Cider-Baked Stuffed Apples with Salty Caramel Sauce

INGREDIENTS

baking apples, such as Pink Lady, Honeycrisp or Braeburn, about 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 inches in diameter

1/3 cup

dried cranberries, chopped

1/4 cup

finely chopped walnuts

1/4 cup

packed brown sugar

1 cup

apple cider or apple juice

1 tsp

lemon zest

2 tbsp

lemon juice

inches stick cinnamon

1 tbsp

butter, cut into four pieces

1/3 cup

packed brown sugar

1/4 cup

whipping cream

1/4 cup

butter

1 tbsp

light-color corn syrup

1/2 tsp

vanilla

1/2 tsp

coarse sea salt

Vanilla or cinnamon ice cream (optional)