Easy Homemade Baked Apples Recipe (2025) – A Cozy Dessert Anyone Can Make

The fall season would not be complete without the comforting scent that emanates from cinnamon-spiced apples baking in the oven. The transformation of basic ingredients into delicious desserts during the onset of cool weather feels almost like a magical process.

The first time I learned to prepare baked apples from my grandmother is an unforgettable experience. I stood on a stool while I was just eight years old and worked diligently with her to remove apple cores. Fog filled the kitchen windows which made the whole house smell amazing because of the oven temperature. I always recall that moment when I prepare this dish.

The classic baked apples have proven themselves throughout history to remain a popular dessert choice. This dessert requires minimal skills so beginners and people who need simple sweet treats will find it suitable.

Baked apples win me over because of their multiple serving options. You can enjoy baked apples with ice cream at dessert time or with yogurt for breakfast or you can make them for holiday events. The dessert looks sophisticated enough to serve company even though it only requires a few minutes of preparation time.

Baked apples provide a healthier dessert option that reveals the natural sweetness of fruit beyond restriction while delivering indulgence. The versatility of baked apples enables you to create numerous variations by selecting ingredients from your available kitchen stock.
I worked on this recipe extensively over several years so today I want to pass my complete tips and tricks to you! We should definitely start creating something special in your kitchen this evening!

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the base recipe (serves 4):

• 4 medium-to-large baking apples (see recommendations above)
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar (light or dark)
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans work beautifully)
• 2 tablespoons raisins or dried cranberries
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ cup water or apple cider

Each ingredient plays an important role in the final result. The brown sugar provides sweetness and creates a caramel-like sauce as it melts. I prefer dark brown sugar for its deeper molasses flavor, but light works perfectly too!

Butter adds richness and helps create that irresistible sauce at the bottom of each apple. You can use salted or unsalted—I typically use unsalted and add just a tiny pinch of salt to enhance the flavors.

The spices are customizable, but cinnamon is non-negotiable for that classic flavor! Nutmeg adds wonderful warmth, but you could also include ginger, cardamom, or allspice depending on your preference.

For dietary substitutions:

• Vegan: Use plant-based butter or coconut oil instead of dairy butter
• Lower sugar: Reduce brown sugar and add a sprinkle of cinnamon-only stevia blend
• Gluten-free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free (just double-check your spices)
• Nut-free: Substitute sunflower seeds or just increase the dried fruit

Quality makes a difference! While any apples will work, organic ones often have better flavor. Similarly, using high-quality cinnamon (like Ceylon cinnamon) creates a noticeably more complex flavor profile.

Kitchen Tools & Equipment

You don’t need fancy equipment to make amazing baked apples! Here’s what I recommend:

Essential tools:

• Apple corer or small sharp knife
• Melon baller or small spoon (for scooping)
• Baking dish with sides at least 2 inches high
• Measuring spoons

Don’t have an apple corer? No problem! A small, sharp paring knife works perfectly—just carefully cut a circle around the core and use a spoon to scoop it out. I actually prefer this method as it gives me more control over how much of the core to remove.

For the baking dish, you want something that fits your apples snugly but not too tightly. A 9×9 square dish works well for four apples. The dish needs sides because the apples will release juice as they bake, creating that amazing sauce!

If you want to make cleanup even easier, line your baking dish with parchment paper. Honestly, though, a quick soak usually removes any baked-on bits easily.

Nice-to-have extras include a microplane for fresh nutmeg, a citrus juicer for the lemon, and pretty individual serving dishes if you’re entertaining. But these are completely optional—the recipe works perfectly with just the basics!

Step-by-Step Baked Apples Recipe

Preparation:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This moderate temperature allows the apples to cook through without burning the tops.
2. Wash and dry your apples thoroughly. Even organic apples should be washed to remove any residue.
3. Remove the cores: Using an apple corer or paring knife, remove the core of each apple, leaving about ½ inch at the bottom intact. You’re essentially creating a cavity while keeping the bottom sealed to hold the filling. Be careful not to cut all the way through!
4. Use a melon baller or small spoon to remove any remaining seeds and create a slightly wider cavity at the top. Aim for a cavity about 1-inch wide for plenty of filling.
5. Brush the exposed flesh with lemon juice to prevent browning and add a subtle brightness to the flavor.
6. Place the prepared apples in your baking dish, making sure they stand upright. If they’re wobbling, slice a tiny bit off the bottom to create a flat surface.

Making the filling:

1. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, softened butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix until you have a paste-like consistency.
2. Stir in the chopped nuts and dried fruit until evenly distributed.

Assembly:

1. Spoon the filling mixture into each hollowed apple, packing it gently but not too tightly. Mound any extra on top.
2. Pour the water or apple cider into the bottom of the baking dish. This creates steam during baking and prevents the bottoms from burning.
3. If desired, sprinkle a little extra cinnamon on top for both flavor and presentation.

Baking:

1. Cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
2. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes until the apples are tender when pierced with a fork, but not collapsing.
3. The filling should be bubbling and the tops slightly caramelized. The skin may split slightly—that’s perfectly normal and even desirable!
4. Let the apples rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows them to cool slightly and the juices to thicken.

