Baked Apples Recipe

This baked apples recipe is incredibly easy to make and one of my favorite comfort food desserts. Stuffed with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, and butter, it’s like eating apple pie filling without the crust.

Top them with some vanilla ice cream to make them that much better. If you are a fan of apple desserts, you have got to try this homemade baked apples recipe. If I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get baking!

In this article, I will show you how to make baked apples in the air fryer as well as the oven. And if you really wanted to, you could do them in the microwave as well.

Best apples to use for baked apples

Honestly, there is no “Best” apple for this recipe. It definitely depends on each individual’s preference. You can use whatever apple that you want. My favorite apples to use are Gala and Granny Smith.

I have always been a fan of combing tart apples like the Granny Smith, with sweet, the combination is absolutely divine.

Some other amazing apples to use besides Granny Smith and Gala include:

• Honey Crisp
• Braeburn
• Pink Lady
• Fuji
• McIntosh
• Jonagold

I recommend trying this with whatever apples you have on hand first and seeing how you like it. Then try it with different varieties to find your favorite.

Ingredients and Tools

In order to make baked apples in the air fryer or oven you will need just a handful of ingredients, many of which are optional:

• Apples – Use your favorite apple, I love using Granny Smith and Gala
• Brown sugar – You can use white granulated sugar as well, but brown sugar is my favorite
• Butter – Salted or unsalted butter
• Pecans – You can also use walnuts, almonds, peanuts, etc.
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Other ingredients could include, raisins, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, chopped candy bars, little caramels, etc.

Tools/Equipment

• Air fryer: This Secura air fryer is the one I use and really like.
• Small cake pan for air fryer or 8×8-inch to 9×13-inch baking pan for oven
• Knife
• Melon Baller
• Tongs

How to Make Baked Apples

Whether you make the baked apples in the air fryer or the oven, you will prep the apples the same way.

In a small bowl mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Rinse and dry all of the apples you want to use. Then remove all the stems from the top.

Time to create a hole/cavity in the apple. There are a few methods you can use to do this. You can try using an apple corer, but you need to be careful as to not go through the bottom.

You can use a pairing knife and a spoon. Or my favorite tools and methods are to just scoop out the middle using a melon baller.

Do this with all of the apples.

Now it is time to stuff the apples. I like to start with a spoonful or two of the brown sugar mixture. Just pour it right in.

Then I add about a half Tablespoon of butter. I follow that up with some chopped pecans. I always fill the apples all the way to the top.

Proceed with stuffing the rest of the apples. You can stuff them with all kinds of things, feel free to be creative. Some other yummy options are caramels, chocolate chips, Rolos, shredded coconut, etc. This would be in lieu of the brown sugar and butter.

Have fun experimenting with different combinations of ingredients for the apple stuffing.

Now the apples are ready to be baked with whatever method you choose.

How to cook the stuffed baked apples in the air fryer

In order to cook the baked apples in the air fryer you of course need an air fryer. Mine has a basket, but other models look like mini ovens with a door that you open.

Place the stuffed apple/s in a little cake pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. You will just have to measure your basket and then find a cake pan that is smaller.

Slide the basket in place and then set the temperature to 350F/176C.

Cook for 10 to 15 minutes until the baked apples are fork tender or soft when squeezed with tongs. They will probably be a little blistered or shriveled on the outside. Larger apples take a little longer to cook.

Remove from the pan and place on a plate. Serve as is or top with ice cream.

How to Make Baked Apples in the Oven

In order to make the baked apples in the oven preheat the oven to 350F/176C. Have the main rack in the middle position.

Place the stuffed apples in a baking pan large enough to hold them with just a little space in between them. 4 stuffed apples fit easily in an 8×8-inch baking pan. If you want to do more than that, use a 13×9-inch baking pan.

Bake them in the oven for 35 to 45 minutes until they are fork tender and soft. It will just depend on how large the apples are as far as the baking time goes.

They will be blistered/shriveled on the outside and they may crack a little as well.

If you like, you can pour any leftover juice that is in the pan over the apples. I always do this, haha.

Top with ice cream if you like and enjoy. It should be soft enough to just eat with a fork.

Enjoy!

How long do baked apples last?

Homemade stuffed baked apples will last a few days if stored covered in the fridge. You can reheat them in the microwave for about 30 seconds, in the air fryer or oven.

Can I cook stuffed apples in the microwave?

Yes, you certainly can if you want to go that route. Place the stuffed apple on a microwave-safe plate and then cook it for 3 1/2 to 4 minutes on high in the microwave until fork tender.

Here are other yummy apple dessert recipes:

Homemade Caramel Apples

Apple Crisp

Apple Fritters

Caramel Rose Apple Pie

Apple Streusel Coffee Cake

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Baked Apples (Oven or Air Fryer)

These homemade baked stuffed apples are so yummy and can be cooked in the air fryer or in the oven. It is like eating apple pie without the crust.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time40 mins

Total Time50 mins

Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer, easy, oven, sweet

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 212kcal

Author: Matt Taylor

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Small cake pan for air fryer or 8×8-inch to 9×13-inch baking pan for oven
• Knife
• Melon Baller
• Tongs

Ingredients

• 4 to 6 apples Use your favorite apple (Gala and Granny Smith are my favorites)
• 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of brown sugar 50 to 100g
• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon 2g
• 1/4 tsp of nutmeg 1g
• 2 to 3 Tbsp of butter 1/2 Tbsp per apple (28 to 32g)
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup of chopped pecans 170 to 228g

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350F/176C if using the oven.
• Mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl.
• Rinse and dry all the apples.
• Remove the stems and scoop out the middle of the apple with a melon baller, knife, and or spoon. The melon baller works really well. An apple corer works, but don't go all the way through it.
• Stuff the apples. Add some sugar mixture, then 1/2 Tbsp of butter, then chopped pecans. Or use a different filling. They are ready to be cooked in the air fryer, oven, or the microwave.

Cooking in the Air Fryer

• Place the stuffed apples in a cake pan, sprayed with cooking spray, that will fit in the air fryer basket.
• Slide the basket in the air fryer and set the temp to 350F/176C. Cook 10 to 15 minutes until fork tender.
• Remove the basket, and use tongs to retrieve the baked apples and put them on a plate. Top with ice cream if desired, and serve.

Cooking in the oven

• Place the stuffed apples in a sprayed baking pan. Bake in preheated oven at 350F/176C for 35 to 45 minutes until fork tender/soft.
• Remove from the pan with tongs and place on a plate. Top with ice cream if desired.

Cook in the microwave

• Place stuffed apples on a microwave-safe plate. Cook in the microwave on high for 3 1/2 to 4 minutes until soft. It may take longer depending on how many apples you have in the microwave. I don't really like this method. I prefer the other two methods.

Video

How to Make Baked Apples in the Oven or Air Fryer

Notes

*NOTE: These measurements don’t have to be exact, it depends on how much you fill the apples up and how big the apples are, and how many apples you use.

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