Posted by LladyRusty May 9, 2001

Source: cbsnews.cbs.com

4 teaspoons butter plus additional to coat the baking dish
4 apples (mix the varieties, if you like)
4 whole cinnamon sticks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon powdered cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Combine the powdered cinnamon and the sugar, and set aside.

Butter the inside of the baking dish, sprinkle the bottom with some of the cinnamon sugar, and add 1-2 tablespoon of water. Set aside.

Peel and core the apples, and then cut each apple into very thin slices, cut across the equator, or perpendicular to the core. Reassemble the apple slices to form one whole apple, and place it in an oven-proof dish, large enough to hold all four apples.

Repeat process with each apple.

Divide the butter into four equal pats, and place one over each empty apple core. Pierce each pat of butter with a cinnamon stick, driving the stick all the way into the apple (the butter will sink into the empty core as well).

Sprinkle the apples with remaining cinnamon sugar, and place in oven. Bake, uncovered, until beautifully caramelized, 40 minutes to an hour.

Serve warm.  Et voila!