Indulge in the heartwarming embrace of perfectly spiced cinnamon baked apple slices, a dessert that effortlessly combines simplicity with irresistible flavor. Ready in under 30 minutes, this recipe transforms humble apples into a gooey, sweet, and aromatic treat reminiscent of classic apple pie filling, but without the fuss of baking a full crust. Whether you’re seeking a quick weeknight dessert, a wholesome breakfast topping, or a comforting snack, these baked apples are a versatile delight that will fill your home with an incredible aroma and your palate with pure bliss.
About This Irresistible Baked Apple Slices Recipe
There’s something uniquely comforting about warm, tender apples infused with cinnamon and a hint of sweetness. This recipe for baked apple slices is a go-to for many reasons, striking the perfect balance between indulgence and ease. It’s an ideal way to satisfy those apple pie cravings without committing to a lengthy baking process. Dive into a dessert that’s not only incredibly delicious but also surprisingly accommodating to various dietary needs and culinary preferences.
Here’s why these cinnamon baked apple slices are an absolute must-try:
- Diet-Friendly & Inclusive: Crafted to be naturally vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free, this recipe ensures almost everyone can enjoy a slice of this delightful dessert. Plus, with a simple adjustment, it can easily be made oil-free, catering to even stricter dietary requirements without compromising on flavor or texture.
- Minimal Ingredients: You only need six basic ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry. This simplicity makes it a fantastic last-minute dessert option or a staple for regular enjoyment.
- Quick & Convenient: From start to finish, these delectable apple slices are ready to serve in approximately 30 minutes. This includes just a few minutes of active preparation, making it perfect for busy schedules or spontaneous dessert desires.
- Versatile Serving Options: While absolutely divine on their own, these baked apples truly shine when paired with various accompaniments. Serve them warm with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for a classic dessert experience. For a healthier, high-protein twist, enjoy them over Greek yogurt, creating a satisfying breakfast or a guilt-free snack.
- Ideal Topping & Filling: Beyond a standalone dessert, these apples make an incredible addition to a range of dishes. Spoon them over fluffy pancakes, warm oatmeal, delicate crepes, or hearty French toast for an elevated breakfast or brunch. They can also serve as a delicious filling for tarts or hand pies.
- Deeply Satisfying & Flavorful: Each bite delivers a burst of sweet, tangy, and warmly spiced goodness. The apples become tender and caramelized, creating an ooey-gooey texture that’s profoundly comforting and utterly delicious.
- Aromatic Experience: As the apples bake, your kitchen will be enveloped in the inviting scent of cinnamon and warm fruit, creating an ambiance that’s as delightful as the dessert itself. It’s a sensory experience that promises warmth and coziness.
Got a bounty of apples? Don’t let them go to waste! Explore more wonderful ways to enjoy this versatile fruit with recipes like our Vegan Stuffed Apples, a delightful and wholesome meal, our tender Vegan Apple Cake, perfect for celebrations, or the wonderfully chewy Vegan Apple Crumble Bars. If you’re looking for another healthy baked fruit dessert, these Healthy Baked Pears with Cinnamon offer a lovely alternative.
Key Ingredients for Perfect Baked Apple Slices
Crafting these heavenly cinnamon baked apple slices requires just a handful of simple, wholesome ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect balance of sweetness, spice, and tender texture. While the recipe card at the end of this post provides exact measurements and detailed instructions, let’s explore the essentials:
- Apples: The Heart of the Dish: For the best results, you’ll need about 4 medium-sized apples, peeled and thinly sliced. While peeling is optional and the peels add a nice nutritional boost and texture, removing them creates a more uniform, tender outcome. When selecting apples for baking, opt for varieties that hold their shape well and offer a good balance of sweetness and tartness. Excellent choices include Granny Smith (for a tart kick that balances the sweetness), Fuji, Gala, Pink Lady, or Honeycrisp apples. A combination of a few varieties can also add depth to the flavor profile. Slice them uniformly, ideally about 1/8-inch thick, to ensure even cooking.
- Maple Syrup: Nature’s Sweetener: Pure maple syrup is our sweetener of choice, lending a rich, nuanced flavor that complements the apples beautifully. Its liquid form also helps create that desirable gooey sauce. If maple syrup isn’t available or you prefer an alternative, agave syrup works wonderfully. For those who prefer granulated sugars, brown sugar or coconut sugar can also be used; simply dissolve them into the liquid ingredients before adding the apples. Adjust the amount to your personal sweetness preference.
