🍎🍫 Mediterranean Apples & Cocoa Bake
Serves: 4–6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 30–35 minutes
🛒 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)
🔪 Instructions
Preheat Oven
Preheat to 180°C (350°F). Lightly oil a baking dish.Prepare Apples
Arrange apple slices evenly in the dish.Mix Cocoa Sauce
In a bowl, whisk olive oil, cocoa powder, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, salt, and citrus zest until smooth.Coat Apples
Pour cocoa mixture over apples and toss gently to coat.Bake
Cover loosely with foil and bake 20 minutes.
Uncover and bake another 10–15 minutes until apples are tender and sauce thickens.Finish
Sprinkle nuts on top during the last 5 minutes if using.
🌿 Serving Suggestions
Serve warm with Greek yogurt or labneh
Enjoy as a light dessert or breakfast
Drizzle with extra honey if desired
💡 Variations
Make it vegan & dairy-free (already is!)
Add raisins or dried figs
Serve chilled like a Mediterranean fruit compote
