Microwaved Norwegian Baked Apples

These Norwegian-style baked apples cook in the microwave in under 10 minutes, making them one of the fastest warm desserts you can put together. Halved apples get stuffed with a savory-sweet mix of cheese, chopped pecans, raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

The cheese is the Scandinavian touch. It melts into the warm apple halves and plays off the sweetness of the brown sugar and raisins with a rich, slightly salty contrast. Norwegian brunost (brown cheese) is traditional if you can find it, though any mild, semi-soft cheese works.

Cover with plastic wrap after microwaving and let them rest for 3 minutes. That standing time finishes the cooking gently so the apple centers turn soft without the edges going mushy.

Pro Tips

• Choose firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. Soft varieties fall apart in the microwave.
• Rotate the dish halfway through cooking for even results, especially if your microwave doesn’t have a turntable.
• Spoon any juices that pool in the dish back over the apples before serving.

Variations

• Drizzle with honey or maple syrup instead of using brown sugar for a different sweetness.
• Swap pecans for walnuts or slivered almonds.
• Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a quick weeknight dessert that feels special.