Serves 4 

What you need:
4 Golden Delicious apples
12 cloves 2oz/50g prunes, chopped
2oz/50g dates, chopped
1oz/26g hazelnuts, toasted and crushed
½ lemon, grated zest
13g/½ oz ground cinnamon
2oz/50g honey
100g/4oz low fat crème fraiche
4 mint sprigs

What you do:
Wash the apples and remove the cores, keeping the apples whole. Stud 3 cloves into each apple, place into a shallow baking tray. Mix together the dried fruits, nuts, lemon zest, cinnamon and honey. Spoon the mixture into the centre of the apples and cover with tin foil. Bake at 180°C/350oF/Gas Mark 4 for approximately 15-20 minutes, until the apples are tender. (This time will depend on how ripe the apples are). Carefully remove each apple onto a serving plate supporting the centre core with a pallet knife. Remove the cloves. Place a spoonful of crème fraiche onto the top of the apples, spoon over some of the honey off the baking tray and drizzle with crème fraiche. Finish with a mint sprig.

Abigail Colleran, Bocuse d’Or Commis Chef. 2003.