Baked Cinnamon Apples
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These Baked Cinnamon Apples are tender apple slices baked in a buttery cinnamon sauce until soft and caramelized. Warm cinnamon and sweet apple juices come together in the oven for a dessert that is delicious served warm. Ready in about 40 minutes, these baked apples are an easy way to enjoy the flavors of apple pie without making a pie.
If you want to bake more treats with apples, try my Fresh Apple Pie, Apple Upside Down Cake, and Italian Apple Cake.
Quick Look: Baked Cinnamon Apples
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Servings: 6 people
- Dietary Info: Vegetarian
- Method: Oven baked
- Technique: Slice the apples, coat them with the cinnamon mixture, arrange them in a baking dish, and bake.
- Flavor/Texture: Warm, buttery, cinnamon-spiced, sweet, caramelized
A Cozy Apple Dessert
These baked cinnamon apples capture the warm flavors of apple pie without the work of making a crust! The apples become tender in the oven while the cinnamon, butter, and sweet apple juices come together into a delicious sauce.
They are especially good served warm, when the apples and cinnamon sauce are at their best.
Make these baked apple slices, and your home will smell like delicious cinnamon and sweet apples. If you love fruity desserts, try my Pear Cake Recipe and Orange Olive Oil Cake (Italian Recipe) next!
Made With Amore,
โI made this for our early Thanksgiving celebration and everybody loved it. Delish! Thank you.โ
โ Patti Porter
Table of Contents
Simple Ingredients
You only need a few fresh ingredients for a yummy treat the whole family will love.
- Apples: Use 5โ6 medium apples, such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced.
- Unsalted Butter: Melted butter forms the rich base of the cinnamon sauce.
- Light Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps the sauce caramelize as the apples bake.
- Cornstarch: Helps thicken the sauce as the apples bake.
- Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Lemon Juice: Cinnamon and nutmeg bring the warm spice while lemon juice adds brightness and balances the sweetness.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations & Substitutions
- Brown Sugar: Coconut sugar or maple sugar can be substituted for the light brown sugar, though the flavor and caramelization will be different.
- Maple Pecan Baked Apples: Substitute two tablespoons of brown sugar with pure maple syrup in the cinnamon sauce. Mix in 1/4 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts and apple slices. Try my Maple Pecan Pie (Without Corn Syrup) and Pecan Pie Brownies for a similar flavor profile.
- Cranberry Orange Baked Apples: Add the zest of one orange to the cinnamon sauce, and toss in 1/2 cup dried cranberries or fresh cranberries (halved) with the apple slices. Youโll love my Cranberry Orange Bread.
How to Make Baked Cinnamon Apples
These baked cinnamon apples come together by coating thinly sliced apples in a buttery cinnamon sauce and baking them until tender and caramelized. Follow the step-by-step photos and see the recipe card at the bottom for a printable version.
- Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC). Prepare a baking dish by greasing it with butter.ย Peel, core, and slice the apples into even, thin slices. Use a paring knife to slice lengthwise thinly.
- Place the sliced apples in a large mixing bowl or directly in the baking pan.
- In a separate bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, cornstarch, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg (if using), and a pinch of salt.
- Mix well until the sugar is dissolved and the spices are evenly distributed.
- Pour the cinnamon sauce over the sliced apples. Toss the apples gently to ensure they are coated evenly with the sauce.
- Transfer the coated apple slices to a baking dish. You can use an 8ร8-inch baking dish or a similar-sized dish. Arrange the apple slices in an even layer and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
- Place the baking dish in the oven for 30-40 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon or spatula once or twice during baking. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Bake until the apples are tender and the sauce caramelizes. You can check the doneness by inserting a fork into the apples; they should be soft but not mushy.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven once the apples are baked to your desired tenderness. Let the apples cool slightly before serving. You can serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for extra indulgence. Add a sprig of fresh mint for color.ย
Sliced Baked Cinnamon Apples FAQs
While Granny Smith and Honeycrisp are popular choices due to their texture and flavor, you can use a variety of apples. You can try: fuji apples, gala apples, pink lady, or other tart varieties. The sugar in the recipe will bring out the natural sweetness. The kind of apple is based on your preference and what is apple variety is available.
Yes, peeling the apples will result in a smoother and more uniform texture, as the peel can sometimes be tough. Additionally, without the peel, the caramelized sauce will be able to penetrate the flesh of the apples more effectively, enhancing the overall flavor and tenderness of the dish.
The apples should be soft and tender when pierced with a fork but not mushy. The sauce should also be caramelized.
