Baked Apples with Brown Sugar

Baked apples with brown sugar and cinnamon will be your favorite dessert! Like homemade apple pie filling without the crust, it’s amazing.

Baked Apples in Oven

We first made this Instant Pot apple crisp, but didn’t stop there. With another batch we made homemade apple pie filling. This is a bit similar but made in the oven and with less thick liquid you’d need to make a pie.

It took 3 batches to create the perfect measurements, there were NO leftovers! In this last one I added raisins and I think it just took it over the top. If you’re anti raisin I guess you could leave them out. (booooo) If you’re ready for the best fruit dessert you’ll ever put into your mouth, these oven baked apples are it!

Baked Apples with Brown Sugar

What apples are best for baked apples

Now these aren’t the whole baked apples recipes you may have seen other places, smaller is actually way better!!

Why?? Because with these cinnamon apples you don’t have to worry about removing the bottom inedible piece of core off the bottom. Also, they’re easier to make because you don’t have to be so careful coring out the middle but ensuring you don’t go all the way through. Just peel, dice, and mix all the other sweet ingredients in!

You’re going to start with 10 cups of peeled and diced apples. Fuji are my favorite apples, that’s what we picked, but Granny Smith would work too. You want a firmer type so they don’t break down and become mushy applesauce. If I had to guess how many apples it takes I would say 12 large should be enough.

Quick Baked Apples

Can you peel an apple with a potato peeler

YES, that is what I use. Okay so I do have an apple peeler attachment for my stand mixer but I’m too lazy to put all of that together, and then cleaning it is a pain.

If I make dehydrated apples I will use this because it peels and slices which saves me a bunch of time, for this I just use good old elbow power.

• This is the best apple peeler I’ve purchased and it’s super cheap.

How do you core an apple for baked apples

• My method is easy. I just set it up with the stem facing the ceiling. Using a sharp knife I cut the four sides off so you can remove the core and throw it away (or into your compost bin).

You could alternatively place them onto the cutting board. Insert the tip of the paring knife into the center stem of the. Push the tip of the knife inside and rotate it around to cut out an even circle around the stem.

Once that is done you need to dice them into small bite size pieces. Note that the larger the pieces the firmer they will be when the cinnamon baked apples are done so this part is subjective.

Baked apples in cast iron skillet

Now it is time to add all of the other ingredients in order to sweeten them up and create an ooey gooey caramel sauce of sorts. You don’t want too much or they’ll be swimming in it, you just want enough so the apples are tender.

1. About 12 large apples
   1. if you have a bunch, make air fryer apples next too
2. Brown sugar
3. Cinnamon and nutmeg
4. All purpose flour
   1. use this gluten free flour if you need that option
5. Sugar
6. Raisins are optional but really great
7. 9×13 baking dish
8. Large bowl for mixing
9. Vanilla ice cream could be served on top of each serving, some like a slice of salted butter on top instead.

With all the prep and all it may take you close to 30 minutes baking time. This would include the time to get the preheated oven ready to throw it in. If you are serving baked cinnamon apples after dinner I usually throw it in once we start eating. That way it is ready after we clean up.

Cracker Barrel Baked Apples Copycat

Here’s what you’ll need to do once you have your apples prepped. In a large bowl with them in it you’re going to add your brown sugar, cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, flour and raisins if you want those inside too.

• Another option would be to sprinkle some crushed walnuts on top of the apples before baking.

Once everything is mixed together well, pour it into your greased pan and cover it with foil. Bake for 40 minutes, remove foil and serve immediately in small bowls or let sit and the sauce will thicken a bit.

We love baked apples served as a side dish at Cracker Barrel and now we can make them right at home!! Yes it takes a bit of prep but once you make a batch your family will beg you to make these again and again! If you have leftovers they’re great the next day as is or in air fryer apple egg rolls too.

Can you reheat baked apples

We have only had one very small bowl leftover after ALL the batches we’ve made. The next day I just ate them cold and it was still amazing. You can add a bit of texture with some chopped pecans on the top or a simple cinnamon sugar mixture. Ok a small scoop of vanilla ice cream is great too once warmed.

• BUT they may be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• To reheat rewarm in the oven at 325 degrees before serving.
• Better yet, reheat individual servings in a microwave oven on 50 percent power heating in 1 minute increments.
  • Stir in between each new session for best results.

If you’re planning a big get together you could prep these ahead of time I feel. Either dice all the apples and store in pint size freezer bag, then prepare the rest the next day. Or prep it all, cover with foil and refrigerate. Bake next day.

Fresh is always best when it comes to fruit desserts though because they will discolor and break down a bit but for the holidays it might be a necessity.

Looking for more? Make our air fryer apple chips next. Want to make this in a slow cooker too? Try our Crockpot apple crisp recipe! Now jump to recipe and let us know what y’all think!