Baked Cinnamon Apples is a versatile dessert or side dish that can be served on its own or paired with ice cream, pancakes, and more!

It’s Time for Fall Baking!

Casserole dish full of baked apples with three spoons and two scoops of ice cream on top.

Saying bye to summer is always bittersweet, with the sweet part of that equation coming from my overwhelming urge to BAKE.ALL.THE.THINGS.

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I hear one leaf rustle, and I’m headed to the kitchen to make Easy Pumpkin Bread, chewy Spiced Apple Cake, or Apple and Blueberry Crumble.

The morning breeze carries the faintest hint of a chill? I’m going full hygge and cozying up with a Homemade Tea Latte.

What’s that you say? There’s a fall festival next weekend? Must be time to make Amish Apple Fry Pies.

You know? Now that I think about it, this transition is definitely more sweet than bitter.

A Super Easy Baked Apple Recipe

Blue spoon taking a scoop of baked apples in a caramely sauce.

Like the acoustic version of a pop song, these Cinnamon Baked Apples are the laid back, stripped down, mellow dessert you’ll want to cuddle up with all Autumn long.

Because sometimes you don’t want to crimp a pie crust or cut butter into flour for streusel. You just want the smell of cinnamon wafting through the air and a saucy bowl of warm, tender, caramelized apples to tuck into after a long day.

If you can peel some apples and toss a few simple pantry staples together in a bowl, you can make these easy cinnamon apples. Throw them in the oven when you sit down to dinner and dessert will be waiting for you when you’re done!

Ingredients in Cinnamon Baked Apples

Whole apples in a casserole dish surrounded by bowls of brown sugar, melted butter, cornstarch, cinnamon, and a halved lemon.

I’m betting you already have the ingredients to make these on hand! Here’s what you’ll need:

3 pounds apples– I recommend using a mix of sweet and tart apples, such as Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Braeburn, or Pink Lady.
Brown sugar and maple syrup– This is where we’ll get our caramely sweetness.
Lemon juice– Balance out the sweet with a hint of citrus.
Butter– Melted butter helps form the rich sauce for the apples.
Salt– Just a pinch brightens all the other flavors.
Cinnamon– The quintessential fall spice, and the reason your house will smell amazing when you make this.
Cornstarch– Helps thicken the sauce so it coats all the apple slices.
Apple cider, juice, or water– We want saucy apples, and a little extra liquid is the key! Apple cider is BOMB and adds so much flavor, but water or juice can also work!

How to Bake Apples in the Oven

Apple slices in a blue rimmed white casserole dish topped with cinnamon and sugar.

Uncooked cinnamon apple slices in a white casserole dish.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Peel, core, and slice all of the apples into thin slices (and 1/8 of an inch is about perfect!)
In a large bowl or in the casserole dish you’re using, toss together the apple slices with the sugar, maple syrup, lemon juice, melted butter, salt, cinnamon, cornstarch and cider. Spread it out in a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish and cover with foil.
Bake for 45 minutes, then uncover and stir the apples. Bake another 15-20 minutes, or until the apples are very tender and the sauce is thick and caramely. Serve warm.

Spoon scooping cinnamon baked apples out of a white casserole dish.

Make Ahead and Leftover Instructions

The apples can be made up to 3 days ahead of time, then reheat them in the oven for about 20 minutes when you’re ready. Individual portions can also be reheated in the microwave.

Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and will keep for 5-6 days.

What to Serve with Baked Apples

Spoon taking a big bite out of a dish of cinnamon baked apples with pools of melted ice cream.

The best part about these Cinnamon Apples is how dang versatile they are! Enjoy them on their own, fresh from the oven, or top them with a big ol’ scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of Salted Caramel Sauce.

You can also save them for breakfast, and pile them on top of Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes, Amish Baked Oatmeal, or French toast. Stir the baked apples into yogurt and sprinkle with granola for a healthy breakfast treat.

Finally, try adding a few big scoopfuls of these apples to this incredible Apple Cinnamon Roll Bake–it’s the perfect fall dessert!

Variations on Cinnamon Baked Apples

This dessert is already naturally gluten free (wooohoo!), but if you’d like it be dairy free, you can sub coconut oil for the butter or just omit it completely.
Feel free to add additional spices if you like- a pinch of nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom would all be lovely.
Put the crumb topping from this Healthy Berry Crisp on top of the apples for the last 30 minutes of baking to make a gluten free apple crisp.

White bowl filled with warm cinnamon apples and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

More Apple Recipes to Make this Season

Did you take the family apple picking and come back with a wagon full? Here are a few more ways to put them to good use!