This old fashioned Baked Apples recipe is my favorite light, cozy dessert, using an apple that's stuffed with a nutty, cinnamon sugar filling and baked until caramelized and tender.
I love apple recipes this time of year. Make sure to try Apple Crisp, Apple Pie, Apple Cake, Caramel Apple Dip, or learn how to make perfect Caramel Apples!
Find me making Baked Apples every night during the fall.
Find me making Baked Apples every night during the fall.I love how this Baked Apples dessert is a little lighter, and easily portion-sized for an apple per person. And the best part is it only takes 5-minute to prep; you get the flavors of my famous Apple Crisp, without the peeling and slicing. It's the perfect dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth. For extra special indulgence, serve it with a scoop of ice cream and caramel sauce.
How to make Baked Apples:
Prep Apples: Make a deep hole in the center of the apple with a paring knife and carefully remove the core.
Make Filling: Mix together brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Add nuts, if desired. Fill each apple with filling.
Bake: Pour ¼ cup water in a baking dish and place apples on top. Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes until apples are tender when poked with a fork. Cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce drizzled on top. I love to spoon the sauce drippings from the pan over the top too.
Recipe Variations:
- Baked Apples in Microwave: I recommend using the oven, but if you'd like to use the microwave, you can. Just place filled apples in a microwave safe dish and cook on high for 5-8 minutes, until tender.
- Sliced Baked Apples: Check out my Apple Crisp!
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Recipe
Baked Apples
Ingredients
- 4 good-quality apples (I like to use red apples, but baking apples, such as Granny Smith, work great to!)
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts , or pecans
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar , packed
- 2 Tablespoons butter , room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup water
- vanilla ice cream , for topping, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Use a paring knife or apple corer to remove the stem and seeds from the apples, making a deep hole where the filling will go.
- Combine the brown sugar, butter and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix well to combine. Add the nuts. Spoon mixture evenly into each of the apples.
- Add ¼ cup of water to a baking dish and place apples on top.
- Bake for about 40-45 minutes, or until apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes.
- Spoon the sauce drippings from the pan over the apples. Serve with ice cream, if desired.
Notes
- Baked Apples in Microwave: Baking in the oven is preferred, but for the microwave, place prepared apples in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5-8 minutes, or until tender.
- Sliced Baked Apples: Try my Apple Crisp!
Nutrition
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*I originally shared this recipe September 2015. Updated October 2018, December 2021 and August 2024.
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yum! this was amazing! so easy and versatile! and i feel like i’m being somewhat healthy:) !!! such a cozy snack for fall and winter! one question: if i split the recipe and put 2 apples in a smaller pan should i still add 1/4 cup of water or a 1/8 cup?
Just made this last night and it was delicious and, even better, very easy!
Clear and easy! Thanks
This recipe made exceptional baked apples! Super easy and quick too. I used Jonagold Apples -awesome! I added a little extra of each ingredient to fill 6 medium apples. Served them for breakfast with creamy vanilla yogurt on the side, beautiful presentation, wonderful flavor! Thank you for such a great recipe!!!
This was great! I do have a few notes I would add. The filling recipe is there for the ratios not for an exact amount. The amount you need will depend on your preference, the size of your apple and how big you make your hole. Bake time will depend on the type of apple you choose as well crispier apples will take longer to cook. Finally this is not super sweet so don’t expect that if you have a massive sweet tooth look for something else.
When I made it I did make extra filling because I needed it. I used Envy apples which are known for being crisp so I cooked them an extra 15 minutes and they were soft but still held a little crispiness which was awesome with some vanilla ice-cream and Carmel
Soooooo good!!! Saved this to my favorites.
Hi,
I am not able to find USA Apple here in Singapore. Can I use pacific rose Apple from New Zealand and cut down the baking time?
Thanks
Yes, that should work! IF the apples are smaller then cut back slightly on the baking time. It’s a pretty forgiving recipe.
Horrible. There isn’t enough cinnamon/brown sugar filling to fill 4 apples and, I used the exact amounts listed. Even when baked longer than called for, the apples remained too crisp. The flavor is bland, not sweet enough and, did absolutely nothing for me. I couldn’t even eat half of one and, the other 3 still remain in the pan…. probably won’t get eaten.
Hi Sherrie,
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the recipe. I wonder what type of apples you were using; could it be that your apples weren’t great baking apples?
As for the filling, given the enormous variety in apple types and sizes, it’s hard to make a “one-fits all” apple filling. If you have large apples, chances are you may need make extra filling.
add more sugar and cinnamon and rebake
Wow, you seem to be mad about this. Dont you have 1 positive thing you can say about the recipe? At least it’s somewhat healthy.
Why would people post “Horrible” and say other negative things. Shame on them. This is a great recipe. Get a life you troll people! Its almost impossible to screw this up. If it isn’t sweet enough, put more sugar in it.
Wow… Listen to you. I’ve tried this recipe twice using the sane amount of ingredients as listed and they’ve always came out delicious? Obviously you did something wrong. Lol.
But you know what they say, it’s wonderful after it cooks unless you’re not doing a wonderful job. 😉
Did you use crabapples? 🙃. I’m making this recipe for the first time tonight and used four pretty large honey crisp apples. At first I didn’t think there was enough filling, but it was perfect. We’re having guest over for chili and then the baked apples with ice cream for dessert. A perfect fall dinner.
Just double the stuffing !!
Perfect dessert for 2. Our empty nest loves these baked apples for a warm dessert that’s not too sweet. Delicious!
Delicious recipe, easy, simple, common items that you may have already. We used red delicious apples, we didn’t have nuts on hand so we used dried cherries, they came out perfect. Thank you for sharing this recipe which will now be a dessert staple in our home.
I love to hear that you made it work with what you had on hand! I’m really happy you liked them! 🙂
You only publish the good reviews?
I had a baby and have been taking time to recover :).