A slightly tropical accent lifts ye olde baked apple out of the doldrums.

Ingredients
Feeds 4. Takes 1 hour 15 mins.

4 green cooking apples
1 lime or lemon, juice and zest
1tbsp butter
1tbsp runny honey

FOR THE FILLING

2tbsp sugar
2tsp lime or lemon juice
250g fresh ricotta cheese
2tbsp sultanas
2tbsp desiccated coconut

Heat the oven to 180C/Gas mark 4. To make the filling, beat the sugar and lime juice into the ricotta. Stir in sultanas and coconut.

Core the apples quite generously and squeeze lime or lemon juice over the cored surfaces to stop them from browning. Rub butter into each core and lightly slit the circumference of the skins to prevent them from splitting.

Place the apples on a sheet of silver foil on a baking tray. Spoon the filling into the cavities, piling it high, and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, depending on the type and size of the apple, until soft all the way through, but not yet collapsed. Cover the tops with kitchen foil if they appear to be browning too quickly.

Drizzle with a little honey and scatter with finely sliced lime or lemon zest, best made with a citrus zester. Serve hot.

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