Baked apples is one of the best and the easiest fall desserts. Sweet, juicy apples are baked with a mixture of dried berries, nuts, granola, brown sugar, and fall spices like cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg all packed inside.
If you’re looking for more delicious apple recipes, try our Apple Cheesecake, Apple Crisp and Fried Apples.
Table of Contents
There’s a whole lot to love about this tried and true Baked Apples recipe. When I call this a family favorite, I mean it – that’s not a phrase I use lightly! In fact, I don’t think the fall season ever really begins until I make the very first batch of warm Baked Apples.
They are cozy, comforting, and so easy to make! On a lazy fall day, you’ll love biting into warm, soft apples filled with crunchy sweet filling, and topped with vanilla ice cream. The aroma that will fill your house is nothing short of heavenly. It’s better than any fall themed scented candles.
As much as I love an endless list of apple recipes, this classic Baked Apples dessert really highlights all of the natural, delicious flavors of apples. The filling in the middle is just an added bonus that’s there to compliment these perfectly baked fruits! This easy dessert is sweet, slightly buttery, and spiced with the best fall flavor.
Ingredient Notes
Apples – choose medium or large sweeter apples.
Nuts – Choose nuts like pecans, almonds, or walnuts and make sure they’re chopped into small pieces.
Dried Berries – you can use dried fruit and berries like blueberries, cranberries, cherries, or raisins. Chop them into small pieces if needed.
Granola – You’ll need a simple granola that doesn’t have any added nuts and berries. Vanilla or cinnamon flavored granola will pair well. Feel free to use gluten free if needed.
Brown Sugar – You can use light or dark brown sugar, whichever you prefer is just fine.
Spices – Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice work in tandem to create the most delightful fall flavor!
Butter – You’ll need a little bit of unsalted butter to top each of the apples with prior to baking.
What Apples to Use
You want to use sweeter apples, but also ones that will stand up to baking. Choose medium or large apples because small apples won’t hold much filling inside. Some of our favorite apples for baked apples are:
- Envy
- Honeycrisp
- Braeburn
- Gala
- Jonagold
- Mutzu
- Pink Lady
- Winesap
How to Make Baked Apples
Prepare the oven, apples, and filling.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. As it preheats, use a small pairing knife to core the apples (1). Be sure not to cut all the way through the bottom, as we don’t want the filling to spill out. Remove some apple “meat” as needed aground the core (2).
Create the filling by combining all of the filling ingredients and mix well (3).
Assemble and bake.
Divide the mixture evenly amongst the apples, filling them each all the way (4). Top each apple with a slice of butter (5).
Bake for 45-60 minutes. The bake time will depend on the sizes of your apples. They should be baked through, but not mushy. Medium apples usually take about 45 minutes, while larger apples are closer to an hour (6).
Remove them from the oven and baking dish. Serve them as they are or top with ice cream/caramel sauce, and enjoy!
Storing Instructions
Store leftover Baked Apples in the refrigerator. Keep them in a food storage container with an airtight lid. Properly stored, these apples should last for up to 5 days.
To reheat your leftover apples, you can use a microwave for individual portions of a few at a time. It’s quick, easy, and warms them up pretty well. You can either slice them in half and reheat them or just place them in the microwave whole.
If you don’t want to use a microwave, you can reheat them in the oven for a few minutes at 350°. Or, you can even use an air-fryer and reheat them at 350° for 2-4 minutes.
Recipe FAQs
You can definitely make these baked apples gluten free and/or vegan. To make them gluten free, use gluten free granola. Use plan based butter and ice cream made out of milk substitutes to make them vegan.
It’s always best serve baked apples warm! Since the filling is made with addition of butter, you definitely want to warm them up first.
Try a scoop of vanilla, vanilla bean, caramel, or cinnamon ice cream on top! There is an ice cream brand called Jeni’s Splendid Ice cream and they have salted caramel and Cinnabon ice creams that are fantastic on these apples.
Another way to have these apples is with a drizzle of caramel sauce. Try warmed caramel topping, salted caramel topping, or Dulce de Leche over the top and you won’t be sorry!
For baked apples, no, do not peel the apples! Apple skin will help preserve the integrity of the apple as it baked and get soft. If you keep the apples, it will fall apart after it’s baked enough.
More Delicious Recipes to Try
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Baked Apples Recipe
Ingredients
- 4-6 large or medium apples 4 large or 6 medium
- 3/4 cup of water approximate
Filling:
- 1/3 cup chopped nuts like pecans, almonds, or walnuts
- 1/3 cup dried fruit or berries like blueberries, cranberries, cherries, or raising
- 1/3 cup granola
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1-2 tbsp unsalted butter to top
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°.
- Wash apples and dry them. Using a small pairing knife cut the core out of the apple, making sure not to cut all the way through so the filling doesn't come out. Scoop out a little more of apple meat if needed.
- For the filling: combine all of the filling ingredients (except the butter meant to add to top) and mix well.
- Divide the mixture among the apples, filling them all the way.
- Stand the apples in a baking dish and add some water to the bottom of the dish (about 3/4 cup).
- Top each apple with a slice of butter.
- Bake apples for 45-60 minutes, depending on the size of the apples. You want apples to be baked through but not completely mushy. (Estimate 45 minutes for medium apples and 1 hours for large apples. )
- Take the apples out of the oven and out of the backing dish. Serve as is or topped with ice cream and/or caramel sauce.
Pam says
Oh, these sound so good!
Ashley says
This looks fantastic! I try to be healthy when I can (so I can have all those bad things occasionally), so this seems like the perfect treat.
Lenetta Carnes says
Hi, Great post. I found you through the blog hop. Now following you.Please stop by and say hi when you get a chance.
Be sure and check out my new Blog Hop that we just started, It’s Weekly Goals Link Up. It’s a great way to stay on track. Have a great day. 🙂 Here’s the link in case you want to check it out. Thanks again.http://lenettacarnes.blogspot.com/2013/01/weekly-goals-linkup-html
Tanya-Lemonsforlulu.com says
Target has bathing suits too! How crazy! The pictures on this post are beautiful! Love the berry apples, they’ll help me get into those bathing suits! Thanks for sharing at One Creative Weekend.
Katie WhoNeedsACape says
These look so good! Pinning this so I can try them with my kiddos soon! Found you at nifty thrifty sunday! ~Katie
Ele at abitofpinkheaven says
Yummy!!!