Baked Apples
4 apples, cut in half across the equator
¼ cup pure maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
½ cup chopped walnuts
½ tsp vanilla extract
2 TBSP butter, divided
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Scoop the seeds and core out of the apple halves, creating an opening inside the apple to hold the syrup. Place in an 8x8 square baking dish.
In a small saucepan, gently heat syrup and cinnamon over low heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until syrup has slightly thickened. Off the heat, stir in walnuts and vanilla extract. Pour syrup over apples, filling the openings you created when you scraped out the core. Divide the butter into 4 equal parts and place pats of butter on top of the apples.
Bake for 30-40 minutes until apples are tender. Spoon syrup drippings over apples. Serve warm.