How to make the most delicious baked cinnamon apples. Easy dessert recipe with apple slices, brown sugar, nutmeg, and a special secret ingredient.
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 apple crisp recipe. 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 use your CrockPot, I've got you covered with this recipe for Crock Pot baked apples.
WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?
If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the baked apple recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card with a longer how to video.
WHAT APPLES ARE BEST TO USE FOR BAKED 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.
More favorite kinds of apples to use might include…
- Rome
- Braeburn
- Golden Delicious
- Northern Spy
- Empire
INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED:
- Apples
- Cane sugar – or granulated sugar
- Light brown sugar
- Corn starch
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Sour cream – my secret ingredient
- Lemon juice
- Salted butter
Keep in mind, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.
KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU'LL NEED:
Apple Corer and Slicer with Paring Knife
Ramekins – for serving
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.
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:
- Apple Cinnamon French Toast
- Instant Pot Apple Butter
- Creamy Caramel Apple Dip
- Homemade Apple Juice
- Instant Pot Applesauce
- Apple Jelly without Pectin
GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE
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How to Make Delicious Baked Cinnamon Apples
Ingredients
- 6 cups apples
- 1/4 cup cane sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons salted butter thinly sliced
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 375° F, 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 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.
Notes
- Rome
- Braeburn
- Golden Delicious
- Northern Spy
- Empire
- 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.
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.