Gulab Jamun Stuffed Baked Apples are an irresistible fusion dessert that combines the classic Indian sweet, gulab jamun, with the comforting, fruity goodness of baked apples. This unique treat blends traditional flavors with a modern twist, creating a dessert that’s both rich and refreshing, indulgent yet surprisingly light.
The base of this dessert is the humble apple, cored and hollowed to create the perfect pocket for the stuffing. The apples are then baked until tender, allowing their natural sweetness to emerge while they soften and absorb all the flavors of the filling. The skin of the apple caramelizes slightly in the oven, providing a slight crispness that contrasts beautifully with the soft, juicy flesh inside.
The star of this dessert is the filling: gulab jamun, those iconic, deep-fried milk dough balls soaked in fragrant sugar syrup. To create this fusion treat, gulab jamuns are carefully stuffed into the hollowed apples, adding a rich, syrup-soaked sweetness to each bite. As the apples bake, the gulab jamun absorbs the apple’s juice and flavor, creating an incredibly moist, aromatic center that’s enhanced with hints of cardamom, rose water, and saffron from the syrup.
Once baked, the apples become the perfect vessel for the gulab jamun filling, softening the dough balls and infusing them with the essence of the fruit. The result is a beautifully spiced, sweet dessert that brings the best of both worlds, warm, fragrant apples and the indulgence of gulab jamun.
To serve, you can drizzle some of the leftover gulab jamun syrup over the baked apples for an extra touch of sweetness. A sprinkle of crushed pistachios or almonds on top adds a little crunch, while a dollop of vanilla ice cream or a spoonful of whipped cream complements the warm, spiced flavors perfectly.
Gulab Jamun Stuffed Baked Apples are an ideal dessert for special occasions or as an innovative treat when you want to surprise your guests. This dessert brings together the best of Indian sweets and Western-style fruit-based desserts, creating a perfect balance of textures, crisp, soft, syrupy, and fruity, all in one bite.
In short, this dessert is a deliciously indulgent take on classic flavors, with the sweet and spiced richness of gulab jamun paired with the freshness of baked apples. The result is an unforgettable fusion of flavors that’s sure to leave a lasting impression.

Ingredients
- 6 apples Honeycrisp or Granny Smith
- 1 cup gulab jamun mix
- 1 cup milk
- 5 tbsp ghee clarified butter
- 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
- 1/4 cup chopped almonds
- 1/4 cup pistachios chopped
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp saffron strands
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Cut off the tops of the apples and scoop out the core and seeds using a spoon or melon baller, leaving a cavity in each apple.
- In a bowl, combine the gulab jamun mix and milk. Mix well until it forms a thick dough.
- Heat 3 tablespoons of ghee in a pan over medium heat. Add the cardamom powder, chopped almonds, pistachios, raisins, and sugar. Cook until the sugar is melted and the nuts are slightly toasted, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Divide the filling mixture equally among the hollowed apples, filling them to the top.
- Place the filled apples in a baking dish and drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of ghee over the top.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, remove the aluminum foil and continue baking for another 10 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the tops are golden brown.
- While the apples are baking, prepare the saffron syrup by heating 1 cup of water in a small saucepan. Add the saffron strands and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice.
- Once the apples are done baking, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly.
- Drizzle the saffron syrup over the baked apples and serve warm.
- Enjoy!
These baked apples are absolutely divine! The gulab jamun filling adds such a unique twist. My family loved it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
These are heavenly! I made them for dessert last night and my family went crazy for them. Will definitely make again!
What’s the point of using ghee? Isn’t butter enough? 🤔
Eh, it was okay. The apples got mushy and I forgot to add raisins. Just wasn’t for me.
Too complicated! I just like my apples plain. No ghee or saffron for me. ⭐
This seems too complicated for me… I might just bake the apples and serve them with ice cream instead.
I get that, this recipe does have a lot of steps! Baking apples with ice cream sounds really delicious too, sometimes simple is better!
Looks too complicated for me. I’ll just stick with normal apple pie.
