Ingredients
6 baking apples (preferably organic, such as Honeycrisp), cored
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, preferably European-style
Grated zest of 1/2 orange, preferably organic
1/2 cup raspberry or gooseberry jam
2/3 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts
Toasted-Flour Cookies, optional
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fit apples snugly in a medium oval baking dish (apples should not tip over).
In a small bowl, combine sugar, butter, and orange zest until well incorporated. Transfer to a piping bag; pipe butter mixture into each apple, dividing evenly. Add 2 tablespoons water to baking dish.
Bake, basting twice with pan juices, until apples are tender but not falling apart, 40 to 50 minutes.
Transfer baking dish to a wire rack. Add a heaping tablespoon of jam to each apple; sprinkle each with a scant tablespoon of hazelnuts. Serve warm with cookies, if desired.
