Guest post from Michelle who blogs at The Willing Cook
It cannot get any easier than today’s recipe for Baked Apple & Brown Rice Casserole. In fact, I almost feel guilty because it’s just so easy. But, I have been asked for the recipe several times and it’s always a huge hit at our home.
My mother-in-law has always made the best baked apples. The kicker is that she hardly does anything to the dish, yet it always turns out delicious. Well, this isn’t her recipe, but I did get one very important tip from her — use a variety of apples and pears. Something about the variation in tartness, juiciness, and sweetness lends to a perfectly melded pan of apple goodness.
In this season of our most favorite traditional and bountiful fruit, try this easy baked apple recipe. I promise the whole family will love it and will be asking for the leftovers the next day — if there are any!
Baked Apple & Brown Rice Casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked brown rice (leftover rice is great)
- 3 pounds variety apples, cored & diced large, either skin on or off
- 3 pears, peeled, cored, & diced large
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (you can substitute honey or maple syrup for the sugar)
- 3 Tablespoon coconut oil (or butter)
- 1-2 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- shredded coconut, raisins, nuts (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread the cooked brown rice in a layer on the bottom of a 9×13 glass baking dish. (If you’d like, you can add some of the rice on top of the casserole for a little bit of crunch.)
Cut your apples and pears into large chunks. Skin can be left on or cut off. Mix them around on top of your rice until you have enough apples/pears to just about reach the top of the baking dish. Spread your sugar over the fruit.
Cut coconut oil into small pieces and stagger across top of apples. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg across the top and add any additional toppings (optional).
Bake for 30-40 minutes, until apples are soft but not mushy.
As always, I have a few notes worth mentioning.
::This dish is naturally allergy-friendly. Yay!
::I like to cook up a pot of brown rice a day or two before (for another meal) and use the leftovers in this casserole. It’s a great way to get two meals out of one night’s effort of labor.
::Feel free to sprinkle anything on top of the apples that sound good to you. Some options are shredded coconut, raisins, and even nuts.
Michelle is blessed to stay home with her three children (ages 10, 7, and 4), while her husband works to provide. When she’s not experimenting with allergy-friendly meals, she’s blogging about it at The Willing Cook. Through the Willing Cook, her hope is that you gain peace of mind in your kitchen (and your pocket book) and are able to serve those you love who suffer with food allergies.
What a delicious recipe. It’s perfect for fall, and I love that you can use leftover rice too!
Can’t wait to try it, thanks for sharing!
Looks delicious! Would this be good with apples that are starting to get soft or do they need to be crisp?
I try to use every apple I have when making this dish. It’s a great way to get rid of ones that are starting to go bad. I just trim around the bad spots and through it all in the casserole dish. I promise you that it is hard to mess up this recipe! Enjoy!
I can’t wait to try this and add some dried cranberries and walnuts in the topping
Yum, Nichole, those are great ingredients to add-in! Enjoy!
This looks delicious! can’t wait to try it. Thanks!
Mary Ann,
It is very delicious and you can’t go wrong with it! I’d love to know how it turns out for you.
Michelle
I’m looking forward to trying this for my husband who’s allergic and sensitive to so many things even I have trouble keeping track of the list! Thanks, Michelle! 🙂
You’re welcome, Kate! I hope he enjoys it…and you too! I understand having a husband who is allergic to so many things, I have one too. If you ever need any help managing, don’t hesitate to stop over at The Willing Cook and letting me know.
Michelle,
I love this and think I might try it tonight. Is this just a dessert thing or could I make a supper from this? I think I am eating it for supper no matter what haha.
You know, Tracy, I think we’ve probably eaten this for just about every course 🙂 Usually, we have it as a side dish with other fall favorites like ham, spaghetti squash, etc. But, it would be quite amazing with ice cream on top. It is so versatile that you can do anything with it and never go wrong. Just remember the key: a variety of apples & pears!
I hope you enjoy and would love to know how it turns out for you.
Michelle
I was wondering the same thing! Maybe with porkchops? I always like the apple/porkchop combo.
Yum, Karen, pork chops would be perfect with this! You girls have me already thinking about next week’s meal plan 🙂