This Baked Apples recipe is a delicious, easy dessert! Healthy and made with only 9 ingredients – they’re the perfect low calorie, simple treat!
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read my policy and more about affiliate links.
There are few things I love more than healthy baked apples. They truly are DELICIOUS!
We go apple picking every year, and it’s always been one of my favorite activities. As a kid, my mom would make baked apples almost every time we came home from our local orchard.
Healthy Baked Apple Dessert
Typically baked apples are made with lots of butter, and sugar – but they don’t even need that!
Apples are so sweet and delicious on their own that you can make a baked apple even better with just a few simple ingredients!
Are baked apples still healthy? Yes! Baked apples are totally healthy. They’re a delicious treat that is perfect if you’re health conscious.
Healthy Baked Cinnamon Apples Ingredients
To make baked apples you’ll need :
You can find substitutions for all of these ingredients below in the green shaded substitutions box.
The hardest part about making these healthy baked apples is coring them, but I’ll show you how to do that!
How to core apples:
- To core apples, first, slice off the top to make it flat – removing the stem. You can eat the tops – don’t throw them away!
- Take a sharp paring knife (this is the one I have– it’s expensive but SO worth it) and cut out the center of the apple.
- The center doesn’t have to be perfectly cut out or rounded, you just want to get the seeds out. You’re going to fill this with the oat mixture so you won’t even see it.
It’s ok if your apples get a little brown while you’re preparing them – it won’t affect the taste. However, if you want to prevent this you can squeeze a little lemon juice on top of them.
How to make baked apples:
To make baked apples:
- Core your apples. See above for instructions on how to do this. If you don’t want to core your apples, try our Apple Crisp recipe, or just slice your apples and put them in a baking dish.
- Mix together your apple ‘filling’.
- Stuff the apples with the filling + bake!
Once your apples are baked, allow them to cool for a little bit and top with vanilla ice cream.
HOW good does that look?!
Can you make these without keeping the apples whole?
You definitely can make these without keeping the apples whole. If you’d prefer baking the apples in slices – check out this Healthy Apple Crisp recipe. It’s very similar to this recipe and will give you more of the treat you’re looking for!
You also can cut these apples in half down the stem-line and core them that way. They will cook a little bit quicker. Either way will work!
You also can peel the apples if you prefer not to eat the skin. We actually like the skin and the added nutrition it gives!
What are the best apples for baking?
ANY apple will work for baked apples, but different apples have different tastes.
If you prefer sweeter apples, Cortland or Fuji are a good choice. For a more tart applesauce Braeburn, McIntosh are a better choice.
This post lists all of the different apples and flavors they bring to a dish.
There’s really no ‘wrong’ apple to use – when you bake them they become softer, sweeter + sooo delicious!
Substitutions for this baked apple recipe:
These apples are pretty versatile and easy to make. Feel free to sub any of the following ingredients.
Spices: I sometimes will add even more cinnamon to this recipe. You can add more cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, or any spices you choose!
Nut free You can make this recipe nut free by simply omitting the pecans
Paleo: You can make this recipe paleo by skipping the oats and doubling up on the pecans. It is less ‘filling’ but will be equally as delicious!
Maple Syrup – You can sub with honey
Oil – You can sub coconut oil with olive oil or avocado oil
Oats – You can sub quick cook oats in this recipe. You can’t substitute steel cut oats in this recipe.
Serving and Storing Cooked Apples
Serving: I like to serve these with vanilla ice cream, but they’re delicious on their own! You can also serve them with vanilla or plain greek yogurt.
Storing: These apples will stay in your refrigerator for up to 4 days (if they last that long!)
Can you freeze these baked apples? I wouldn’t recommend freezing these baked apples. You can bake this ahead of time + then reheat them though! They’re best when eaten fresh out of the oven with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Baked Apple FAQ
How long does it take for apple to cook in the oven?
Baked apples take about 30 minutes to cook in the oven when cooked whole. If they’re sliced they should soften within 15-20 minutes in the oven.
Are baked apples good for you?
Yes! Baked apples are totally good for you. They’re a nutritious treat that is great for dessert. This baked apple recipe is lower in calories, sugar and fat than most other baked apples.
What are baked apples called?
You can call baked apples whatever you like. Some call them baked apples, some call them baked apple slices. The best apples for baking are: Granny Smith, Gala & Fuji.
How do you soften apples for baking?
If you want to soften apples for baking the best thing to do is pop them in the microwave for a few minutes. Most baked apple recipes don’t need to be softened though, so unless it calls for this we wouldn’t recommend it.
Should I peel apples before baking them?
It’s up to you if you want to peel apples before baking them. If you’re baking apples whole, I like to keep the skins on. If you’re baking apple slices it’s best to peel them before.
Other healthy recipes:
If you are looking for more healthy recipes, check out these 50+ Healthy Dessert Recipes or:
- Pumpkin Muffins Healthy
- How to Make a Strawberry Banana Smoothie
- Best Lentil Soup Recipe
- Healthy Apple Crisp
- Apple Cider Bread
- Healthy Apple Muffins
- 30 Healthy Apple Recipes
Healthy Baked Cinnamon Apples
Recipe by: The Clean Eating Couple
5 from 8 votes
Healthy Baked Apples are a delicious, easy dessert! Gluten free, dairy free + made with only 9 ingredients – they're the perfect nutritious, fun treat!
WW Freestyle Points 6
Prep Time : 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time : 30 minutes minutes
Total Time : 50 minutes minutes
Serves : 6 people
(hover over # to adjust)
PRINTPINRATE
Ingredients
- 6 large apples honeycrisp, braeburn or empire are best
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- ½ cup pecans chopped
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ cup apple cider or water
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Core apples. See above graphic – slice the tops of the apples flat +remove the stem with a sharp knife. Cut about 1/2 the way down to remove the seeds from the center. You can peel the apples but we prefer to keep the skin on.
Grease an oven safe baking dish with cooking spray or coconut oil (8×8 will work best), and place the apples in the dish.
In a bowl combine oats, pecans and spices. Add in melted coconut oil + maple syrup. Stir to combine.
Place apples in baking dish. Divide oat mixture evenly among the center of the apples, pressing the filling in towards the center of the apples.
Pour apple cider or water into the bottom of the baking dish. Cover apples with foil and bake for about 30 minutes, making sure to baste the apples with the cider every 5-10 minutes. Uncover the apples for the last 5 minutes.
The apples should be fork tender when cooked. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Video
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Healthy Baked Cinnamon Apples
Amount Per Serving (1 apple)
Calories 263Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Sodium 4mg0%
Potassium 292mg8%
Carbohydrates 40g13%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 23g26%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 98IU2%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 34mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. This is an estimate and can vary pending your ingredients
Tried this recipe?Share it! Make sure to tag @thecleaneatingcouple or use #thecleaneatingcouple!
