Whole: Core apple, fill with blend of butter, brown sugar & spices to taste.  Optional: raisins, nuts.

My favorite part of the baked apple is the liquid left in the bottom of the bowl & I get more of it (as well as faster cooking) by slicing the apple.  You may peel it; I don’t. I jumble the slices into a bowl, add a pat of butter & sugar-as-desired & spices-as-I-feel-like-it, cover it with a small plate & pop it in the microwave.  Cook on high, a couple of minutes at a time, until the slices are soft to your taste.  Then… move the slices to a separate bowl & put the delicious liquid back to cook down until it’s a syrup.  Pour that over your apple slices.  Add a bit of heavy cream or whipped cream – or pour it all over ice cream.