Enjoy the flavors of apple pie you love but with a fraction of the time and effort with these air fryer apples. Healthy, quick, and perfect for breakfast, snack or dessert, they're made with wholesome ingredients and a touch of maple syrup for a tasty treat anytime.
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In my opinion, apple + cinnamon is the quintessential flavor of fall. And with so many different ways to enjoy this combo (like homemade applesauce and apple cinnamon oatmeal), I'll apple-y (sorry, couldn't help myself...) enjoy it all season long!
And while I love making pies, apple bars and more, sometimes, enjoying them in a simpler form is my favorite way to go.
Enter these air fryer apples. With a handful of ingredients and minimal effort, I can't help but make them on repeat.
I know you'll love them too because they're:
- Like Apple Pie... These baked apples have all of the flavors you love in a delicious apple pie- cinnamon, maple and jammy apples.
- ...but Quicker and Easier. But, rather than fiddling with pie crust or waiting hours for it to be finished, this recipe is ready in under 20 minutes with minimal effort (Oat Flour Apple Crisp is another low fuss way to enjoy the flavors of apple pie).
- Healthy. They are made with just a handful of wholesome ingredients and sweetened with just a touch of maple syrup (which makes this a refined sugar free dessert!).
- Great for Anytime. Scrumptious enough to enjoy as dessert (they taste amazing with a bowl of vanilla ice cream!) but healthy enough to spoon over yogurt for breakfast or a snack, these air fryer apples are delicious at all times.
The Ingredients
- Apples- I like to use a combination of two kinds of apples (if I happen to have a variety in my fridge, at least) for extra contrast of texture and flavor. I usually use a tart apple like a Granny Smith and a sweeter apple like a Gala. These will work with whatever your favorite apples are, though. But if you use all tart apples, you may need to increase the sweetener.
- Avocado oil- The apples just need a light coating for the air fryer. You could use additional melted butter or another cooking oil of choice, but avocado is my go to as it has a high smoke point and mild flavor.
- Cinnamon- Brings the warm, aromatic flavor we all associate with (and love about) apple pie.
- Maple syrup- We will use this along with the butter to make a sweet glaze. You can use another sweetener of choice such as honey but I really love the way that the maple syrup flavor complements the apples. (It's why I use it for apple pancakes too).
- Butter- I love including a touch of melted butter (I use salted because salted + sweet= chef's kiss) for richness in the glaze. You can substitute melted coconut oil or leave it out if needed.
The Method
1. Prep Apples. Core and slice the apples into ¾ inch cubes. You can peel them if you prefer, but I usually leave the skin on.
2. Mix. In a bowl, stir the apple slices with avocado oil and cinnamon until evenly coated.
3. Air Fry. Place the apples in the air fryer basket and cook for 12-16 minutes at 370°F until tender.
4. Glaze While the apples are cooking, melt the butter in a medium microwave safe bowl then stir in the maple syrup until well combined. Once the apples are done, transfer them to the bowl with the glaze and stir to evenly coat.
5. Serve. Enjoy your air fryer apples warm!
Leftovers and Storage
To Store: Place any leftover air fryer baked apples in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
To Reheat: Reheat the apples in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes until warmed through or in the microwave on for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until warm.
Make it Your Own
- Apple Slices- Instead of dicing the apples, you can try slicing them into ½ inch thick wedges.
- More Seasonings- Add extra flavor by adding ¼ teaspoon of apple pie spice, nutmeg, cloves or cardamom (for chai-inspired apples) in addition to cinnamon.
- Air Fryer Apples + Pears- Mix it up by using one apple and one firm pear in place of two apples.
Serving Ideas
- Dessert: Serve the air fryer apples warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with caramel sauce, or alongside a slice of vanilla cake.
- Breakfast: Use these to top your morning oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, French toast or yogurt for a sweet start to the day.
- Snack: Enjoy the apples on their own or try them with roasted nuts (they would be amazing with some honey roasted cashews!), drizzled with nut butter, mixed with granola and more.
For best texture, I recommend choosing firm apples so that they hold their shape with cooking. For taste, I like to use a combination of sweet apples (like Gala, Honeycrisp, Ambrosia or Pink Lady) and tart (like Granny Smith). If not using a combination, I recommend sticking with sweet apples.
No, peeling the apples is optional (and I usually don't). Leaving the skin on adds extra fiber and nutrients but peeling them does yield a slightly softer texture.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Apples
- Don't Overfill the Air Fryer Basket. While the apples don't have to be in a single layer, it's important that they aren't packed either. I recommend not having them more than 2 layers deep for even cooking. And if they are overlapping, give them a shake halfway through.
- Don't Skip the Glaze. The butter and maple syrup mixture adds a delicious finishing touch that really makes these taste like apple pie.
- Use a Combo of Apples. For flavor and texture variation, use a mix of a sweet apple (like Gala, Pink Lady or Honeycrisp) and a tart apple like Granny Smith. Or use all sweet apples. I don't recommend using all tart apples as these might turn out a bit on the sour side unless you add more sweetener.
- Serve Warm. These air fryer apples taste best when served hot out of the air fryer.
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Recipe Card
Air Fryer Apples
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 apples cored and diced into ¾ inch cubes
- 1 and ½ teaspoon avocado oil or butter
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- In a bowl, stir the apple slices with avocado oil and cinnamon until evenly coated.
- Place the apples in the air fryer basket and cook for 12-16 minutes at 370 °F until tender.
- While the apples are cooking, melt the butter in a medium microwave safe bowl then stir in the maple syrup until well combined. Once the apples are done, transfer them to the bowl with the glaze and stir to evenly coat.
- Enjoy warm with ice cream, on oatmeal and more.
Marie says
These apples are so good! So quick and easy, we felt like we were eating the filling of apple pie. I'll be making them all fall.
Janessa says
I'm so glad you liked this recipe, Marie! Thank you for your kind review.