- Vegan Butter (or Coconut Oil): For Richness & Gloss: A touch of vegan butter or melted coconut oil adds a decadent richness and a lovely sheen to the baked apples. It enhances the fruity flavors and helps create a wonderfully smooth, gooey sauce. While optional for an oil-free version, we highly recommend including it for that extra layer of indulgence. If you omit it, the apples will still be delicious but slightly less “gooey” and rich.
- Lemon Juice: The Brightness Factor: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is a small but mighty ingredient. It provides a much-needed tart counterpoint that balances the sweetness of the maple syrup and apples, preventing the dish from becoming overly sugary. It also helps to prevent the sliced apples from browning before baking.
- Cornstarch: The Thickening Agent: To achieve that luscious, thick, and gooey sauce that coats every apple slice, cornstarch is essential. It acts as a natural thickener when heated, transforming the liquid mixture into a glossy, irresistible glaze. If you prefer, arrowroot powder can be used as a 1:1 substitute for cornstarch. Ensure it’s fully dissolved with a tablespoon of water before mixing with other ingredients to prevent lumps.
- Cinnamon: The Signature Spice: Of course, no cinnamon baked apple slices would be complete without a generous amount of ground cinnamon. Its warm, sweet, and woody notes are the perfect match for apples, evoking classic comforting flavors. Don’t be shy with this spice – it’s key to the dish’s aromatic appeal.
Exciting Variations to Customize Your Baked Apples
While the basic recipe for cinnamon baked apple slices is a masterpiece in itself, it also serves as a fantastic canvas for culinary creativity. Feel free to experiment with these ideas to tailor the recipe to your taste preferences or whatever ingredients you have on hand. Customizing your baked apples can transform them into an even more personalized and exciting treat.
- A Symphony of Spices: Cinnamon is fantastic, but why stop there? Elevate the flavor profile by introducing a blend of warm spices. Consider adding a pinch of ground nutmeg, a dash of allspice, or a hint of ginger for an extra layer of warmth. Apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice blends are also excellent choices if you want to capture those quintessential fall flavors effortlessly. A classic combination that I particularly enjoy is cinnamon with just a whisper of nutmeg, which adds depth without overpowering the apple.
- Delectable Add-Ins: Introduce textural contrast and additional flavor by incorporating various add-ins. Raisins or dried cranberries can bring a chewy sweetness and a slight tartness that complements the apples beautifully. For a nutty crunch and healthy fats, try folding in chopped walnuts, pecans, or slivered almonds. These add-ins can be mixed directly with the apples before baking, or for a fresher crunch, you can sprinkle them on top after the apples are baked and still warm.
- Sweetener Swaps: As mentioned, maple syrup can be swapped for agave syrup for a similar liquid sweetness. For a different flavor profile, consider using dark brown sugar for a molasses-like richness, or date paste for a whole-food, unrefined option. Adjust quantities based on desired sweetness.
- Citrus Zest: For an extra burst of fresh aroma, add a teaspoon of finely grated orange or lemon zest along with the lemon juice. It brightens the overall flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash of pure vanilla extract (about 1 teaspoon) can enhance the sweetness and add a layer of sophisticated flavor to the apples. Add it to the sauce mixture before tossing with apples.
- Crunchy Toppings: Beyond nuts, consider sprinkling a streusel topping (oats, flour, brown sugar, and vegan butter) over the apples before baking for a delightful crumbly texture. Alternatively, a sprinkle of granola or a dash of crushed biscoff cookies after baking can also add a pleasant crunch.
How to Prepare Perfect Cinnamon Baked Apple Slices
Achieving tender, flavorful, and perfectly gooey baked apple slices is surprisingly simple. Follow these straightforward steps, and you’ll be enjoying a comforting dessert in no time. The key is in the preparation and ensuring even coating and baking for optimal results.
Preparation is Key: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (180°C). While the oven heats, select an appropriate baking dish. An approximately 9×7 inch rectangular dish or an 8×8 inch square dish works perfectly, providing enough surface area for the apples to bake evenly without crowding.
Step 1: Slice and Sauce the Apples.
The first crucial step is preparing your apples. Start by peeling (if desired), coring, and quartering each apple. Once quartered, slice them into uniform 1/8-inch thick pieces. Consistency in slice thickness is important for even baking; thinner slices will become tender more quickly, while thicker ones might require more time.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the maple syrup, melted vegan butter (or coconut oil), lemon juice, cornstarch, water, and cinnamon. Whisk these ingredients together thoroughly until they are completely combined and any clumps of cornstarch have dissolved, forming a smooth, aromatic sauce. This ensures the thickening agent is evenly distributed and will activate properly during baking.
