Simple Baked Apples Recipe (2024)

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Sometimes, the simple recipes are the ones you turn to time and time again. This recipe for Simple Baked Apples spiked with cinnamon is perfect for fall when it’s apple season and is one my whole family adores.

Today’s recipe is one of those recipes I have made over and over again, yet never really gave it a thought to put it on the blog. It’s baked apples. Nothing special about simple baked apples, right?

Wrong!These healthy baked apples just happen to be one of my kids’ very favorite side dishes. So what if it’s really simple? It’s healthy, tasty, and a perfect way to round out any meal, especially in the fall months.

I’m always looking for fun ways to use in-season produce. I really think I need to try these Smoked Apples…how creative! It does use brown sugar, but you could probably substitute coconut sugar or pure maple syrup to keep it refined sugar free.

But today, we’re sticking with simple. Simple is good when you have kids, am I right? These baked apples are the ultimate simple recipe.

If you have kids who don’t like fruit (I guess they exist, but I wouldn’t know since my kids are fruit monsters), try these simple baked apples. Sometimes just serving something in a different way will do the trick. These warm, cinnamon-spiked apples taste like dessert, but have no added sugar!

I first started making these simple baked apples when Luke was just starting to eat table food. He refused purees pretty quickly, so I had to turn to foods that were soft and he could pick up. So I started making these baked apples in wedge shapes, because that’s a good shape for little hands. These are great for anyone doing baby-led weaning.

Now days I tend to cut the apples into smaller chunks because they are easier to pick up with forks. You can also make these into baked apple slices. Whether you do slices, chunks, or wedges, I know these are going to bit a huge hit with your whole family!

Recipe Ingredients–What You Need

The best part about this recipe is it uses simple ingredients you probably keep on hand!

5-6 medium apples

Any kind of apples work here, but I like to use a variety of tart and sweet for the best balance of flavor. Ideas for the best apples would be a mix of granny smith, pink lady, gala, fuji, or honeycrisp.

2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil

I prefer the flavor with butter, and if you use grass-fed butter, it’s got a lot of essential nutrients. Coconut oil also works well if you need this to be vegan or dairy-free.

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Just 1 teaspoon of cinnamon is enough for my family, but you can always add more for a stronger flavor. Cinnamon adds anti-inflammatory properties and also helps keep your blood sugar balanced.

How to Make Simple and Healthy Baked Apples

You’re going to love this easy baked apples recipe. It really couldn’t be any more simple!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Put the apples in a small to medium baking dish. Mix the melted butter or coconut oil and cinnamon together and then dump it on the apples. Toss well to coat all the apples evenly with the cinnamon mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven until the apples are soft, about 20-30 minutes. Stir once during the baking time. Enjoy!

If you are looking for a healthy, easy, and family-friendly side dish, you found it! These cinnamon apples are such an easy recipe and a great way to use your apples when you go apple picking in the fall! Save this recipe for when that happens, but really, I make this all year long!

Simple Baked Apples

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4.7 from 44 reviews

Author: Happy Healthy Mama
Total Time: 32 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Vegan

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Description

This recipe for Simple Baked Apples makes a family-friendly side dish that is easy and everyone loves. No added sugar!

Ingredients

Scale

5–6 medium apples, peeled and cut into chunks
2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Put the apples in a small to medium baking dish. Mix the melted butter or coconut oil and cinnamon together and then dump it on the apples. Toss well to coat all the apples evenly with the cinnamon mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven until the apples are soft, about 20-30 minutes. Stir once during the baking time. Enjoy!

Notes

*All of the sugar listed in the nutrition facts is naturally occurring sugar from the apples. There is 0 added sugar in this recipe.

Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Recipes
Method: baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
Calories: 170
Sugar: 23
Fat: 3.8
Carbohydrates: 31
Fiber: 5.5
Protein: .5

This post was originally published in 2014. A new video was added in 2019 and more post updates were added in 2022.

Aren’t fall recipes the best? If you aren’t sure which dinners to serve these Simple Baked Apples with, I have some ideas for you! Here are some great main course ideas that these warm, comforting apples will be the best side dish with!

Main Courses that Pair Well with Baked Apples

Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

This one is perfect for an entirely kid-friendly meal!

Chicken Breasts made with the best chicken marinade (healthy)

These apples go with all kinds of chicken recipes, and this is an easy favorite!

Butternut Squash Kale Lasagna

The flavors of baked apples pair so well with this delicious vegetarian lasagna recipe.

Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts

These stuffed chicken breasts seem fancy, but they’re deceptive. It’s one of the easiest chicken recipes and goes so well with the baked apples!

Air Fryer Tilapia Recipe

These healthy baked apple slices pair so well with fish, too! This pairing makes for a SUPER quick and easy dinner!

Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

This air-fryer recipe is actually gluten-free, too. These cutlets became another family favorite and again, chicken and apples work so well together!

Baked Bone-In Chicken Breasts

If you want your whole dinner baked in the oven, then go for these Baked Bone-In Chicken Breasts to pair with the tasty apples.

Want more healthy apple recipes? Here are some we love!

Recipes With Apples

Whether you are looking for apple desserts, snacks or breakfast with apples, I have a way for you to use them next time!

Healthy Apple Crisp

Instant Pot Apple Sauce

The Ultimate Whole Wheat Apple Pancakes

Butternut Squash Apple Soup

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Cups

FAQs

What makes the best baking apples? ›

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

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Are baked apples still healthy? ›

The best way to keep apples' nutrition intact is to eat them raw since cooking can result in the loss of certain nutrients. Having said that, cooked apples are still a very wholesome food that can contribute to maintaining good overall health.

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How do you soften apples for baking? ›

Cut apples into same-sized pieces (about ½-1” cubes). Put apples pieces into a skillet with 2 TBS water. Cover the pan and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples become slightly soft and water is absorbed.

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What are two suitable methods of cooking apples? ›

Apples can be cooked down into sauce, apple butter, or fruit preserves. They can be baked in an oven and served with custard, and made into pies or apple crumble. In the UK roast pork is commonly served with cold apple sauce made from boiled and mashed apples. A baked apple is baked in an oven until it has become soft.

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Is it better to cook apples before baking? ›

The biggest advantage to precooking the apple filling is making a more sturdy pie. Have you ever baked, or even eaten, an apple pie that has a big gap between the fruit and the upper crust? I certainly have. And worst-case scenario, the gap was so deep that the upper crust collapsed into the pie.

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What do you soak apples in before baking? ›

Mix 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt into 1 cup of cool water until dissolved. Add your sliced apples and soak for about 10 minutes.

Get More Info Here ›

How much baking soda do I soak apples in? ›

For a mixing bowl, add 1 teaspoon baking soda to every 2 cups cold water. If your produce is on a vine, such as tomatoes, or leafy like a head of lettuce, separate the produce and remove all vines and outer leaves. Submerge the fruit or vegetables in the baking soda water. Let soak for 12 to 15 minutes.

What is the healthiest way to eat apples? ›

Across the board with apples one thing's for sure, Crumble Smith says, eat them raw and unpeeled. “Eating the skin ensures that you're really going to get all of that fiber, get all of those antioxidants because the skin is where a lot of it is,” Crumble Smith says.

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What does baking soda do to apples? ›

The Benefits of Baking Soda

Soaking in baking soda and water can be an effective way of removing some pesticides. A 2017 study found that submerging apples in a baking soda solution for 2 minutes removed more pesticides than a 2-minute soak in a bleach solution or a rinse under running tap water.

Can dogs eat apples? ›

Yes, apples are a fantastic addition to your dog's diet. They provide vitamin A, vitamin C and dietary fibre. They also provide a way to keep your dog's teeth clean and can help freshen their breath. But before you feed apples to your dog, always remove the core and the seeds.

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Why do apples get mushy when cooked? ›

Pectin is the biological glue that holds together plant cells, giving fruits and vegetables their shape and structure. When apples are cooked, this pectin breaks down, and the apples turn mushy.

Learn More ›

What kind of apples are best for baking bread? ›

Pink Ladies and Granny Smiths are our go-to baking apples, but you can choose any kind you like as long as it has a firm texture and a good bit of acidity.

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What are the best apples for apple pie and why? ›

Granny Smith apples are considered by many to be the "pie apples." They are known for their snappy tartness and ability to maintain their shape and texture when cooked. These are, no doubt, a terrific choice for apple pie — especially when combined with a sweeter, softer apple like Braeberns or Crispins.

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What is so special about cosmic crisp apples? ›

Classically bred and grown in Washington State, the Cosmic Crisp^® apple is a cross of the Enterprise and Honeycrisp varieties. The large, juicy and red apple has a perfectly balanced flavor and firm texture, making it ideal for snacking, cooking, baking, and entertaining.

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Why are green apples better for baking? ›

Green apples, like Granny Smith apples, have a much denser texture. That makes them better able to withstand high heat. So green apples are preferred when apples are used for baking.

Get More Info ›