Photo: anjuli_ayer

I’m not sure where Atticus learned the word “treat.” But lately, he’s been using it. Alot. At the deli when I tell him to use his inside voice: “Please I want lolipop treat?” At Target when I tell him to stay in the cart: “Please I want surprise treat?” And at home when I tell him to eat his dinner: “After I eat I have dessert treat?” (Yes, he still speaks like a caveman.)

It’s annoying. Plus, it makes food a reward. And I’ve read enough to know that food-as-reward can set a kid up for a future of food issues. Not to mention I don’t want him eating nutritionally empty foods when he isn’t eating much these days. Still, there’s such thing as balance. And I like a good dessert after a good meal, so why shouldn’t he? That’s why I decided to investigate healthy dessert/treat alternatives. And came up with these naturally sweet, easy-to-make, feel-like-home Roasted Coriander Walnut Apples.

Roasted Coriander Walnut Apples

(can be served to kids 12+ mos)

4 large organic baking apples (Rome or Golden Delicious)

1/4 cup organic sucanat (you can also use brown sugar)

1 tsp ground organic coriander

1/4 cup chopped organic walnuts 

1/4 cup chopped organic raisins

1 tbsp organic butter

3/4 cup boiling water (more or less depending on the size of your baking pan)

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Wash apples. Remove cores. Make the holes about one inch wide and leave 1/2 inch at the bottom of the apples. Use a paring knife to first cut out the stem area and second cut out the core. Make sure you don’t go all the way through the bottom of the apple. Take your time.

3. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, coriander, walnuts, and raisins.

4. Place apples in a baking dish or pan. Stuff each apple with the fruit/nut/spice mixture. Top each apple with 1/4 of the butter.

5. Add boiling water to the baking pan until the water comes about 1/4 of the way up the side of the apple. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until tender, but not mushy. Remove from the oven and serve while still warm but not too hot for sensitive little mouths.

Tips: Walnuts are high in omega 3s. But they are also among the top 8 allergenic foods. Most experts agree that nuts can be introduced after the age of 1 year if your child is food allergy free and there is no history of food allergies in your family. But we recommend you speak to your pediatrician about what’s best for your child before introducing nuts.