Ingredients:

  • 6 medium firm apples (about 900 g), such as Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (15 ml)
  • ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar (65 g)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon (2.5 g)
  • ½ tsp ground ginger (1 g)
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (0.6 g)
  • ⅛ tsp fine salt (0.7 g)
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (43 g)
  • ¼ cup apple juice (60 ml)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (5 ml)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Peel and core the apples. Cut each into slices about ⅓ inch (8 mm) thick. Place the slices in a large mixing bowl and toss with the lemon juice.
  3. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Sprinkle over the apples and toss with a spatula or hands until every slice is coated and the sugar looks damp.
  4. Spread the coated apples evenly in an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) baking dish. In a small measuring cup, combine the melted butter, apple juice, and vanilla. Pour over the apples.
  5. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes, until the apples are steaming and just starting to soften.
  6. Remove the foil and bake for 15 to 20 minutes more, until the edges are golden and syrupy, the juices are bubbling, and a paring knife slides through a slice with little resistance.
  7. Let the dish rest for 10 minutes so the syrup thickens slightly.
  8. Spoon the apples and pan juices into bowls while still warm, giving each serving a generous amount of syrup.