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Stovetop Cinnamon Sautéed Apples

Last updated on . Originally published 31 Comments

These Stovetop Cinnamon Sautéed Apples taste like a warm apple pie, but they come together in a fraction of the time and are SO much healthier! This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar free, vegan AND paleo! Perfect for breakfast, a snack, or dessert!

Overhead view of a cast iron skillet full of Stovetop Cinnamon Sautéed Apples

I can describe my favorite thing about fall in two simple words… Apple. Season! 🍎🍏 Seriously, my local market had apples on sale for $0.68 per pound this week {!!!!} and you better believe I totally stocked up…and they’re already completely gone…less than a week later!

If you find yourself with an abundance of delicious fall apples of any variety, you need to give these Cinnamon Sautéed Apples a whirl! Not only are they super easy to make, but they are vegan and paleo…full of flavor and good for you! {yay}!

Side/overhead view of a cast iron skillet full of Stovetop Cinnamon Sautéed Apples

Do you love apple pie? Then these healthy Sautéed Apples are for you! They taste like the inside of the all-American classic dessert, but taking a pass on the crust makes them so much healthier! This recipe uses coconut oil, cinnamon, a dash of salt, vanilla and a touch of maple syrup to create the tastiest little bits of apple bliss you’ve ever eaten! Serve these Cinnamon Sautéed Apples as a topping over pancakes, scoop them onto some vanilla ice cream or just eat them with a spoon for a healthy sweet treat!

One of the reasons I created this healthy cinnamon apples recipe is so that my sweet little Nay Nay {aka: Naomi} could enjoy eating apples too! She took a little longer to get her teeth than my other kids, and I was tired of feeding her bananas and blueberries! These soft, cinnamony, bite-sized apples are perfect for adults and kids of all ages!  {Note: when I serve these apples to my babies I do peel them first}!

Cinnamon Sautéed Apples: Substitutions 

Here are a few possible substitutes that could be made in this recipe.

  • Apple Variety. I recommend honey crisp or pink lady apples, but any variety works beautifully in this recipe!
  • Coconut oil. Butter or ghee can be used in place of coconut oil with delicious results!
  • Maple syrup. Honey is a great substitution, although I love the flavor of maple syrup in this recipe!

Front view of a glass jar full of Stovetop Cinnamon Sautéed Apples

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5 from 4 votes
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Cinnamon Sautéed Apples

These Stovetop Cinnamon Sautéed Apples taste like a warm apple pie, but they come together in a fraction of the time and are SO much healthier! This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar free, vegan AND paleo! Perfect for breakfast, a snack, or dessert! 

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword healthy sauteed apples, paleo cinnamon apples, sauteed apples, sauteed cinnamon apples recipe, stovetop cinnamon apples
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 3 cups of apples (4 servings)
Calories 95.8 kcal
Author Laura

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Cut apples into same-sized pieces (about ½-1” cubes).
  2. Put apples pieces into a skillet with 2 TBS water. Cover the pan and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples become slightly soft and water is absorbed.
  3. Add 1 TBS of coconut oil to the skillet. Stir apples and oil together until all the apples are coated. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring every minute or so, until the apples become soft (you may need to cover them for the last 2 minutes).
  4. Add Maple syrup, cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Stir until well mixed.
  5. Cook for about 5 more minutes, stirring every minute until the apples reach your desired softness!
  6. Remove from heat and serve!

Recipe Notes

*You can choose whether or not you peel your apples (if I'm feeding them to a baby without teeth I always peel them)!
**Butter can be substituted for coconut oil.
***Any sweetener you'd like can be substituted for the maple syrup. I have used honey and granulated sugar with excellent results.

Nutrition Facts
Cinnamon Sautéed Apples
Amount Per Serving
Calories 95.8 Calories from Fat 33
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3.7g 6%
Saturated Fat 3.3g 17%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Sodium 66mg 3%
Potassium 112.7mg 3%
Total Carbohydrates 16.6g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2.4g 10%
Sugars 12.8g
Protein 0.2g 0%
Vitamin A 1%
Vitamin C 9.1%
Calcium 1.4%
Iron 1.9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Overhead view of Stovetop Cinnamon Sautéed Apples in a jar with the pan of apples next to it and a fork

One of the things I miss the most about fall in Illinois is going apple picking. We have yet to find a great orchard relatively close to us in Utah…and it totally bums me out! However we do have some amazing farmer’s markets…so I can still buy farm-fresh apples – just without the fun experience of picking them ourselves. I especially love honey crisps, and I am SO not ready for their season to be drawing to an end!

If you love apple recipes then check out this Paleo Apple Cake too! YUM!

Question: What is your favorite apple variety? Do you love apple pie?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  15. Deborah Davis


    I’ve always loved to make stewed apples but all of the lovely healthy ingredients in this recipe really take stewed apples to another level. I can’t wait to make this for my family. They will be great with waffles and pancakes too. Pinning and sharing.

    Reply

  16. Karen

    Hi Laura. This sounds amazing! My Mother would absolutely love these (and so will my family) but she can’t have any type of sugar. Have you ever made it without the maple syrup? If so, how did it taste? Mom doesn’t need any additional sweetness as the apples will supply enough sugar. Just want to ensure it will taste yummy by adding only the spices.

    Reply

    • Laura

      Hey Karen! I personally think apples can stand alone on their own without sweetener! {I make them that way for my babies sometimes}! The maple syrup makes these taste just like apple pie filling! But if you wanted to forgo the sweetener they would still taste great, especially with the flavor from the vanilla and coconut oil! You may need a touch extra coconut oil for moisture!

      Reply

  17. Michele


    I found this recipe while looking for a dish for our Fellowship Meal at church. I have some apples and was thinking about making a pie or crisp or something so I did a search. Didn’t find anything I wanted to make but managed to find this recipe by following other links. After reading the recipe I had to laugh. This morning, for breakfast, I too an apple and cored it and sliced it into bite sized pieces, mixed them with some pumpkin pie spice and sauteed them in coconut oil. They were so delicious and tasted just like apple pie. This recipe is so similar to what I made this morning that it is really funny. I’m thinking very seriously about using this recipe for our Fellowship Meal. Thank you so very much for this recipe.

    Reply

  18. Sophia


    I’m on a strict elimination diet and just made these as a treat, and they are so good! I can’t use honey or maple syrup, so I made some date paste and used that instead. It worked perfectly! Thanks for the recipe <3

    Reply

  19. CRYSTAL


    So quick and easy to make, they were delicious atop my pancakes and found myself craving more as a snack! Definitely look forward to making again, thank you!

    Reply

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