Allow the baked apples to cool to room temperature, then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3โ4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave in 20โ30 second intervals, stirring between intervals, or cover and warm them in a 350ยฐF oven for about 15โ20 minutes. If the sauce thickens during storage, add a small amount of water or apple juice while reheating and stir gently.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these baked cinnamon apples warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an easy dessert that highlights the caramelized cinnamon sauce. They can also be served as a condiment over German Apple Pancakes and Fluffy Pancakes. If youโre looking to add sweet, fall flavor to your savory mains, try them with Juicy Oven Baked Pork Chops, Baked Ham Recipe (With Glaze), or Juicy Oven Baked Pork Tenderloin.
My Pro Tips
Recipe Tips
- Slice the apples evenly. Consistent thin slices help the apples cook at the same rate.
- Dissolve the brown sugar into the melted butter. Mixing the sauce thoroughly helps distribute the cinnamon and sweetener evenly over the apples.
- Stir the apples once or twice while baking. This helps keep the slices coated in the cinnamon sauce as they cook.
- Donโt overbake the apples. Check them with a fork; they should be soft and tender without becoming mushy.
- Finish uncovered. Removing the foil for the final 10 minutes allows the sauce to caramelize as the apples finish baking.
More Fall Desserts
๐ MADE THIS RECIPE AND LOVED IT? ๐ Please leave a โญ๏ธSTAR rating and COMMENT below- I love connecting with you! Tag me with your creations on Instagram and find me on Pinterest.
Easy Baked Cinnamon Apples Recipe
Ingredientsย
- 5-6 medium apples, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or other peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ยผ cup light brown sugar
- 2 ยฝ teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 ยฝ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ยผ teaspoon ground nutmeg, optional
- 1 Pinch salt
- Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, for serving, optional
Instructionsย
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC). Prepare a baking dish by greasing with butter.ย
- Prepare the Apples: Peel, core, and slice the apples into even, thin slices. Use a paring knife to slice lengthwise thinly. You can adjust the thickness to your preference. Place the sliced apples in a large mixing bowl or directly in the baking pan.
- Make the Cinnamon Sauce: In a separate bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, cornstarch, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg (if using), and a pinch of salt. Mix well until the sugar is dissolved and the spices are evenly distributed.
- Coat the Apples: Pour the cinnamon sauce over the sliced apples. Toss the apples gently to ensure they are coated evenly with the sauce.
- Arrange in Baking Dish: Transfer the coated apple slices to a baking dish. You can use an 8ร8-inch baking dish or a similar-sized dish. Arrange the apple slices in an even layer and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.ย
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven for 30-40 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon or spatula once or twice during baking. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Bake until the apples are tender and the sauce caramelizes. You can check the doneness by inserting a fork into the apples; they should be soft but not mushy. I like them a little softer and bake for 40 minutes.
- Serve: Remove the baking dish from the oven once the apples are baked to your desired tenderness. Let the apples cool slightly before serving. You can serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for extra indulgence. Add a sprig of fresh mint for color.ย
- Enjoy your delicious Baked Cinnamon Apples, a perfect treat for the fall season! This recipe is quite flexible. Feel free to adjust the sugar and spices to suit your taste preferences.
Notes
- Slice the apples evenly. Consistent thin slices help the apples cook at the same rate.
- Dissolve the brown sugar into the melted butter. Mixing the sauce thoroughly helps distribute the cinnamon and sweetener evenly over the apples.
- Stir the apples once or twice while baking. This helps keep the slices coated in the cinnamon sauce as they cook.
- Donโt overbake the apples. Check them with a fork; they should be soft and tender without becoming mushy.
- Finish uncovered. Removing the foil for the final 10 minutes allows the sauce to caramelize as the apples finish baking.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made this for our early Thanksgiving celebration and everybody loved it. Delish! Thank you.
Yay! SO happy everyone loved this easy recipe! Here’s to many more!
What is the Lemon Juice for? I see it in the list of ingredients but the recipe doesn’t mention it. Do I use it to prevent the apples from turning brown or do I add it to the cinnamon sauce?
Yes, that is correct, just add to the sauce. Thanks!
Made this yesterday, was easy to make, and mixed the butter, cinnamon and other ingredients right in the dish I was baking the apples in. Got lazy and cut the apples about 1/2โ so had to cook longer but it was still yummy. I prefer the apples with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but my husband liked it with just the apples. I thought it was not sweet enough by itself and will adjust the sugar next time. Very good.
Yes! Feel free to adjust the sweetness. So happy you loved them!
can this recipe be frozen? Thank you
I do not recommend freezing this recipe!