Ingredients

For the Baked Apples:
6 Golden Delicious apples
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Caramel Sauce:
1/2 cup water
2 cups sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup ( 1/2 stick) butter
1/2 cup pecan pieces

To prepare Baked Apples: Core apples with melon baller or round teaspoon to form cavity. Stand apples in buttered baking dish and set aside.
In a small saucepan, heat honey and butter until blended. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Fill cavities of apples evenly with honey mixture. Bake at 350 F for 45 minutes or until apples are tender.

Directions

To prepare Caramel Sauce: While apples are baking, pour 1 cup of water into heavy saucepan. Pour sugar into center of pot, keeping sugar from sides of pan. Bring to boil over high heat. Continue boiling until syrup is thick and straw-colored, about 15 minutes.

In separate saucepan, heat heavy cream to simmer. Remove sugar syrup from heat; slowly whisk hot cream into syrup until smooth. Whisk in butter; stir in pecans. To serve, carefully place apple on plate. Top with warm caramel sauce. This recipe is the creation of chef Bruce Sherman, of North Pond Restaurant, Chicago, whom Food & Wine magazine named one of the best new chefs of 2003.