How to know when they’re done:

The perfect baked apple should be easily pierced with a fork but still maintain its shape. If your fork meets resistance, they need more time. If they’re completely collapsing, they’ve gone a bit too far—still delicious, just more rustic looking!

Troubleshooting:

• Apples not cooking evenly? Make sure they’re similar in size. You can also cover just the ones that are browning too quickly with small pieces of foil.
• Filling too dry? Add a tablespoon of apple juice or water to each cavity halfway through baking.
• Bottoms burning? Add more liquid to the baking dish and lower your oven temperature by 25 degrees.
• Apples splitting too much? Score the skin around the equator of each apple with a sharp knife before baking to give them a place to expand.

Delicious Variations to Try

Once you’ve mastered the classic recipe, the possibilities are endless! Here are some of my favorite variations:

Classic Cinnamon-Sugar: Sometimes simpler is better! Skip the nuts and dried fruits, and just use 4 tablespoons brown sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon cinnamon and 2 tablespoons butter. This lets the pure apple flavor shine.

Nutty Delight: Enhance the base recipe by using a mixture of toasted nuts—try equal parts walnuts, pecans, and almonds for amazing texture and flavor depth.

Dried Fruit Explosion: Combine raisins, dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, and a few currants with a splash of orange juice in the filling. The fruit plumps up beautifully during baking!

Decadent Caramel: Add 1 tablespoon of caramel sauce to each apple before filling, then drizzle more over the top after baking. For chocolate lovers, add mini chocolate chips to the filling during the last 10 minutes of baking.

Nutritional Benefits of Baked Apples

There’s good reason for the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away!” Apples are nutritional powerhouses, and baked apples retain most of those benefits:

• High in fiber (about 4-5g per medium apple), which aids digestion and helps you feel satisfied
• Rich in vitamin C, supporting immune function
• Contain potassium, which helps maintain healthy blood pressure
• Packed with antioxidants, particularly in the skin, which may help reduce inflammation

Compared to other popular desserts, baked apples shine nutritionally. A typical baked apple with filling contains roughly 200-250 calories, compared to apple pie at 400+ calories per slice. They’re also significantly lower in refined carbohydrates and saturated fat than most desserts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I prepare baked apples in advance? A: Absolutely! You can core and stuff the apples up to 24 hours ahead of time. Just cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. Add 5-10 minutes to the baking time if starting from cold.

Q: My apples split and collapsed. What went wrong? A: This usually happens with apple varieties that don’t hold their shape well during baking. Next time, try Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or another firm variety. Also, scoring the skin around the middle before baking gives the apple room to expand without splitting dramatically.

Q: Can I make this recipe in a slow cooker? A: Yes! Place prepared apples in your slow cooker, add ½ cup water or cider, and cook on low for 2-3 hours until tender. The texture will be softer than oven-baked, but still delicious.

Q: How do I adjust for different sized apples? A: For larger apples, increase baking time by 10-15 minutes. For smaller apples, decrease by 5-10 minutes. The key is checking for tenderness with a fork.

Final Thoughts

The process of turning a basic apple into a warm fragrant dessert seems to possess something that resembles magic. The dessert combines the delicate softness of fresh fruit with the flavorful spiced mixture to produce a dish that feels both sophisticated and comfortable at once.
This recipe demonstrates its ability to create a bond between contemporary chefs and previous generations of home cooks. The basic joy of eating baked apples existed long before people developed complex pastry recipes along with intricate baking methods.
This recipe serves as my personal favorite version yet you should take the opportunity to develop your custom blend. Incorporate your grandmother’s special spice mix and sample the unique honey from your collection and discover what happens when you mix different nuts and dried fruits. People can transform these recipes through their personal modifications
The baked apple recipe reaches its peak during the autumn apple season yet its delicious appeal remains constant throughout the year. These apples are suitable for both holiday dinners and everyday desserts. These apples solve the problem of needing something sweet without causing the glucose drop associated with ready-made processed desserts.

Easy Homemade Baked Apples Recipe (2025) – A Cozy Dessert Anyone Can Make

Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

45

minutes

Calories

180

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

These classic baked apples are stuffed with a sweet cinnamon-oat filling and baked until tender. A comforting dessert that’s perfect for fall and winter, served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of cream.

Ingredients

• 4 large apples (Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Braeburn work best)

• 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed

• 1 tablespoon butter, softened

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

• 2 tablespoons raisins or dried cranberries (optional)

• 1/4 cup apple juice or water

• Pinch of salt

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a baking dish that will fit your apples snugly.
• Prepare the apples: Wash and core the apples, leaving about 1/2 inch of the bottom intact to create a well. If desired, peel a strip around the top of each apple to prevent splitting.
• Make the filling: In a small bowl, mix together oats, brown sugar, softened butter, cinnamon, vanilla, salt, and nuts/dried fruit if using.
• Stuff the apples: Divide the filling evenly among the four apples, pressing it down gently into the hollowed centers.
• Add liquid: Place stuffed apples in the prepared baking dish. Pour apple juice or water around the base of the apples.
• Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 15-20 minutes until apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
• Serve: Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Drizzle with pan juices and serve warm.

Notes

• Apple selection: Choose firm apples that hold their shape when baked. Avoid Red Delicious as they become too soft.
  Make ahead: Can be assembled up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerated before baking.
  Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.