I get it, it looks a bit tricky! But you’d be surprised how simple it is once you get going. You should give it a shot!
Nah, isn’t gulab jamun dessert already? Why stuff it in an apple? Seems unnecessary to me.
Gulab jamun mix? Never heard of that! Can I use cake mix instead? 🤔
The baking time was too long for my oven. I’ll adjust next time.
This recipe looks amazing! Can’t wait to try this for the family gathering.
Never made baked apples before! I’m excited to try this. 🙂
Yum! Just made this and they turned out great! Everyone loved them.
That’s awesome to hear! I’ll have to try making them myself. Did you change anything in the recipe?
Tried making this and it tasted weird. Maybe I did something wrong, but it wasn’t for me.
Maybe you left out some of the spices? Those can really change the flavor. Give it another shot!
I made this without the saffron risk and it was still great! Just wasn’t gonna buy saffron for this.
I totally get it! Saffron can be super pricey. Glad to hear it turned out great without it!
These are the bomb! I made them for a dinner party and everyone loved them. Will def make again!
I totally agree! These are amazing! I made them last week and was blown away. So glad you enjoyed them too!
I don’t know… baked apples and gulab jamun? Sounds weird. Are you sure they taste good together?
Not sure about this… gulab jamun in an apple? Sounds weird. I think I’ll stick to traditional recipes.
Wut?? Gulab jamun in apples? Sounds weird but I gave it a go. Not bad, but I think I prefer my jamun fried. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Soo good! I added some cinnamon to the apple filling, made it even better. Yum!
Cinnamon sounds like a great idea! I will try that next time. Thanks for sharing your tweak!
Sound yummy but too much work. Can’t be bothered to core apples, too lazy lol.
Coring apples ain’t so bad! Just think about how good it’ll taste. You might even surprise yourself with how much fun it could be! 😂
I get that! But you can always just skip the stuffing part. Just bake the apples with some sugar and spices, and it’s still delicious! 🍏
Isn’t gulab jamun too sweet for apples? This sounds like a weird combo to me.
I guess it sounds a bit odd at first, but sweet and tart can be a good mix! Ever tried a similar combo? Might be worth a shot.
I didn’t have gulab jamun mix so I used chocolate instead. Still great! 😋
I followed the recipe but the dough was too sticky. Any tips?
Maybe try adding a bit more gulab jamun mix to make it less sticky. Good luck!
Yum! My kids loved it! Perfect dessert for fall. 🍏🍂
OMG, these baked apples are so good! Perfect balance of sweet and spice. 10/10! 😍
This is an interesting twist on baked apples! I’m gonna try! 😍
I followed the recipe step by step, and they turned out great! Who knew apples could be so fancy?
I love how creative this recipe is! Can’t wait to try it. Just need to find gulab jamun mix first.
Gulab jamun mix can be tricky to find! Try checking an Indian grocery store or online. It’s gonna be worth it!
Followed the instructions exactly, but it turned out super soggy. What did I do wrong? So confused. ⭐⭐
Maybe you added too much milk? It could make the filling soggy. I usually use less to keep it thick.
I didn’t have saffron, so I used vanilla instead and it still came out delish! ❤️
Tried this recipe but the apples were too mushy for my taste. Maybe less baking time next time? ⭐⭐⭐
I tried this recipe but it didn’t turn out as expected. The apples were mushy. 😩
I don’t know about baked apples with gulab jamun mix. Seems like a weird combo to me. 🤔
I thought it sounded strange too, but sometimes weird combos can surprise you! Hope it turns out good!
I don’t think apples and gulab jamun mix should go together. What’s wrong with classical desserts?
Yum! This is a great dessert for special occasions. I used Fuji apples and it still turned out great! ❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Easy to follow but it took longer for my apples to bake. Shoulda checked them earlier.
My kids loved it! They helped scoop out the apples. Fun family cooking! 😊
That sounds like such a great family activity! Can’t wait to try it myself!
Absolutely delicious! The flavors are out of this world! 😍