Caramel Stuffed Baked Apples

Ingredients:

For the Apples:

• 4 medium apples – any kind
• 8 unwrapped caramels
• 1 tsp cinnamon – divided

For the Topping:

• 1/4 C rolled oats
• 1/3 C flour
• 1/3 C brown sugar – firmly packed
• 1/3 tsp cinnamon
• 4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) butter – chilled

Optional:

• whipped cream
• caramel sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Line an 8″ square baking pan with foil – set aside

For the Topping:

1. In a small bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon together
2. Cut in butter with a fork or pastry cutter until the mixture is crumbly – resembling coarse crumbs – set aside

For the Apples:

1. Cut off the tops of each apple
2. With a melon scoop or spoon, scoop out the core of the apple – make sure to remove all seeds, but leave the bottom in tact so that you have an apple “bowl”
3. Place 2 caramels in each apple
4. Sprinkle with cinnamon (1/4 tsp for each apple)
5. Generously sprinkle with the crumb topping
6. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes
7. If desired, top with whipped cream and caramel sauce