Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Prepare Apples: Wash and core the apples, making sure to remove the center seeds without creating holes. Slice a small bit off the bottom of each apple so they can stand upright. Toss them in lemon juice to prevent browning.
Cheese Mixture: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the shredded cheddar cheese, cream cheese, honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix until well blended and creamy.
Add Nuts and Cranberries: Fold in the chopped walnuts and dried cranberries into the cheese mixture, ensuring an even distribution of ingredients.
Stuff Apples: Generously stuff each apple with the cheese mixture, pressing down lightly to pack it in.
Bake Apples: Place the stuffed apples upright in a baking dish. If desired, you can add a splash of water to the bottom of the dish to create steam. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the cheese filling is bubbling.
Garnish and Serve: Once baked, remove from the oven and allow the apples to cool slightly. Garnish with fresh mint leaves before serving.
Enjoy: Serve warm as a delightful and historic dessert that perfectly balances sweet and savory flavors.
Notes
Optional to add water in the baking dish for steam.