diff --git a/Parsedown.php b/Parsedown.php
index eebd2f9..9b7a3e9 100644
--- a/Parsedown.php
+++ b/Parsedown.php
@@ -1664,26 +1664,22 @@ class Parsedown
 
     protected function elementsApplyRecursive($closure, array $Elements)
     {
-        $newElements = array();
-
-        foreach ($Elements as $Element)
+        foreach ($Elements as &$Element)
         {
-            $newElements[] = $this->elementApplyRecursive($closure, $Element);
+            $Element = $this->elementApplyRecursive($closure, $Element);
         }
 
-        return $newElements;
+        return $Elements;
     }
 
     protected function elementsApplyRecursiveDepthFirst($closure, array $Elements)
     {
-        $newElements = array();
-
-        foreach ($Elements as $Element)
+        foreach ($Elements as &$Element)
         {
-            $newElements[] = $this->elementApplyRecursiveDepthFirst($closure, $Element);
+            $Element = $this->elementApplyRecursiveDepthFirst($closure, $Element);
         }
 
-        return $newElements;
+        return $Elements;
     }
 
     protected function element(array $Element)