Apples with Almond-Apricot Sauce

From our friends at the American Heart Association

Image courtesy of the American Heart Association

Serving: 1/2 apple and 1 tablespoon sauce per serving

Image courtesy of the American Heart Association

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, these delicious apples filled with healthy almonds and dried apricots create the perfect heart-shaped dessert sure to win the hearts of your special Valentines.

Slow Cooker Size/Shape: 4- to 6-quart round or oval

Slow Cooking Time: 2 to 2 1/2 hours on low, or 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes on high

Ingredients

Cooking spray

2 tablespoons water

2 large apples (about 8 ounces each), halved and cored

1/4 cup chopped almonds

2 tablespoons chopped dried apricots

2 tablespoons firmly packed dark brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger OR 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon light tub margarine

Directions

Lightly spray the slow cooker with cooking spray. Pour in the water. Add the apple halves with the cut side up.
In a small bowl, stir together the remaining ingredients except the margarine. Spoon onto each apple half. Top each with 1 teaspoon margarine.
Cook, covered, on low for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or on high for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until just tender. Be careful not to overcook; the apples will continue to cook while cooling.
Carefully transfer the apples to plates, leaving the sauce in the slow cooker.
Stir the sauce.
Spoon over the apples.
Let cool completely, about 30 minutes. The sauce will thicken slightly while cooling.

Quick Tips

Tip: Baked apples are always a treat, but coring whole apples can be a hassle. Just buy larger apples and cut them in half! Then all you have to do is scoop out the easily accessible core, add the sweet toppings, and let your slow cooker take it from there.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (1/2 apple and 1 tablespoon sauce per serving)

Calories:	149
Fat:	5.0 g (.5 g saturated, 1.0 g polyunsaturated, 3.0 g monounsaturated fats)
Cholesterol:	0 mg
Sodium:	34 mg
Total Carbohydrate:	27 g (4 g dietary fiber, 21 g sugars)
Protein:	2 g
Diabetic Exchanges:	1 fruit, 1 other carbohydrate, 1 fat

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