Easy Baked Cinnamon Apples

This post may contain affiliate links which means we receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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.

baked cinnamon apples, with serving missing, in mint green baking dish

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.

sliced baked apples with cinnamon nutmeg sauce in ivory ramekin with fork

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, JonathanJonagold, 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.

forkful of baked apples with cinnamon and whipped topping in ivory ramekin

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.

  1. 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.
  2. In a separate small bowl, mix together the cane sugar, light brown sugar, corn starch, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  3. Add the sugar mixture, sour cream, and lemon juice in with the apples, and mix everything together well.
  4. Pour the apple mixture into a greased baking dish, and thinly slice the butter around on top of the apples.
steps for how to make baked cinnamon apples, including slicing apples into large bowl and adding sugar, brown sugar, corn starch, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and sour cream; sliced cinnamon apples in mint green baking dish with pats of butter on top of the apples
  1. 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.
cinnamon baked apples in mint green baking dish

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

What apples are best to use for baked apples?

I love to make these with Honeycrisp, JonathanJonagold, 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.

Should I peel my 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.

How should I store baked apples?

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).

baked apples with whipped cream on top in ivory ramekin with fork

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…

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!

If you're on Pinterest, be sure to Pin the recipe too!

baked cinnamon apples in white ramekin, baked apples in mint green baking dish
baked cinnamon apples, with serving missing, in mint green baking dish

Baked Cinnamon Apples

How to make baked cinnamon apples in the oven. Quick and easy recipe, perfect side dish or dessert. Like apple pie, but without the crust!
4.57 from 69 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Desserts, Fruit Desserts, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 129kcal
Author: Mel Lockcuff

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.

Notes

What apples are best to use for baked apples?
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.
How should I store baked apples?
You can store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They should keep for 2-3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 27mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g
Tried this Recipe? Tag us Today!Mention @mellockcuff or tag #fomfrecipes!

32 thoughts on “Easy Baked Cinnamon Apples”

  1. 5 stars
    I had some apples from the grocery store that turned out to be pretty bland. Hating to throw them out, I used them in your recipe and they were so delicious! The sweetness from the sugars and the tanginess from the lemon juice and sour cream were just what those apples needed!

    Reply
    • Kris, that’s awesome. I’m always surprised at the kind of flavor you can get out of bland store-bought apples when cooking them down for a recipe like this. A hint of brown sugar makes all the difference.

      Reply
  2. Hello there,
    Would this freeze well? Was thinking about getting a bunch of apples and prepping this for the fall. Looks amazing:)

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    Just made this for my family and everyone adores it. From 2 years old to 58 years old, we all enjoyed. Served it alongside baked oatmeal muffins. Perfection. Thanks!

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




.

↑ Back To Top