Baked Apples

Baked Apples are soft, warm, and tender, with a crunchy and sweet cinnamon oat filling. This cozy and comforting fall dessert is quick and easy to make with just 15 minutes of prep before it’s ready for the oven.

You can serve these baked cinnamon apples whole or halved, all by themselves or alongside a touch of ice cream and caramel sauce. The possibilities are endless when it comes to these baked apples with oats — and your family will love every single one.

Why You'll Love These Baked Apples

• It’s the perfect fall dessert. Warm, cinnamon-spiced apples with a crumbly, brown sugar and oat filling are ideal for cool autumn days. Your family and friends will be delighted by this recipe every time you make it!
• They’re fast and easy to make. The prep work for these baked apples with oats takes only 15 minutes! A little bit of mixing and careful apple coring will get cinnamon apples in the oven after a few minutes and you can clean up or focus on the next task while they’re baking!
• A single serve dessert. Every bite of this recipe will remind you of a classic Apple Crisp or a crustless Apple Pie. It has all the same flavors but with less effort and is presented in a unique, Pinterest-worthy single serving. Plus, it’s easier to serve when the portions are already set out.

Ingredient Notes

To make these Cinnamon Baked Apples, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

• apples - choosing the right kind of apple is crucial to getting these baked apples just right. You want to choose a type that is firm enough that it won’t become mush and fall when baked. Several varieties of apple that are great for baking whole, like Honeycrisp, Rome, Pink Lady, or Granny Smith. You want to choose apples that stand upright easily. Look for ones that are perfectly round (not too tall or oblong so they can easily support themselves).
• butter - for a vegan alternative, you can substitute butter for equal amounts of a vegan butter alternative.
• brown sugar - brown sugar is a key ingredient in these baked apples, but you can substitute it for coconut sugar, dark maple syrup, or a sugar-free brown sugar alternative to suit your preferences.
• ground cinnamon
• rolled oats - make sure you are using rolled oats and not quick oats. Rolled oats are whole oats whereas quick oats have been processed into smaller pieces to make them quick faster. You could technically use quick oats but the texture will be off.
• pecans - pecans add the perfect amount of crunch to these baked apples. You can omit them if you prefer or try walnuts in their place.
• raisins or cranberries - this baked apple recipe calls for (optional) raisins or cranberries — but you’re not limited to those two choices! You can experiment with different types of dried fruit like golden berries, cherries, dates, figs, and more. Just make sure to cut them into small, raisin-size pieces before adding them.
• warm apple cider (or water) - we love using our homemade Slow Cooker Apple Cider here, but store-bought is great too. Using apple cider on the bottom of the dish adds even more apple flavor to this dessert, but using water instead works well too.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, apple corer or paring knife, hand mixer, and 8-inch square baking pan.

How to Make the Best Baked Apples

1. Core the apples. Use a sharp paring knife or an apple corer to cut out the apple cores, about ¾ down into the apple (leaving ½ inch from the bottom intact). Then, use a small metal spoon to dig out the core and remove any seeds. Use a small knife to score them a little across the entire surface with a knife (this will help the apples from splitting in the oven when baked). Transfer the cored apples to an 8-inch square baking pan, standing upright.

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2. Make filling. In a medium mixing bowl, combine butter, sugar, and cinnamon together using a hand mixer. Add oats, pecans, and raisins (if using) and stir together until incorporated.

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3. Stuff the apples. Use a spoon to stuff each apple with the oat mixture, filling it all the way to the top. Pour warm apple cider (or water) into the bottom of the baking pan (to prevent the apples from burning).

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4. Bake. Bake in a 375°F preheated oven for 35-45 minutes or until the apples are cooked through and slightly soft, but not mushy. Serve whole or slice in half and serve.

How to Serve

Serve Baked Apples warm out of the oven on their own, or pair with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream and a drizzle of Salted Caramel Sauce.

If serving as part of a fall dessert spread, you can also serve these fall favorites:

• Pecan Pie Bars
• Mascarpone Pumpkin Pie
• Butternut Squash Bread
• Caramel Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
• Pumpkin Mousse

Storage/Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Allow the leftover baked apples to cool to room temperature, then place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

How to Reheat

Reheat in a 350°F preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until warmed through, or in a 350F oven for 5-10 minutes until warm. You can also reheat in the microwave in 30 second increments until warm.

How to Freeze

Baked apples are ideal for freezing, as they won’t change texture like their raw counterparts. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid (2-4 hours depending on your freezer settings) and then place the frozen apples in a freezer bag and leave frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat straight out of the freezer by baking in the oven in an aluminum foil-covered pan at 350°F for 30 minutes or until heated through.

More Apple Dessert Recipes

• 20 Best Apple Desserts
• Braided Lattice Apple Pie
• Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Muffins
• Apple Crisp
• Baked Apple Chips
• Apple Hand Pies

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