Baked Apples (USA)

Recipe by Paula Deen (http://www.foodnetwork.com)
Prep time: 6 minutes
In active prep time: 1 hour
Cook time: 15 minutes

This can be served alongside roasted turkey or chicken, or just as a dessert with some heavy whipping cream. Yum!

1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2-3/4 cup brown sugar
6 same-size granny smith apples (or any other baking apple)
2 tbsp. butter, cut into 6 tsp-size pieces
1 cup apple cider
6 springs fresh mint (optional)
Heavy whipping cream, half-and-half, or vanilla ice cream for topping

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Combine cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.

Core apples, making sure not to puncture the bottom of the apples so that the juices will remain. Remove skin from 1/2 inch around top of apples at the opening. Fill each cavity with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Top each apple with a teaspoon of butter. Place apples in casserole dish and pour apple juice around them. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from heat, garnish with fresh mint, and serve.