Baked Stuffed Apples with Cottage Cheese, Oat Crumble, and Nuts

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Wash and pat dry the apples. Slice off the tops and carefully core them, leaving the bottoms intact to create little cups.

In a bowl, combine the cottage cheese, rolled oats, chopped nuts, raisins or dried apricots (if using), honey (or sweetener), cinnamon, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Taste the mixture—it should be mildly sweet and not too dry; add a bit more honey or a spoonful of cottage cheese if needed.

Stuff each apple with the filling, pressing it down slightly. Cover with the sliced apple tops as "lids" if desired.

Lightly grease a baking dish with oil and place the stuffed apples inside. You can pour 2–3 tablespoons of water into the bottom of the dish to create some juices while baking.

Bake for 25–30 minutes at 350°F (180°C) until the apples are tender and the topping is lightly golden. Baking time will depend on the variety and size of the apples.