Baked Cinnamon Apples

Baked Cinnamon Apples are a delicious and easy dessert that is perfect for any occasion. These delicious apples only take about 15 minutes of prep time, so you can have them ready in no time at all! A big batch of these easy flavorful apples make a great addition to your fall dinner table.

Baked Apples

We love apple recipes in our family. The combination of spices means that the house smells amazing while apples are in the oven and baking. It is incredible how cinnamon and nutmeg can make your entire house smell like Fall.

How Do You Make Baked Cinnamon Apples?

Ingredients

Let’s go over the ingredients that you’ll need to make this baked apple recipe.

• Unsalted butter – You want this at room temperature and unsalted as there is already salt in this recipe.
• Granny Smith apples – Granny Smiths are a crisp and tangy apple that’s great for cooking. They’re best in pies, crisps, or salads when paired with sweeter apples like Honeycrisp to create a contrast of flavors. 
• Honeycrisp apples – Honeycrisp apples are that sweet gem that pairs so well with the Granny Smith. It’s like a marriage made in heaven.
• Lemon juice (juice from about 1 small lemon) – Unless you have a lemon tree in your backyard, chances are that not everyone has lemons on hand. One of the easiest ways to get around this is by using freshly squeezed lemon juice from any grocery store- which is going to be far less expensive than buying actual lemons or jarred lemon juice
• Dark brown sugar – Dark brown sugar is a type of dark-colored cane sugar that can be used in place of light or white sugars. Dark brown sugar has more molasses and caramel notes than its counterparts.
• Ground cinnamon – Ground cinnamon is a spice that gives Baked Cinnamon Apples their amazing flavor. Baking these apples with only ground nutmeg would be boring
• Granulated white sugar – Granulated white sugar is just a type of refined, regular-textured cane sugar that can be used in Baked Cinnamon Apples.
• Cornstarch – Cornstarch will help make a syrup for your baked apple dish that isn’t lumpy or bitter.
• Nutmeg – Baked Cinnamon Apples wouldn’t be Baked Cinnamon apples without the nutmeg!
• Fine sea salt – I like this because sea salt is a minimally processed type of salt compared to a lot of others on the market.
• Vanilla ice cream for serving (optional, but highly recommended) – Spring for the good stuff here: the kind with the actual vanilla bean bits. 

Directions

A reminder that the full printable recipe card is found at the bottom of this post. Here we will walk through the steps, with photos to show you exactly what to do.

Start by preheating your oven to 375° Fahrenheit and generously buttering a 9×13 inch baking dish with that soft butter.

The next step in making these yummy apples is getting out your mixing bowl and tossing together all those fresh-cut apple slices with the lemon juice to keep the apples from oxidizing. 

Let your apples set a bit as you get a separate mixing bowl out. Add the dark brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon of the ground cinnamon, 1 Tablespoon of white sugar, the cornstarch, ground nutmeg, and sea salt. Use either your whisk or a fork to combine these all together. Add this mix to the sliced apple bowl and stir well to coat them all evenly. 

Spread the sliced apples evenly into that well-buttered 9×13 inch baking pan. Cover with aluminum foil, shiny side up if it is non-stick foil, and bake for 45 minutes. Stop every 15 minutes to stir the apples. 

Remove the foil after that 45-minute window is up and continue to bake them for an additional 15 minutes or until the apples are nice and soft, warmed through, and bubbly. 

In a small bowl, mix together the last 1 Tablespoon of white sugar and the remaining 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.

Dish up your baked apples and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar. 

Storage Instructions

You can store any leftover baked apples in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. That is, if you have any left! Just reheat them in the oven at 350° Fahrenheit until warmed through and bubbly to make them good as new.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)

 How do I keep my apple slices from turning brown after I cut them? Apple slices and browning go together like peanut butter and jelly, but not if you’re taking the time to use cold water with fresh lemon juice. I use a ratio of 1 cup water to 1 Tablespoon lemon juice and it works like a charm.

Can I leave the peels on the apple slices? Yes! You don’t have to peel apples if you’re not in the mood to! Leaving them with their skins on will give your apple slices a slightly different texture, but it won’t make much of a difference in the final recipe AND you will be getting a few extra nutrients. Apple peels are packed with vitamins A and C…so it is actually healthier to leave them on.

What else can I use these Bakes Cinnamon Apples for, besides eating as is? While these apples are perfectly sweet and delicious straight out of the pan they are perfect for an assortment of dishes and drinks.

Add a scoop to top your pancakes or French toast or blend them up in a smoothie for a delicious fall breakfast with a cup of ice and a cup of milk. Toss them with a shot or two of bourbon or spiced rum for an adult dessert or use them in place of frosting for a cake. Just picture them in between the layers of a spice cake and drizzled with homemade caramel sauce. Yum!

If you can’t get enough apples, make sure to also check out my Apple Cider Donuts, Apple Fritter Bread, Apple Crisp Recipe, Dutch Apple Pie, Caramel Apple Cake, Chocolate Covered Apples, Apple Pie Cheesecake Bars and Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Cookies.