These delicious Air Fryer Baked Apples are tossed with lots of cinnamon and caramelized to perfection! Use them on top of pancakes, to serve alongside ham or pork, or eat them straight out of the pan topped with loads of cinnamon whipped cream!
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Welcome to the fall season! Now let’s get down to business with our cozy apple and pumpkin recipes, shall we??!
I LOVE using my air fryer as an “unfancy convection oven” around the holidays for side dishes and smaller items so I can have my oven free for larger things like ham or turkey! Not only that, but I LOVE not having to turn on my oven for every single thing I want to bake! The air fryer uses way less energy and cooks my stuff faster….#winning!
So let’s get cracking with these easy air fryer apples! AKA: fall on a plate! If you have never made baked apples in the air fryer, you are missing out!
Most recipes you’ll find for baked apples in the air fryer want you to air fry apple HALVES until tender. I have two issues with that: Too annoying to eat (not a fan of eating apples with a knife and fork) and no caramelized ooey gooey goodness!
If you want an air fryer apple dessert, let’s do this thing right! Ooey gooey goodness, here we come!
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- Delicious, caramelized apples that scream fall coziness!!
- No need to tie up your oven! These cook in a pan right in the air fryer!
- A delicious, easy air fryer dessert with very little effort!
- So versatile! You can use these apples as a dessert, for breakfast, or as a topping for french toast or pancakes!
- A great use if you have extra apples from fall apple picking!
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
You’ll need the following ingredients to make these delicious Air Fryer Baked Apples:
INGREDIENT NOTES
Apples: Use whatever type of apple you like! My favorite thing to do is to use a combination of sweet and tart apples like Granny Smith apples and Honey Crisp.
Sweeter: Fuji, Gala, Honey Crisp, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious
More Tart: Granny Smith, McIntosh, Pink Lady
Corn Starch: This acts as a thickening agent. You can also use arrowroot powder.
Brown Sugar: I used dark brown sugar because I love that deep, rich color but you can use light brown sugar or a combination of light and dark brown!
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER BAKED APPLES: STEP BY STEP
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with the exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!
Step 1: Begin by cutting your apples into 1/4″ slices. Add them to a medium bowl.
Step 2: To the bowl, add your sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch, lemon juice, water, vanilla, and sea salt.
Step 3: Give everything a few big stirs to ensure apple slices are fully coated with the sugar and spices, then transfer the apple mixture to your baking pan.
Step 4: Cover pan with foil, then air fry at 375°F for 40-45 minutes. Uncover, give the apples a big stir, coating all the apples in the caramel-y sauce. Then, air fry another 10-15 minutes uncovered until the apples are very tender. Serve with a scoop of ice cream or Cinnamon Whipped Cream!
RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS
- If you have never used your air fryer to make these apples, check on them at about the 30-minute mark, then every 15 minutes after that. Some air fryers cook a bit faster than others, so make sure to check on them. Give them a good stir, too so the apples get coated with the delicious caramel sauce in the pan!
- Chopped nuts make a great topping if you want a little crunch!
⭐️ CONFIDENCE TIP ⭐️
What are the best apples to use?! Try a combination of sweeter-variety apples (like Honey Crisp) and some that are a bit more tart (like Granny Smith).
STORAGE & REHEATING
- Storage: Cool completely. Then store these easy air fryer apples in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days (my favorite storage containers).
- Reheating: To reheat, you can place apples in a microwave-safe container and reheat for about 1-2 minutes on 50% power. You can also put the dish back into the air fryer for a few minutes until heated through.
- Freezing: To freeze, cool apples completely then store them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 1 month. To defrost, use the microwave or leave apples in the fridge to defrost overnight. These apples are delish when they are rewarmed for about 30 seconds in the microwave. Note they may get a little mushy in texture in the freezing/defrosting process but still totally edible and delish!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This will depend on the size of your air fryer basket or tray, but any oven-proof pan will work–don’t think you have to run out an buy special pans or gadgets for your air fryer…unless you want to!
For this recipe, I used a 9-inch ceramic pie pan. Just use an oven-proof pan that fits into your air fryer and that you can easily remove.
Nope. But you sure can if you want to take the extra time. I like the “rustic ease” of not peeling my apples (fine, I’m lazy, ok?!). The apples get cooked down so much that it doesn’t matter too much if you peel them or not!
