These baked apples are a delicious way to enjoy your apple-picking bounty. Easy baked apple slices are an incredible four ingredient dessert, side dish, or breakfast.
Thrown together with fresh apples, butter, cinnamon and sugar, they couldn’t be easier!
When you serve them warm, fragrant and perfectly tender, baked apples make for such a memorable dish in the fall, and all year long.
Growing up, my mom would core and bake apples with a cinnamon, sugar and butter mixture that had us all begging for fall. It was such a treat, yet unbeknownst to me at the time, so simple.
Baked Apple Slices are a quintessential fall recipe. There’s something comforting about warm, tender apples blended with cinnamon sugar – this easy fall recipe doubles as potpourri for your kitchen, it smells so good!
We frequently enjoy them after an afternoon of apple-picking where we almost always pick more than we can realistically enjoy. Each year I am hopeful we can pick from our own backyard, but by mid-July, the squirrels have raided the apple trees.
Wherever you find your apples, this foolproof recipe is easy enough for little hands to help make!
I’ve got an incredible line-up of apple recipes that you can’t miss in this comprehensive collection of the best Apple Recipes. It’s full of delicious fall flavors, including apple cider, apple pound cake, and quintessential apple bread. Pin to save for later!
Baked Apple Slices
This easy recipe requires less time in the oven than baked cored apples, and slices are easier to serve.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- So Easy – Just four ingredients and they are so simple!
- Flexibility – This incredible dish can be breakfast, dessert, a snack or side dish. In fact, they are one of our favorite Sides for Pork Chops.
- Wholesome – Great way to use up your apples from the orchard in a healthier way.
Serve them on their own for breakfast, or blended into oatmeal or yogurt. They are a great wholesome snack or side dish, too.
They’re decadent enough on their own for dessert, but I like to drizzle them in caramel and serve warm with vanilla ice cream for a family style dessert.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Apples – The best apples for baking are noted below. We love Honeycrisp!
- Cinnamon – Ground cinnamon blended with sugar gives this easy recipe most of its incredible flavor.
- Sugar – White granulated sugar sweetens up this easy side dish.
- Butter – I use salted butter to balance the sweetness a little, but you can also use unsalted. When combined with cinnamon and sugar, it creates an incredible sauce. Learn how to soften butter quickly.
Variations
- The simple addition of a teaspoon of allspice makes a fragrant, peppery addition to these baked apples.
- Try adding my apple pie spice for a little taste of apple pie!
- Substitute white sugar for brown sugar for more of a caramelized texture and finish.
- Make them a decadent adult treat by adding a splash of Bourbon! (Make yourself a Spiked Bourbon Apple Cider while you’re at it.)
How to Make
In the Oven
- Melt butter.
- Toss sliced apples in butter, cinnamon and sugar.
- Bake and top with sea salt, caramel and ice cream for dessert, blend into yogurt or oatmeal for breakfast or serve as a side dish!
In the Microwave
- Melt butter.
- Toss sliced apples in butter, cinnamon and sugar.
- Microwave on high for five minutes or until tender.
Tips
- I like to mix up the style of apples I use in these baked apples for a variety of different flavors and textures. Try Honeycrisp – they are the girls’ favorites!
- I love baking and serving in the same dish. Find this oval Staub baker here.
Choose the Best Apples for Baking
- Honeycrisp – Always and forever a favorite in this house.
- Granny Smith – Firm and tart, eternally noted as the best apple for baking because the additional sugar balances them so well.
- Golden Delicious – These get the softest of all the apples on this list. This works great for younger kids who might be texture-averse.
- Gala – much like golden delicious, these are a softer apple. While they won’t hold up in an apple pie, they can work in this baked apple recipe.
- Braeburn – holds up well to baking, stays crisp
- Jonathan and Jonagold – Tart and hold up well in the oven.
- Pink Lady – Balanced, crisp and sweet
Shortcuts
- Keep my classic homemade Cinnamon Sugar combo on hands at all times and you’ll eliminate needing to grab both things for this recipe!
- Invest in an apple corer and slicer if you’d like to eliminate the hands-on step of coring and slicing the apples.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best apples for baking are pink ladies, braeburn, honeycrisp, jonagold, jonathan, gala, golden delicious, and granny smith. You’ll want an apple that holds up to heat and retains its shape and sweetness.
Yes! While these baked apple slices have a little butter, sugar and cinnamon, they are relatively light in calories when compared with a slice of apple pie. And apples are packed with nutrients, so this is a snack you can truly feel good about!
Serving Suggestions
- For a beautiful presentation, serve them with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon.
- Top with a dollop of Homemade Whipped Cream
- Or, Mascarpone Cream
- Add a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream
- Better yet, try a scoop of Apple Butter Ice Cream on top!
- Drizzle with Salted Caramel Sauce
- Add a few Candied Nuts
How to Store
- Room Temp – these can be left out at room temp for around two hours, and after that need to be stored in fridge or even freezer, as noted.
- Refrigerate – Bring to room temperature and store in an airtight container up to 3 days refrigerated. Warm to serve.
- Freezer – Yes, you can freeze your apples. Store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw in fridge overnight before you warm to serve.
Dietary Considerations
- Gluten Free
- Dairy Free
- Nut Free
- Vegetarian
More Amazing Apple Recipes
Baked Apple Slices
Ingredients
- 3 apples sliced
- 6 tablespoons butter melted
- ⅓ cup white granulated sugar white granulated
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon ground
- sea salt optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- In a small baking dish, toss butter, cinnamon and sugar to coat the apples.
- Bake 25 minutes, or until tender.
Julie’s Tips
Substitutions and Variations
- Apples – Pink ladies, braeburn, honeycrisp, jonagold, jonathan, gala, golden delicious, and granny smith are best for baking
- Cinnamon – Can substitute with allspice
- Sugar – Substitute with brown sugar for caramel flavor.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted, your preference.
How to Make Baked Apple Slices in the Microwave
- Melt butter.
- Toss sliced apples in butter, cinnamon and sugar.
- Microwave on high for 5 minutes or until tender.
To Store
Refrigerate – Bring to room temperature and store in an airtight container up to 3 days refrigerated. Warm to serve.Serving Suggestions
Serve with caramel sauce, ice cream and sea salt for an extra indulgent treat.Video
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
I love how sometimes the simplest things taste the very best! So perfect for fall!
What a dreamy fall recipe. Especially when you add the ice cream. Drool! Thanks for sharing.
Why yes, I’ll take 2 scoops! Seasonal desserts are always a treat!
Such a great way to get the apple pie taste without all the fuss! My kids would LOVE this!
Hugs, Jamie
What a perfect way to enjoy apples this fall! I’ll definitely take a scoop or two of ice cream on mine … with allllll the caramel sauce. Lol. Yum!
xo Michael