Baked Almond-Stuffed Peaches

Baked Almond-Stuffed Peaches

Ingredients

• 5 large peaches, ripe but firm
• 10 dried apricot halves, finely chopped
• 6 packaged amaretti cookies, crumbled
• 2 teaspoons almond extract

• 1 tablespoon brandy
• 1 large egg white
• 1/3 cup chopped, blanched almonds
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

To serve (optional)
Low-fat sour cream or vanilla ice cream

How to make it  1 hour, 5 minutes



• 1

  Preheat the oven to 350°F. Half-fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Cut 4 of the peaches in half (do not peel) and remove the pits. Slide the peaches into the boiling water and cook just until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Place the peaches cut side up in a shallow baking dish.
• 2

  To make the filling, peel, pit, and finely chop the remaining peach and place in a medium bowl. Add the dried apricots, amaretti crumbs, almond extract, brandy, and egg white. Stir until thoroughly mixed.
• 3

  Heat a small skillet over high heat for 1 minute, add the almonds, then turn and toss them until golden and lightly toasted. Add the almonds to the fruit mixture and toss.
• 4

  Spoon the filling into the cavities of each peach half, heaping up the filling and pressing it together gently. Sprinkle with the brown sugar. Cover the baking dish with foil.
• 5

  Bake the peaches until tender, about 25 minutes. Remove the foil, increase the oven temperature to 400°F, and bake until the topping is golden brown, 5 minutes more. Serve warm with a scoop of low-fat sour cream or ice cream, if desired.

Some More Ideas
Baked raisin-stuffed apples: Instead of the peaches, substitute  5 large red-skinned baking apples (about 2 1/2
pounds), such as Cortland, Jonathan, or Rome Beauty. Cut 4 of the apples in half (do not peel) and core. Instead of the amaretti filling, use the remaining peeled, cored, chopped apple, 1 cup coconut macaroon crumbs, 1/2 cup golden raisins, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon light rum, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 large egg white.

Baked cherry-stuffed pears: Substitute 5 large ripe pears for the peaches and 3/4 cup dried cherries for the apricots.

Baked cranberry-stuffed nectarines: Use 5 large ripe nectarines for the peaches and 3/4 cup dried cranberries for the apricots. Use 1/3 cup chopped pistachios in place of the almonds.

Plus Points

• Dried apricots are a good source of potassium, which is needed to maintain normal blood pressure.
• Amaretti cookies are a type of macaroon made with whipped egg whites and almond paste. Because they are made with a meringue, they are lower in fat than many other cookies.