There are SO MANY ways to enjoy these air fryer apples! Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Topped with cinnamon whipped cream and chopped nuts for your sweet tooth!
2. On toast: top toast with cream cheese and pile on lots of apples on top!
3. Stirred into yogurt or oatmeal.
4. As a topping for pancakes or waffles.
5. Served as a side dish with pork chops or baked ham.
6. Spoon on top of vanilla ice cream for an easy dessert.
7. Blended to make apple sauce.
9. Sprinkle some granola on top of the apples for an easy breakfast.
10. Topped with Greek yogurt for a (semi) healthy dessert.
Yes, cornstarch is a thickening agent. You can also use arrowroot powder for the same effect.
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TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE
Check out all of my kitchen essentials in my Amazon store!
Cosori Air Fryer: There are a lot of good air fryers, but my personal fave is this Cosori 12 in 1 Air Fryer. It’s not a “drawer” style air fryer which I think makes it so much more versatile! It’s also big enough to cook meals for my family of 5. I literally use this thing MULTIPLE times per day! It’s a powerhouse!
Baking Dish/Pie Pan: Make sure you use a baking dish or baking pan that fits your air fryer! I used a 9-inch pie pan for this recipe.
Rate this recipe! I love your feedback!
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Easy Air Fryer Baked Apples
Ingredients
- 5-6 medium/large apples See Note 1
- 3/4 cup brown sugar light brown, dark brown or both!
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup of water (or apple juice)
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- cooking spray
- chopped nuts, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for topping optional
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F. If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat setting, just turn it to 375°F and give it about 3-5 minutes to come to temperature. Spray your baking dish with cooking spray.
- Core apples and cut into 1/4" slices (no need to peel unless you want to!). Add them to a large bowl.
- To the bowl, add sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch, lemon juice, water, vanilla and sea salt.
- Give everything a few big stirs to ensure apples are fully coated with the sugar and spices, then transfer apple mixture to your baking pan. Cover with foil then air fry at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. Uncover and give apples a big stir to make sure they are all coated in the delicious caramel-y sauce! Then air fry (uncovered) for another 10-15 minutes until apples are super tender (See Note 2).
- While apples are cooking, make the cinnamon whipped cream (if using, OPTIONAL).
- When done, carefully remove pan from air fryer. Top with cinnamon whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream and serve immediately OR spoon warm apples over pancakes or french toast!
Dana says
This is the first dessert I’ve made in the air fryer and wow, delicious! Will definitely be making this again. So simple, too!
Beth says
Love this recipe – it’s quick, cozy, and has pure fall comfort food vibes! Delish!
Nancy says
Wow we just tried this recipe. If the apples weren’t the best pasty already. We all enjoyed the cinnamon whipped cream!
Sara Welch says
This recipe couldn’t have been easier! Not only was this delicious, but I loved the way it made my kitchen smell to boot; so yummy!
Jacqueline says
Mmmmm that looks so good and I have everything I need to make it
Tayler Ross says
I’ve made these apples several times and oh my goodness are they delicious! So easy and they always turn out perfectly!
Heather says
I love easy apple desserts like this for Fall. Can’t wait to try these out in my air fryer. My kitchen is going to smell amazing…can’t wait!
Cookilicious says
This recipe is just in time! I have apples and all the other ingredients…making this tonight.
Tavo says
The baked apples dessert came out deliciously! Super easy to make! Thanks for the recipe.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
I love baked apples like this so I am going to have mine with a big dollop of cream. Thanks for the recipe.
Aimee Mars says
Is there anything better than baked apples with ice cream on top?!? Maybe, but you make this recipe look irresistible and so easy, which is even better. This really is a perfect recipe!
Kali Alexandria says
Such an amazing recipe! I will be making this ALLLL summer long! Thank you 🙂
Claudia Lamascolo says
This makes me wish fall was here going to save this amazing recipe cant wait till apple season printed it!
Gina says
Made these the other day and they came out great! This is definitely my kind of treat. Can’t wait to make these again!
Toni says
We just tried it and it turned out really good! Everyone enjoyed it! Thanks!
Amy Nash says
These were so good! We used them on top of dutch baby pancakes and they were delicious. Definitely making them again!