Warm baked apples are a comforting breakfast (or dessert!) on a cool fall day. They are even better stuffed with cinnamon and pecan oatmeal. Here's a delicious vegan and gluten-free recipe:

Ingredients:

4-6 apples, large enough for stuffing

2 cups oats

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

½ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp nutmeg

1 cup and 2 tbsp milk

½ cup applesauce

¼ cup maple syrup

½ tsp vanilla extract

1 Tbsp coconut oil

¼ cup Pearson Natural Pecan Pieces

1 Tbsp brown sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice the top off of the apples. Scoop out the inside of the apple, including the seeds, with a spoon or knife. Be careful not to pierce the apples, since they will be used as a bowl for the oatmeal. Mix the dry ingredients: oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. In a different bowl mix the wet ingredients: milk, applesauce, maple syrup, vanilla and coconut oil. (Make sure the coconut oil is melted. It only needs to be slightly warm in order to melt.) Once both the dry and wet ingredients are mixed, combine them into one bowl and mix them together. Fill each apple with the oatmeal mixture. (No need to worry about over-stuffing.) Place apples upright in a cake pan and bake for 30 minutes. Wait a few minutes for the apples to cool. Top with chopped pecans and drizzle with honey. For a yummy dessert, serve with vanilla ice cream!

Photograph and recipe courtesy of Marina Delio