Bloomin' Apples

Ingredients

• 4 large Honeycrisp apples
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1.5 teaspoons pie spice
• 8 medium caramel squares
• vanilla ice cream
• caramel sauce

Instructions

1. 1

   Gather all ingredients and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

2. 2

   Slice off the top 1/2-inch of each apple. Using an apple corer, a melon baller, or a teaspoon, remove core, starting at the top of each apple and stopping about 1 inch from the bottom of the apple.

3. 3

   Using a paring knife or a round cookie cutter, cut 2 concentric circles 1/4-inch apart outward from core, cutting as deep as possible without cutting all the way through bottom of apple.

4. 4

   Working from the top of the apple, cut vertically into 8 equal slices, leaving apple intact 1/2-inch from bottom.

5. 5

   In a small bowl, whisk together butter, brown sugar, and apple pie spice until well combined. Set aside.

6. 6

   Place apples in an 8-inch square baking dish. Fill each apple with two caramel squares. Brush butter mixture evenly over the tops of each apple. Pour boiling water around the apples to a depth of 1/4-inch in the bottom of the dish. Cover with foil.

7. 7

   Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake, uncovered, until sugar begins to caramelize and apples are tender when pierced with a paring knife, 25 to 30 minutes.

8. 8

   Allow apples to cool for 10 minutes. Using your hands, gently spread apple "petals" apart. Serve warm or at room temperature topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.