Preheat oven to 375°F. Fill an 8x8” or 8x11” baking dish with about 1-2 inches of water.
Remove the stem and core of apples with a melon baller or knife and spoon, making sure to leave the bottoms intact.
Place the melted butter, maple syrup, oats, chopped pecans and cinnamon in a small bowl. Stir to combine.
Fill each half apple with about ¼ cup of the filling and transfer to the prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven until the apples are soft and the pecans are toasted, 35-40 minutes. Let cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
Drizzle caramel sauce on top right before serving, if desired.
Notes
Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Substitutions: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However, to make this recipe gluten-free (for anyone with gluten-sensitivity or celiac disease) you can simply swap out the regular rolled oats for ones labeled “gluten-free,” which eliminate the potential for oats to be cross-contaminated with wheat and barley.