6 lg. apples
1 c. apple juice
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. cookie crumbs
1/4 c. walnuts, toasted
1/4 c. chopped dates
1 c. whipping cream
2 tbsp. raisins (opt.)
1 tbsp. cranberries (may be substituted for raisins)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine apple juice and sugar in small saucepan and simmer until sugar dissolves. Starting at stem end of apples, remove above 1/3 of peel from each apple. Core to within 1/2" of blossom end. Combine crumbs, nuts, dates among apples. Arrange apples in shallow baking dish and pour hot apple syrup over top. Bake basting often with pan juice until apples are shiny and sticky and soft, about 45 minutes. Transfer to dessert dishes or bowls. Strain baking juice into saucepan and boil until 1/2 cup. Do not caramelize. Stir into cream and use as sauce.