Baked Cinnamon Apples

Name: Baked Cinnamon Apples
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 3 large apples (peeled, cored, and sliced, about 4-5 cups); ¼ cup of brown sugar; 1 teaspoon of cornstarch; 1 ½ tablespoons of cinnamon; ½ teaspoon of nutmeg (optional, but recommended); 1 ½ tablespoons of lemon juice; 3 tablespoons of butter (cut into small cubes (vegan, as desired))

By Brita Britnell // September 24, 2021

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If you’re looking for an easy dessert recipe made with apples, Baked Cinnamon Apples are a must try! Fresh apple slices are wrapped in sweet, syrupy goodness with warm, cozy spices and baked until they are tender and flavorful! Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you’ve got the perfect fall treat!

Baked Cinnamon Apples topped with vanilla ice cream

Table of Contents

Apple season is finally here, and I couldn’t be more excited! There’s just not much better than the smell of warm cinnamon apples baking in the oven! It’s probably my favorite scent of all time.

Now that it’s officially fall, I have one thing on my mind: comfort food. And nothing spells comfort food like these baked cinnamon apples. Consider them a hug from fall. This cinnamon apples recipe is one of my favorites to make this time of year!

In reality, they are wonderful year round, but with the warm and cozy cinnamon apple flavor, I immediately associate them with the cool autumn season.

Not only are they absolutely delicious, they are totally fuss-free, take just 10 minutes of prep and they’re really versatile. Serve them for breakfast with oatmeal or yogurt, as a snack, or for dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

If you’re looking for something sweet and warm to get you in the spirit of the season, these roasted apples are the treat for you. Let’s bake!

baked apples slices with cinnamon and brown sugar

Ingredients Needed:

This cinnamon apples recipe calls for minimal staple ingredients & fresh apples, but the result is absolutely irresistible. Here’s what you’ll need:

Apples. Use an apple that will stand up to baking. More suggestions on what type of apple to use, below. I like to use a mix of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples for a nice balance of sweet and tart.
Brown sugar. I love using brown sugar to sweeten the apple slices because it has a subtle caramel flavor that pairs wonderfully with apples.
Cornstarch. Keeps the baked apple slices from becoming overly juicy.
Cinnamon + nutmeg. Adds the perfect amount of warmth!
Lemon juice. To balance the sweetness and add brightness to the overall flavor.
Butter. A small amount of butter is added on top of the sliced apples before baking for extra deliciousness.

Best Apples for Baking:

When I’m baking with apples, I like to use an apple that’s mostly sweet with a touch of tartness. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady or Fuji apples are my favorite. These types of apples have great flavor and hold up well during the baking process, without becoming too mushy.

You can really use any favorite apple variety for this recipe, but keep in mind, the apple variety will make a difference in the overall taste and texture. A super tart apple (like Granny Smith) will result in roasted apples that aren’t very sweet. And softer apples like Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, or Macintosh break down too much in the heat of the oven, basically turning into applesauce. Not what we’re going for in this recipe!

How to Make Baked Cinnamon Apples:

This cinnamon apples recipe is seriously SO simple to throw together! The most time consuming part is slicing the apples. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

Prep apples. Peel, core and slice your apples. Preheat the oven and grease a medium baking dish.
Toss apples with ingredients. In a large bowl, add the apples slices along with all other ingredients, except butter. Toss to coat.
Bake. Place apples in the baking dish and add butter cubes on top. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes, and until apples are tender.
Serve. Once cooked, stir to coat the apples in the yummy juices. Serve for breakfast with granola and yogurt or for a little more indulgent sweet treat, serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

So easy! This recipe involves only 10 minutes of hands on time, and very little prep.
Minimal ingredients. Only five basic ingredients, plus spices are needed.
Healthier. If you want a lightened-up fall dessert or snack, these baked cinnamon apples are perfect!
Tasty. Sweet, slightly tart, tender apples baked with brown sugar and warm fall spices. Yes, please!
Versatility. Baked apple slices are wonderful served for breakfast, snack or dessert. They also pair well with a variety of other ingredients, from oatmeal to ice cream!

roasted apples topped with vanilla ice cream

Ways to Use Cinnamon Apple Slices:

So many great ways to use cinnamon apple slices! Here’s some of my favs:

Cinnamon apples are great simply served in a bowl with a fork! No need to complicate things when they’re this delicious!
For a fall-themed breakfast, use them as a topping over pancakes, oatmeal, French toast and waffles.
If I’m enjoying these for a snack, I like to top them with yogurt and granola and/or chopped nuts.
Craving a sweet treat? Pair the apple slices with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Storing Leftover Baked Apples:

Leftover baked apples can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated as needed (I reheat them in the microwave). They’re also pretty tasty eaten straight out of the fridge, cold!

cinnamon apple slices in a baking dish and topped with vanilla ice cream

More sweet apple recipes to try:

Looking for more delicious apple recipes? Give these favorites a try!

For something so simple, these baked cinnamon apples are SO good! Baking apple slices with warm spices is a great way to get the fall season started! Have you ever baked apple slices? If so, leave a comment with your favorite ways to serve them! And if you end up making this recipe, PLEASE please snap a photo and tag me on Instagram @foodwithfeeling! I always love to see what you’re making and how you like it!