As a simple side dish alongside pork, chicken or turkey, or as a healthy dessert topped with vanilla ice cream, these 5-Ingredient Baked Apples are an easy recipe that you'll enjoy all season long! No special cooking skills required!
Love to go apple picking each fall? There's something so nostalgic about loading up buckets full of fresh apples at the orchard each year, but then you're faced with the task of deciding how to enjoy them all!
I bet that you already have all of the ingredients that you need to prepare this easy baked apples recipe -- without an extra trip to the grocery store. It's such a simple process, even your child could do it! Let's get started...
How to make Baked Apples:
First, you'll need 4 apples. I like a combination of Granny Smith and Honey Crisp.
Peel and thinly slice the apples, and then place them in a baking pan.
Next, finely dice 2 tablespoons of butter.
Dot the butter all over the apples, sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over top, and drizzle with just a bit of honey.
Bake the apples in a 350 degree F oven for 20-25 minutes, until the apples are tender. Don't over-bake them, or the apples will turn to mush. If that happens, I suppose you'll just have chunky applesauce on your hands (not a bad thing, either)!
Give the apples a good stir to coat all of the slices with the melted butter and seasoning, then serve warm.
How to serve Baked Apples:
This recipe does double-duty as both a side dish and as a dessert. I like to think of the apples in the same way that I would use applesauce. For instance, offer a warm bowl of baked apples with this 4-Ingredient Pork Loin Roast, with these Stuffed Pork Chops, with a Crispy Roast Chicken, or alongside this Maple-Glazed Roasted Turkey Breast. Hey, you can even take the simple route and purchase a store-bought rotisserie chicken to have with your homemade apples!
On the other hand, these naturally sweet, sliced, roasted apples make a delicious healthy dessert option as well. With plenty of cinnamon and nutmeg in every bite, it tastes just like the filling from your favorite apple pie -- minus the crust! Just top the warm apples with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream and you'll have a truly decadent treat for much fewer calories!
Are baked apples nutritious?
Yes! Sliced, baked apples are a low-calorie snack or side dish to include in your diet. They include heart-healthy fiber and many essential vitamins. Since apples are naturally sweet, you don't even need to add much sweetener for this decadent-tasting treat. Just a drizzle of honey will do!
Cook's Tips and Recipe Variations:
- What is the best apple for baking? I like to use a combination of Granny Smith apples and Honey Crisp apples. Both of these varieties hold up well in the baking process (so that they don't turn to mush), and they offer a flavorful sweet-and-tart combination. Other nice baking apples include Jazz, Braeburn, Gala and Fuji.
- How long do baked apples last in the fridge? Stored in an airtight container, the apples will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Can baked apples be frozen? Yes! Wrapped tightly, the apples will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 1 month.
- Reheat leftover baked apples in the microwave until warm -- about 1 minute.
- Serve the baked apples with oatmeal or stir them into yogurt.
- Roasting apples makes an easy side dish recipe to pair with chicken, pork or turkey.
- The baked apple slices make a light and healthy dessert -- especially when served warm and paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. It's like the filling from an apple pie -- minus the crust!
What else can I do with too many apples?
- Slow Cooker Baked Apples Recipe
- Slow Cooker Apple Butter
- Apple Pie Protein Smoothie
- Mom's Easy Apple Pie
- Shortcut Apple Pecan Date Bars
- Light and Creamy Apple Salad
5-Ingredient Baked Apples
Ingredients
- 4 medium apples (I like a combination of Granny Smith and Honey Crisp)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons butter, finely diced
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 11 x 7-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Peel and thinly slice the apples. Layer the apples in the prepared dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Dot the butter on the apples. Drizzle honey over top.
- Bake apples for 20-25 minutes, or until soft. Stir the apples and then serve warm.
Notes
- What is the best apple for baking? I like to use a combination of Granny Smith apples and Honey Crisp apples. Both of these varieties hold up well in the baking process (so that they don't turn to mush), and they offer a flavorful sweet-and-tart combination. Other nice baking apples include Jazz, Braeburn, Gala and Fuji.
- How long do baked apples last in the fridge? Stored in an airtight container, the apples will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Can baked apples be frozen? Yes! Wrapped tightly, the apples will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 1 month.
- Reheat leftover baked apples in the microwave until warm -- about 1 minute.
- Serve the baked apples with oatmeal or stir them into yogurt.
- Roasting apples makes an easy side dish recipe to pair with chicken, pork or turkey.
- The baked apple slices make a light and healthy dessert -- especially when served warm and paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. It's like the filling from an apple pie -- minus the crust!
Sounds great.! Thank you!
I’ve made this a few times with different apples (Fuji, Gala, and Honeyscrip). It’s always been fantastic. I like to check on the apples after about 12 minutes to make sure they’re not going to overcook, and I’ve found that usually I take them out at this point.
SO good over ice cream. I’m very much a sweets person, and I was worried these wouldn’t be sweet enough, but alas they are AMAZING. Perfect combination of sweet and tart. Quite lovely with vanilla bean ice cream.
Thank you!!
That's so good to hear, Madison! Thank you! I have a big sweet tooth, too, and I think they're perfect. 🙂