples sit closely together on a dark baking tray, contrasting with the shiny caramel and creamy ice cream. The background is simple and dark, emphasizing the warm colors of the apples, ice cream, and caramel sauce. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

Cooking Spray
4 Tbsp Melted Butter
1 Tbsp Packed Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
4 Apples (firm, crisp variety like Honeycrisp)
8 Chewy Caramel Squares
Vanilla Ice Cream (for serving)
Caramel Sauce (for drizzling)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F or an air fryer to 350°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon until well combined.
Step 2: Slice the top off each apple and use a corer to remove the core, stopping just before the bottom to keep the apple intact. Place the apple cut-side down and make thin crosswise slices, being careful not to cut all the way through the bottom.
Step 3: Fill each apple with two caramel squares. Then brush the melted butter mixture over the tops and into the crevices of each apple.
Step 4: For the oven, spray a baking dish with cooking spray and place the apples inside. Bake until tender, about 30 minutes. For the air fryer, place the apples in the basket and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes.
Step 5: Serve the warm apples immediately with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra indulgent finish.

Tips & Variations

Choose firm apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for the best texture that holds up to baking.
Try adding chopped nuts or raisins inside the apples for extra texture and flavor.
For a dairy-free option, substitute melted butter with coconut oil and serve with dairy-free ice cream.
Use salted caramel squares for a sweet and salty twist.

Storage

Store leftover baked apples in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or warm them in the oven at a low temperature before serving. Note that the texture is best enjoyed fresh.

How to Serve

The image shows a dessert with multiple layers, each made inside a hollowed red apple that is cut into thick slices but still held together at the base. The first layer is the apple itself, cut and roasted or baked with a lightly browned, slightly crispy texture on the cut sides. Inside the hollow apple, there is a large scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, pale yellow in color with a smooth, slightly melting surface. On top of the ice cream, thick caramel sauce is being poured from a small clear glass pitcher held by a woman's hand, the caramel sauce is golden brown and glossy, slowly dripping down and covering the ice cream and some apple slices. The dessert is served on a dark tray with a few spills of caramel around, all placed against a solid black background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use any type of apple for this recipe?

While you can use various apples, firm and crisp varieties like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Fuji are best because they hold their shape well during baking.

Is it possible to prepare these ahead of time?

You can prepare the apples with caramel ahead of baking and store them in the fridge for a few hours. Bake just before serving to ensure they are warm and tender.

Caramel Stuffed Bloomin’ Apples Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 100 reviews

Caramel Stuffed Bloomin’ Apples are a delightful dessert featuring firm, crisp apples sliced to create a blooming effect, filled with gooey caramel squares, brushed with a buttery cinnamon-sugar mixture, and baked until tender. Served warm with vanilla ice cream and drizzled caramel sauce, these apples offer a perfect balance of sweet, buttery, and spiced flavors with an inviting presentation.

Author: Marco
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20-30 minutes
Total Time: 35-45 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

For the Apples

4 Apples (firm, crisp variety like Honeycrisp)
8 Chewy Caramel Squares

For the Butter Mixture

4 Tbsp Melted Butter
1 Tbsp Packed Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon

For Serving

Vanilla Ice Cream (for serving)
Caramel Sauce (for drizzling)

Other

Cooking Spray (for greasing baking dish or air fryer basket)

Instructions

Preheat the oven or air fryer: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) or air fryer to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the apples. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon to create a flavorful glaze.
Prepare the apples: Slice off the tops of each apple and carefully use an apple corer to remove the cores, stopping just before reaching the bottom to keep the base intact. Then, place each apple cut-side down and make thin crosswise slices around the apple without slicing through the bottom, creating a blooming effect when baked.
Stuff and glaze the apples: Insert two chewy caramel squares into the core cavity of each apple. Then, generously brush the entire top and the crevices between the slices with the butter and sugar cinnamon mixture to add flavor and aid caramelization.
Bake or air fry: For oven baking, place the prepared apples in a greased baking dish and bake for about 30 minutes or until the apples become tender. For air frying, arrange the apples in the basket and cook at 350°F for approximately 20 minutes until tender and caramel melted.
Serve: Remove the apples from heat and serve immediately while warm. Top each apple with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with caramel sauce for an indulgent, gooey dessert experience.

Notes

Choose firm and crisp apple varieties like Honeycrisp or Fuji to ensure they hold their shape well during baking.
Do not slice all the way through the apple bottoms to maintain the bloomin’ appearance during baking.
You can substitute caramel squares with homemade caramel or caramel chips if preferred.
Monitor baking times as ovens and air fryers can vary; apples should be tender but not mushy.
For a dairy-free version, use vegan butter and substitute ice cream accordingly.

Keywords: caramel stuffed apples, bloomin apples, baked apples, caramel dessert, apple dessert, fall desserts, caramel apple dessert, vanilla ice cream dessert