Bloomin’ Apples

"This was soooo good and flavorful!"

1
Bloomin’ Apples with scoops of ice cream and caramel on blue plates next to a cup
Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
55 mins
Cool Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 20 mins
Servings:
4 (serving size: 1 apple)

Say hello to the Bloomin’ Apple—a sweet fall spin on the classic restaurant favorite. This fun, interactive dessert transforms a Honeycrisp apple into a show-stopping treat that’s “soooo good and flavorful!” according to our recipe testers.

Unlike the Bloomin’ Onion, this dish isn’t deep-fried. Instead, we brush each apple petal with buttery apple pie spice, then bake them until they’re perfectly tender and syrupy-sweet. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you’ve got a cozy, crowd-pleasing dessert that’s as easy as it is impressive.

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 (serving size: 1 apple) servings

  • 4 large (9 ounce) Honeycrisp apples

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons apple pie spice blend

  • 8 medium soft caramel squares (such as Werther's)

  • vanilla ice cream

  • caramel sauce

Directions

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

    Bloomin’ Apple ingrediens on a counter

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  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.

    Core being removed from apples on a wooden cutting board

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  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.

    Hands using a round cookie cutter to cut into apples on a wooden cutting board

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

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

    Hands cutting apples on a wooden cutting board

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

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

    Butter, brown sugar, and apple pie spice mixture in a glass bowl with a whisk

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  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.

    Apples with brown sugar mixture on top in a glass baking dish

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  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. 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.

    Bloomin’ Apples with scoops of ice cream and caramel on blue plates next to a cup

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

745 Calories
41g Fat
97g Carbs
5g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 745
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 41g 53%
Saturated Fat 25g 127%
Cholesterol 99mg 33%
Sodium 241mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 97g 35%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Total Sugars 77g
Protein 5g 11%
Vitamin C 11mg 12%
Calcium 129mg 10%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 474mg 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.