Mediterranean Apples & Cocoa Bake

🍎🍫 Mediterranean Apples & Cocoa Bake

Serves: 4–6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Bake Time: 30–35 minutes

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🛒 Ingredients

• 4 large apples (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji), peeled & sliced

• 2½ tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• 3 tbsp cocoa powder (unsweetened)

• 3–4 tbsp honey or date syrup

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• ¼ tsp nutmeg (optional)

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Pinch of salt

• ¼ cup chopped walnuts or almonds (optional)

• Zest of ½ orange or lemon (optional but lovely)

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🔪 Instructions

1. Preheat Oven
   Preheat to 180°C (350°F). Lightly oil a baking dish.

2. Prepare Apples
   Arrange apple slices evenly in the dish.

3. Mix Cocoa Sauce
   In a bowl, whisk olive oil, cocoa powder, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, salt, and citrus zest until smooth.

4. Coat Apples
   Pour cocoa mixture over apples and toss gently to coat.

5. Bake
   Cover loosely with foil and bake 20 minutes.
   Uncover and bake another 10–15 minutes until apples are tender and sauce thickens.

6. Finish
   Sprinkle nuts on top during the last 5 minutes if using.

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🌿 Serving Suggestions

• Serve warm with Greek yogurt or labneh

• Enjoy as a light dessert or breakfast

• Drizzle with extra honey if desired

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💡 Variations

• Make it vegan & dairy-free (already is!)

• Add raisins or dried figs

• Serve chilled like a Mediterranean fruit compote