Why You’ll Love This Baked Apples with Cinnamon

• Effortless Elegance. This recipe proves you don’t need to be a pastry chef to create a stunning dessert. The presentation is rustic and beautiful, and the process is wonderfully straightforward.
• Your Kitchen Will Smell Incredible. Seriously, the aroma of baking apples, warm cinnamon, and a hint of brown sugar is better than any scented candle. It creates an instant cozy atmosphere.
• Incredibly Versatile. You can enjoy these apples warm from the oven with ice cream, cold for breakfast with yogurt, or even mashed into a compote for pancakes. They adapt to any occasion.
• A Healthier Sweet Treat. While it feels indulgent, you’re primarily eating fruit! You control the sweetness, and it’s naturally free from refined sugars if you choose your sweetener wisely.

Ingredients & Tools

• 4 large baking apples (like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Braeburn)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
• 2 tablespoons raisins or dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup apple juice, water, or even a splash of bourbon
• A pinch of fine sea salt

Tools: A sharp paring knife or apple corer, a small mixing bowl, a baking dish just large enough to hold the apples snugly.

The quality of your apples really is the star here, so choose firm varieties that hold their shape. The butter and sugar create a rich, caramel-like sauce as they bake, while the oats and nuts add a delightful textural contrast. Don’t skip the pinch of salt—it makes all the flavors pop!

Serves: 4 | Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 45-50 minutes | Total Time: about 1 hour

Before You Start: Tips & Ingredient Notes

• Apple Selection is Key. You want an apple that’s firm enough to withstand baking without turning to complete mush. Granny Smith offers a tart contrast, while Honeycrisp or Braeburn become wonderfully sweet and tender.
• Why Softened Butter? Using butter that’s soft (not melted) makes it incredibly easy to mix with the sugar and spices into a paste. This helps it cling to the oats and nuts for a perfect filling.
• To Core or Not to Core? The goal is to create a well for the filling. An apple corer is fastest, but a small paring knife works just fine—just be careful not to cut all the way through the bottom.
• The Liquid in the Pan. This isn’t just to prevent sticking. The apple juice (or water) steams the apples from below and mingles with the melted butter and sugar to create a simple, delicious sauce you can spoon over the top.

How to Make Baked Apples with Cinnamon

Serving Suggestions

Complementary Dishes

• Vanilla Bean Ice Cream — The classic pairing. The cold, creamy ice cream melting into the warm, spiced apple is a textural and temperature dream come true.
• Whipped Cream or Greek Yogurt — For a slightly lighter option, a dollop of freshly whipped cream or thick Greek yogurt adds a lovely tang that cuts through the sweetness.
• Pork Loin or Roast Chicken — Believe it or not, these apples make a fantastic side dish for a savory main course, especially in the autumn months.

Drinks

• Hot Chai Tea or Coffee — The spices in a good chai latte or a strong cup of coffee echo the cinnamon and nutmeg in the apples beautifully.
• A Sweet Riesling or Late Harvest Wine — If you’re feeling fancy, a glass of dessert wine complements the fruitiness without overpowering it.
• Sparkling Apple Cider — A non-alcoholic option that keeps the apple theme going with a festive, fizzy touch.

Something Sweet

• A Simple Shortbread Cookie — The buttery, crumbly texture of shortbread is perfect for scooping up any extra sauce left in the dish.
• Dark Chocolate Shavings — For the ultimate indulgence, grate a little dark chocolate over the top of the warm apples and ice cream. The bitterness is a stunning contrast.
• Drizzled Caramel Sauce — Okay, this is gilding the lily, but if you’re going for maximum decadence, a little caramel sauce never hurt anybody.

Top Mistakes to Avoid

• Mistake: Using the wrong apple. A very soft apple like a Red Delicious will completely collapse and become applesauce (which is tasty, but not what we’re going for here). Firmness is non-negotiable.
• Mistake: Cutting all the way through the bottom. If you core the apple and accidentally puncture the bottom, all the delicious butter and filling will leak out into the pan during baking. A solid base is crucial!
• Mistake: Skipping the liquid in the pan. Without that steam, the apples can bake unevenly and the sugars on the bottom of the dish are more likely to burn rather than creating a lovely sauce.
• Mistake: Overbaking. You want the apple tender but still holding its shape. If you bake it for too long, it will lose all structure and become difficult to serve neatly.

Expert Tips

• Tip: Add a surprise ingredient. Stir a tablespoon of orange zest or a teaspoon of minced crystallized ginger into the filling for an extra layer of bright, zesty flavor.
• Tip: Make them ahead. You can core the apples and prepare the filling a few hours in advance. Keep them separate in the fridge, then stuff and bake when you’re ready. This is a huge timesaver for dinner parties.
• Tip: Create a quick pan sauce. After baking, carefully pour the juices from the baking dish into a small saucepan. Simmer for a few minutes until slightly thickened, then drizzle it over the apples for a glossy, professional finish.
• Tip: Go gluten-free easily. This recipe is naturally gluten-free if you use certified gluten-free oats. It’s an effortlessly inclusive dessert.

FAQs

Can I make these baked apples ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can fully bake them, let them cool, and store them covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or a 300°F (150°C) oven until warm. The texture might be a little softer, but the flavor will still be fantastic. You can also just prep the components ahead—core the apples and mix the filling, storing them separately in the fridge, then assemble and bake when needed.

What can I use instead of brown sugar?
You have several great options. Coconut sugar will give a similar deep, caramel-like flavor. Maple syrup or honey are wonderful liquid alternatives—just note that the filling might be a bit wetter, so you might want to add a few more oats to soak up the moisture. If using a liquid sweetener, reduce the amount slightly as they can be sweeter than sugar.

My apples exploded! What happened?
Oh no! This usually happens for one of two reasons. First, the oven temperature might have been too high, causing the steam inside the apple to build up too quickly. Second, you might not have scored the skin around the top or peeled a strip. The skin acts like a tight seal, and scoring it gives the steam a place to escape, preventing a messy blowout.

Are baked apples healthy?
As far as desserts go, they are a wonderfully wholesome choice. You’re eating a whole fruit, along with fiber from the oats and apples, and healthy fats from the nuts. Of course, the butter and sugar add indulgence, but you can adjust those amounts to your preference. Compared to a slice of cake or a rich pastry, it’s a much lighter option that still feels like a treat.

Can I freeze baked apples?
You can, but the texture will change significantly upon thawing. The high water content in the apples means they will become very soft and mushy. They are best enjoyed fresh or refrigerated for a few days. If you do freeze them, they would work well thawed and mashed into an apple compote for oatmeal or yogurt, but not as a stand-alone dessert.