Healthy Cinnamon Baked Apples are the perfect holiday treat for anyone on a healthy diet. Apple halves are spiced and baked in brown sugar coating.

Baked Apples are an ideal treat for Autumn. They’re easily flavored with cinnamon so they taste similar to classic Desserts like apple pie or an apple crisp but without all the unhealthy ingredients. For more healthy ways to enjoy apples try our recipes Applesauce or Applesauce Bread.

Baked Cinnamon Apples turn out tart and sweet with a rich caramelized topping from the cinnamon and brown sugar. The combination of cinnamon and baked apples makes it a great dish to enjoy on Thanksgiving or Christmas. But, you can easily throw this Baked Apple recipe together anytime you’re craving something sweet. Enjoy the sweet apples on their own or serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a more indulgent dessert.

Baking the apples tenderizes them so that you can easily scoop up bites a fork or spoon. But, they aren’t so soft that they’re mushy. They still have a bit of crispness that makes the dish all the more interesting. Baking the apples gives them a similar texture to our Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe.

This is a wonderfully versatile dish that you can enjoy anytime completely guilt-free. Although Baked Cinnamon Apples are perfect for a dessert, you can also enjoy them for a sweet breakfast. Or, even put them out as a family-friendly side dish to go with your holiday dinner.

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TIPS FOR BAKING APPLES

Prep time: Before getting the apples ready, preheat the oven and spray an 8×8 baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. If you don’t have nonstick spray, simply line the dish with parchment paper or tin foil.
Apples: Next, slice each of the apples in half, and core them. Lay the cored apples on the prepared baking dish with the cut-side up.
Coating: Add the melted butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar to a small bowl. Whisk together, and then sprinkle the topping over the sliced apples.
Baking time: Pop them in the preheated oven for 30 minutes until you have caramelized fork-tender apples.

VARIATIONS ON CINNAMON BAKED APPLES

Spices: You can add new flavors with your favorite seasonal spices. A teaspoon ground nutmeg, fresh ginger, allspice, or cloves would taste great with the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.
Maple syrup: If you’re serving Baked Apples in the morning, and want to give them a breakfast twist add a slight maple taste. Just exchange the brown sugar in the recipe with maple syrup and enjoy!
Oat topping: You can make a crunchy oat topping to add some more texture, and make the apples more filling. To prepare the oats add ¾ cup oatmeal to the butter (keep it chilled for this version), brown sugar, and cinnamon. Use a fork or pastry cutter to combine the oat mixture into coarse crumbs, and then sprinkle it over the apples.
Apple type: There are different apple varieties you can use in this recipe. We’ve recommended Golden Delicious or Fuji because they’re nice and sweet. However, if you want to try more tart apples, Granny Smith, Cortland, or Pink Lady could taste amazing.
Apple Slices: To make this dish into a dessert topping, you can slice the apples into smaller pieces and toss them with the sugar mixture, then bake. They’ll cook a little faster, so only put them in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Then you can use them to top off cakes, vanilla ice cream, or pies.

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HOW TO STORE HEALTHY CINNAMON BAKED APPLES

Serve: Don’t leave the Cinnamon Apples at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Store: Wrap any leftover apples in plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll stay good for 3-4 days.
Freeze: You can also freeze Baked Apples. Seal them in a freezer bag or another airtight container. They’ll keep well for up to 6 months.