Learn how to make the most delicious baked cinnamon apples in the oven. This quick and easy recipe makes a perfect side dish or dessert. They taste like apple pie, but without the crust!
Sliced baked apples really do make the best side dish or dessert for just about any meal. While most would consider this to be a fall recipe, I grew up eating them year round, likely because we had lots of apples to eat and cook with, thanks to a handful of apple trees on the farm.
Grandma would slice up her apples, mix them with cinnamon and sugar, and she'd pop them in the microwave for a few minutes to soften up and cook. We enjoyed microwave apples spring, summer, fall, and winter.
These lovely cinnamon baked apples are based off my favorite Dutch apple crumb pie and easy gluten-free apple crisp. They have one secret ingredient that gives them both a zing and a slightly creamy texture.
While you're welcome to leave the peelings on the apples, I peel them when making baked apples. And I like to use a mixture of both cane sugar and brown sugar with my cinnamon.
Baked apples are great all by themselves; but if you want them to be a bit more filling, feel free to throw them into a pie crust, or use them as the filling in apple caramel dump cake or slow cooker apple dump cake.
Top them off with whipped cream, and you've got one fantastic dessert, a makeshift apple pie.
If you'd rather make a CrockPot baked apple recipe, I've got you covered with this recipe for Crock Pot baked apples.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Cinnamon baked apples make a great side dish or dessert. They work great for both!
- It's quick, easy, and painless to make. Peeling and slicing the apples is the most you'll have to work on this one.
- You get a taste of apple pie, only without the crust!
- This recipe uses simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- They're absolutely delicious.
Ingredients Notes
- Apples – When choosing your apples, you really want something that will give both a sweet and tart flavor. But keep in mind, you really can make these with whatever you hand on hand. I love making baked cinnamon apples with Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Jonagold, or Granny Smith apples. Jonagolds are a cross between Jonathans and Golden Delicious, and they are so sweet, tart, and crisp.
- Cane sugar – You can use granulated sugar, as well.
- Light brown sugar
- Corn starch – This is going to slightly thicken the apples.
- Cinnamon and Nutmeg – I love adding certain spices like this for added flavor; they enhance the flavor of the apples too.
- Sour cream – my secret ingredient. I love using this when I make apple pie filling too. It gives a richness to the apples.
- Lemon juice
- Salted butter
Keep in mind, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.
How to Make Baked Cinnamon Apples
Before you get started mixing up your apples, be sure to wash them well. I like to soak ours in a water/vinegar mixture.
You'll also need to pre-heat your oven and grease your baking dish with cooking spray.
- Core, peel, and slice apples into a large bowl. To do this, I usually use our handy apple corer/peeler/slicer, and then I'll cut those whole slices in half with a paring knife.
- In a separate small bowl, mix together the cane sugar, light brown sugar, corn starch, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Add the sugar mixture, sour cream, and lemon juice in with the apples, and mix everything together well.
- Pour the apple mixture into a greased baking dish, and thinly slice the butter around on top of the apples.
- Bake the apples at 375° F for about 30 to 45 minutes, or until the apples are softened and bubbly. Be sure to give the apples a good stir halfway thru baking.
While they make an excellent side dish or dessert all by themselves, you can serve them with a dollop of whipped topping or a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ's
I love to make these with Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Jonagold, or Granny Smith apples. Jonagolds are a cross between Jonathans and Golden Delicious, and they are so sweet, tart, and crisp. Other great choices would be Rome, Braeburn, Golden Delicious, Northern Spy, and Empire apples.
This is really up to you and your preferences. While leaving the peeling on does give the apples more nutritional value, the peeling can also add a tougher, chewier texture to the baked apples. I prefer to peel, but the choice is yours to make.
You can store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They should keep for 2-3 days.
Optional Add-Ins for Sliced Baked Apples:
You may want to add in some optional ingredients to give your easy baked apples even more bang for their buck (although they're delicious just the way they are).
- Raisins
- Dried cranberries
- Nuts – walnuts, pecans, sliced almonds, etc.
- Oatmeal
- When your apples have somewhat cooled, pipe or zigzag a bit of powdered sugar icing on top.
More Apple Recipes and Ways to Use Apples:
If you love these easy baked apple slices as much as I do, you may love these recipes too…
- Apple Cinnamon French Toast
- Instant Pot Apple Butter
- Creamy Caramel Apple Dip
- Homemade Apple Juice
- Instant Pot Applesauce
- Apple Jelly without Pectin
If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. And subscribe to my email list too!
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Baked Cinnamon Apples
Ingredients
- 6 cups apples cored, peeled, and sliced
- 1/4 cup cane sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons salted butter thinly sliced
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 375° F, and grease an 8×8 or 7×9 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Add the sliced apples to a large mixing bowl.
- In a small bowl, mix together the sugar, brown sugar, corn starch, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Add the sugar mixture, sour cream, and lemon juice in with the apples, and mix everything together well.
- Pour the apple mixture into a greased baking dish, and thinly slice the butter around on top of the apples.
- Bake the apples at 375° F for about 30 to 45 minutes, or until the apples are tender, softened, and bubbly. Be sure to give the apples a good stir halfway thru baking.
- Serve the baked apples with a dollop of whipped topping or a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.
I have a question. i am making these apples to serve with Standing Pork Rib Roast for Thanksgiving. Can I make it ahead of time, freeze and reheat. And if so, should I adjust the baking time?
Sunni, you can freeze this so long as you do not bake it first. Just be sure to pull it out and place it in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours, or overnight, to let it thaw before baking. It might take an additional 5 minutes or so to bake; just keep an eye on it. I hope this helps.
Instead of the sour cream could you swap Greek yogurt?
Although I have never tried it myself, I am reading that Greek yogurt makes a fine substitute for sour cream. I’d try it!
Can you use unpeeled apples cored
Yes, Barbara, that would work well. It’s all preference.
Very easy and delicious! Did not have any sour cream but followed the recipe otherwise. Will be making to have as a side for pork chops.
Thanks so much, Liz! I’m glad it turned out well.
Made in an oval casserole dish. Add a titch of cinnamon, too. Made my kitchen smell so good. Great use of apples that aren’t being eaten fast enough. Quick and easy. Thanks!
Yes, it’s a wonderful, quick & easy recipe. I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed it. Thank you!
Hi
What type of pan? The one in picture does not seem very deep.
Should I use a cookie sheet with sides or a Pyrex with higher sides?
Angie, I use a 7 to 9 inch baking dish. Your Pyrex dish will probably work great.
I’ve been searching a bunch of cinnamon apple recipes, I haven’t seen any with sour cream. What does it do? What are the benefits?
Hey Patty, the sour cream makes for a much creamier pie. The tanginess of it really brings out the flavor of the apples.
Trying this recipe tonight! Putting in oven now, looks delicious already 😊
Thank you, Darlene! I hope you enjoyed the apples.