Baked apples are a classic fall comfort food. So, when I saw a hundred-year-old recipe for Apple Mallows (Baked Apples with Marshmallows), I decided to give it a try. The recipe was included in an advertisement for Campfire Marshmallows in the November, 1926 issue of Good Housekeeping. Here is the original recipe:
Processed foods were rapidly becoming part of the U.S. diet by the 1920’s. Advertisers, including the Campfire Company, developed recipes that incorporated the food they were promoting into traditional desserts and dishes.
The advertisement said that the recipe was “tested and approved by Good Housekeeping Institute.” Apparently, the Campfire Company thought cooks would be more likely to trust that it was a good recipe if they were assured that the magazine’s research arm had tested it.
I agree with Good Housekeeping Institute’s decision to approve the recipe. Apple Mallows are a delightful variation of a classic dessert. Toasted marshmallows on top of the baked apples bring back memories of toasting marshmallows over a summer campfire, while marshmallows in the center of apples melt into a lovely, thick, sweet, gooey syrup.
The recipe indicated that the Apple Mallows should be served with cream. I didn’t have any cream, so I poured a little milk on some of the Apple Mallows. They were yummy. Additionally, I tried the Apple Mallows without any cream or milk, and they were also tasty that way.
The original recipe called for six apples and 12 large marshmallows, which is two marshmallows per apple. When I made the recipe, I used approximately three marshmallows per apple, so when I updated the recipe I increased the number of marshmallows to 18.
Similarly, I used more butter than the original recipe called for, so I increased the amount when I updated the recipe.
Since this recipe basically entailed just stuffing cored apples with marshmallows, the number of servings can easily be adjusted.
After the apples that had been stuffed with marshmallow pieces were baked, I added whole marshmallows on top. I then put the baked apples under the broiler for a minute or two to lightly brown the marshmallows prior to serving.
The original recipe says that the apples can be served hot or cold, but I served them hot. The gooey marshmallow filling in the middle of the apples was lovely. My sense is that the texture of the marshmallow filling would be quite different if the apples were served cold. When I updated the recipe, I indicated that this dessert should be served hot.
Here’s the recipe updated for modern cooks:
Apple Mallows (Baked Apples with Marshmallows)
6 apples (Use an apple variety that keeps its shape when cooked – Haralson, Rome, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Braeburn, etc.)
18 large marshmallows
2 tablespoons butter
water
cream or milk (optional)
Step 1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
Step 2. Use a sharp paring knife or an apple corer to cut out the apple cores. Once it is cut, a spoon can be used to help scoop the core out. When cutting out the cores, do not go all the way through the apples. Leave about 1/2 inch of the apple at the bottom so that the marshmallow filling will not seep out.
Step 3. Make 6 or 8 vertical cuts in the skin of each apple that goes half way down the apple. Don’t cut all the way through the apple. Just cut the skin.
Step 4. Put the apples in a baking dish that can go under the broiler.
Step 5. Cut 12 of the large marshmallows into eights.
Step 6. Put the marshmallow pieces in the center of the apples. Put small bits of butter in the apples with the marshmallow pieces.
Step 7. Gently pour about 1/2 inch of water into a corner of the baking dish.
Step 8. Put into oven and bake until the apples are tender (about 35-45 minutes).
Step 9. Remove from oven and put a whole marshmallow on the top of each apple. The marshmallows are held in place by gently pushing the bottom of each marshmallow into the holes in the apples.
Step 10. Place under the boiler until the marshmallows are lightly browned (1-2 minutes). Remove from oven and serve. If desired, serve with cream or milk.
Oh, why, oh why… don’t we have marshmallows at home?! 😂
Latvian style baked apples is with sugar and cinnamon 🙂
I haven’t made baked apples in ages. These sound so good!!
This is very rude of me, but I always think you have to be under 8 to like marshmallows. Perhaps they’d be nicer hot, as in this recipe?