Once your sauce is ready, add the sliced apples to the bowl. Gently toss the apples, ensuring each slice is thoroughly coated with the cinnamon-infused sauce. This coating is what will create that irresistible gooey texture and infuse every bite with flavor.
Pro Tip: To minimize cleanup, you can certainly mix all the ingredients directly in your baking dish. While a mixing bowl might offer a bit more room for vigorous tossing to ensure every apple slice is perfectly coated, mixing in the baking dish is a perfectly viable shortcut if you’re aiming for fewer dishes!
Step 2: Bake to Golden Perfection.
Carefully transfer the sauced apples from the mixing bowl into your prepared baking dish, spreading them out into an even layer. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Be sure to give the apples a good stir halfway through the baking time. This helps to ensure even cooking and caramelization, preventing any apples from becoming too soft or sticking to the bottom of the dish.
Continue baking until the apples are beautifully golden-brown, tender when pierced with a fork, but still holding their shape and not mushy. The sauce should be bubbly and thickened to a delightful, gooey consistency. Once baked to perfection, remove the dish from the oven, give them one last gentle stir to ensure all the apples are coated in the warm, rich sauce, and serve immediately. They are best enjoyed hot, perhaps with your favorite topping for an extra treat.
Recipe FAQs: Your Questions Answered
No, peeling the apples is entirely optional, so the choice is yours! While peeling does require a bit more effort, it results in a more uniform and softer texture throughout the dish, which some prefer. However, leaving the peels on adds a lovely rustic charm, contributes extra fiber and nutrients, and since the apple slices are thin, the peels are not overly noticeable when eating. Plus, it saves you a step in the prep process!
Absolutely! You can easily adjust the sweetness of this recipe to suit your preferences, including making them entirely sugar-free. If you’re preparing these baked apples as a healthy breakfast addition or an everyday snack, omitting or significantly reducing the maple syrup is a great option. The natural sweetness of the apples will still provide a pleasant flavor. If you’re making them for a special dessert where a richer flavor is desired, including the maple syrup will create a more decadent experience.
Yes, you can freeze baked apples, but be aware that their texture may change upon thawing. When frozen and then thawed, they tend to become a bit mushier than their freshly baked counterparts. To freeze them, ensure the baked apple slices have cooled completely to room temperature. Then, transfer them to an airtight container or a freezer-safe bag, ensuring as much air as possible is removed to prevent freezer burn. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator.
Baked apple slices are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in numerous ways:
- For an indulgent treat, drizzle them with this easy homemade caramel sauce.
- Enjoy them warm over a bowl of creamy banana oatmeal or a dollop of yogurt, perhaps with a sprinkle of crunchy granola.
- They make a fantastic topping for pancakes or a delicious filling for delicate crepes.
- Serve them simply with a scoop of dairy-free ice cream, a generous dollop of whipped cream, or your favorite coconut yogurt for a refreshing dessert.
- Elevate your breakfast or brunch by serving them alongside this hearty French toast casserole or a comforting vegan bread pudding.
Fridge: Once the baked apple slices have cooled completely to room temperature, transfer them to an airtight container. They will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can enjoy them cold straight from the fridge, or gently reheat them in a small pot on the stovetop, in the oven, or quickly in the microwave. Reheating helps to restore some of their warm, gooey texture.
Freezer: As mentioned above, baked apple slices can be frozen, but expect a slightly softer, mushier texture after thawing. If you wish to freeze them, allow them to cool entirely. Then, store them in a freezer-safe bag or a sealed container for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen apples in the refrigerator before reheating or serving.
Cinnamon Baked Apple Slices
Ingredients
- 4 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup, 45 g
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter or coconut oil, melted (30 g)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 30 mL
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 15 g
- 1 tablespoon water, 15 mL
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C) degrees and set out an approximately 9 x 7 or 8 x 8-inch baking dish.
- Peel (optional to peel), core, quarter and slices the apples into 1/8-inch slices.
- Add the rest of the ingredients (maple syrup, vegan butter or coconut oil, lemon juice, cornstarch, water, cinnamon) to a large mixing bowl and stir to combine into a smooth mixture. Add the sliced apples and mix well to coat.
- Transfer the mixture to the baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the apples are tender (but not mushy), bubbly and golden-brown.
- Stir to coat in the sauce then serve hot with non-dairy whipped cream or ice cream or over yogurt, pancakes, oatmeal or in crepes.
Notes
Maple syrup can be swapped with agave syrup, brown sugar or coconut sugar.
Recipe serves 4 if you’re serving as a main dessert with ice cream etc. It can serve 8 for a topping or filling.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop or enjoy cold.
Nutrition
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!