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Easy Baked Cinnamon Apples Recipe (Best Fall Dessert)– Indulge in the cozy flavors of fall with our Easy Baked Cinnamon Apples recipe. Sliced apples are bathed in a luscious caramelized cinnamon sauce and baked to tender perfection, creating the ultimate autumn dessert.
The perfect way to celebrate apple season is with this easy recipe! It’s basically the inside of an apple pie with much less work ;).
Enjoy these warm cinnamon apples with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, over French toast, or even on top of pork chops! Make these baked apple slices, and your home will smell like delicious cinnamon and sweet apples.
More apple recipes to try: Apple Pie and Italian Apple Cake.
Table of Contents
Simple Ingredients
This easy-baked apple recipe will become a favorite fall dessert. You only need a few fresh ingredients for a yummy treat the whole family will love.
- Apples (such as Granny Smith)
- Unsalted butter
- Light brown sugar
- Cornstarch
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg (optional)
- Pinch of salt
- Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (for serving, optional)
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Baked Cinnamon Apples (Step-by-Step Photos)
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a baking dish by greasing it with butter.
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 8×8-inch baking dish or a similar-sized dish. Arrange the apple slices in an even layer and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
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.
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.
Substitutions
Here are a few substitutions you can consider for the Baked Cinnamon Apples to make a slightly healthier recipe:
- Butter:
- Substitution: Coconut Oil or Margarine
- Reason: If you’re looking for a dairy-free or vegan option, coconut oil or a vegan margarine can replace butter in the recipe.
- Brown Sugar:
- Substitution: Coconut Sugar or Maple Sugar.
- Reason: Coconut or maple sugar can be a healthier alternative to brown sugar. They add a rich, caramel-like flavor.
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.
Variations
- Maple Pecan Baked Apples: Enhance the flavor with a touch of maple sweetness and nutty crunch.
- 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.
- Bake as usual. The nuts will toast and add an extra layer of flavor and texture.
- Cranberry Orange Baked Apples: Infuse your apples with a burst of citrus and tangy cranberries.
- Add the zest of 1 orange to the cinnamon sauce for a citrusy note.
- Toss in 1/2 cup dried cranberries or fresh cranberries (halved) with the apple slices.
- Bake as usual. The cranberries will provide a delightful tartness that balances the sweetness.
- Chai Spiced Baked Apples: Create a warming, aromatic dessert with chai-inspired flavors.
- In the cinnamon sauce, add 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger and 1/4 teaspoon each of ground cardamom, ground cloves, and ground allspice, in addition to the cinnamon.
- You can also include a chai tea bag in the sauce while it’s melting to infuse the flavors even more (remember to remove it before tossing with the apples).
- Bake as usual. The spices will give the apples a rich and cozy chai taste.
Storage and Reheating
Storage:
- Allow the baked apples to cool to room temperature before storing.
- Transfer any leftover apples to an airtight container. You can separate them into individual portions or keep them together. Store the container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating:
- There are a couple of ways to reheat the Baked Cinnamon Apples:
- Microwave: Place a portion of the apples in a microwave-safe dish. Heat them in 20-30 second intervals, stirring in between, until they are warmed.
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer the apples to an oven-safe dish and cover with foil. Heat for about 15-20 minutes or until they are heated to your liking.
- While reheating, you might notice some of the sauce has thickened or solidified. To restore the sauciness, you can add a small amount of water or apple juice and gently stir while reheating.
If you have any leftover baked apples, they will be perfect for breakfast with Swedish Pancakes.
Top tips
- Choose the Right Apples: Opt for apple varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji for the best baking results. Their texture and flavor will hold up well during baking.
- Even Slicing: Aim for uniform apple slices to ensure even cooking. This ensures that all slices cook through at the same rate.
- Caramel Sauce Consistency: Ensure the brown sugar is fully dissolved in the melted butter when making the caramelized cinnamon sauce.
- Don’t Overmix: When tossing the apples with the sauce, do so gently to avoid breaking the slices. A light toss will coat the apples without turning them mushy.
FAQs
Absolutely! 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, I think it’s better to peel the apples for the Baked Cinnamon Apples recipe. 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.
More Apple Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
What to Serve with Baked Apples
Make these easy-baked apples a finale to these beautiful fall-inspired recipes:
Easy Baked Cinnamon Apples Recipe
Indulge in the cozy flavors of fall with our Easy Baked Cinnamon Apples recipe. Sliced apples are bathed in a luscious caramelized cinnamon sauce and baked to tender perfection, creating the ultimate autumn dessert. Enjoy!
- Total Time: 65 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 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
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- Pinch of salt
- Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a baking dish by greasing with butter.
- 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 8×8-inch baking dish or a similar-sized dish. Arrange the apple slices in an even layer and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
- 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.
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
Tips
-
- Choose the Right Apples: Opt for apple varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji for the best baking results. Their texture and flavor will hold up well during baking.
-
- Even Slicing: Aim for uniform apple slices to ensure even cooking. This ensures that all slices cook through at the same rate.
-
- Caramel Sauce Consistency: Ensure the brown sugar is fully dissolved in the melted butter when making the caramelized cinnamon sauce.
-
- Don’t Overmix: When tossing the apples with the sauce, do so gently to avoid breaking the slices. A light toss will coat the apples without turning them mushy.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Sweet
- Method: American
- Cuisine: American
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 1/2” 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!