Stuffed Sweet Potatoes With Apples (Printable Version)
Oven-roasted sweet potatoes filled with cinnamon apples, walnuts and maple; cozy, easy, vegetarian, gluten-free.
# Ingredient List:
→ Vegetables & Fruit
01 - 4 medium sweet potatoes
02 - 2 large apples, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, diced
→ Nuts & Seeds
03 - 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
→ Dairy & Alternatives
04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or vegan alternative
→ Sweeteners & Flavorings
05 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - Pinch of salt
→ Garnish (optional)
09 - 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
10 - Fresh parsley, chopped
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Scrub sweet potatoes, pierce each several times with a fork, and arrange on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 45–50 minutes until tender.
02 - While sweet potatoes bake, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Sauté for 5–6 minutes until apples soften. Stir in walnuts and maple syrup, and cook 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat.
03 - When sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, make a lengthwise slit in each and gently open. Fluff interior with a fork.
04 - Spoon apple-walnut mixture evenly into each sweet potato. Top with dried cranberries and chopped parsley if desired.
05 - Present warm as a substantial side or vegetarian main dish.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The apple-walnut filling caramelizes just enough to taste like a secret dessert hiding in a vegetable.
- It’s one of those recipes that look impressive but is easy enough to throw together on a weeknight.
02 -
- I once tried cranking up the oven to save time, but the sweet potatoes ended up dry—slow roasting gives you that creamy center.
- Tossing the walnuts in at the very end keeps their crunch alive; if they’re added too early, they get mushy.
03 -
- If your sweet potatoes are especially large, check them early and turn them halfway for an even roast.
- A splash of lemon on your diced apples keeps them bright and prevents browning—especially handy if prepping ahead.