Easy Cinnamon Apples (5 minutes)

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These Cinnamon Apples taste like a warm apple pie, but they come together in 15 minutes on the stovetop! This cinnamon apples recipe makes a perfect breakfast, pancake topper, snack, or light dessert.

overhead photo of cinnamon apples in a white bowl


I can describe my favorite thing about fall in two simple words – Apple Season!  If you find yourself with an abundance of delicious fall apples, you need to make these Cinnamon Apples! Not only are they easy to make in minutes, but they’re healthy and delicious!

These sautéed cinnamon apples are like eating a warm apple pie (or apple crumble pie), but without the crust! They take 15 minutes to prepare and can be used in a variety of ways!

Serve these Cinnamon 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! They are easy to customize to comply with just about every dietary need.

One of the reasons I created this healthy cinnamon apples recipe is so that my babies could enjoy eating apples too!  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).

overhead view of sautéed cinnamon apples in a black nonstick fry pan

Sautéed Cinnamon Apples: Ingredients & Substitutions.  

 Let’s start by chatting about the ingredients in these cinnamon apples! This recipe uses coconut oil or butter, 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!  Here are a few possible substitutes that could be made in this recipe.

overhead view of the ingredients in this cinnamon apples recipe
  • Apple Variety. I recommend honey crisp or pink lady apples, but any variety works beautifully in this recipe! Here are some suggestions:
    • Gala
    • Jonagold
    • Golden delicious
    • Honey Crisp
    • Pink Lady (pictured in this post)
    • Granny Smith
    • Jazz 
  • Coconut oil. Butter or ghee can be used in place of coconut oil with delicious results! As you can see, I used butter in the photos and coconut oil in the video. Both taste amazing, just choose your favorite that complies with your dietary needs. 
  • Maple syrup. Honey is a great substitution, although I love the flavor of maple syrup in this recipe! You can also use granulated sugar, brown sugar, etc. 
up close overhead view of cinnamon apples in a bowl

How to make Cinnamon Apples 

Now let’s walk through how to make these sautéed apples step-by-step! They’re super easy but I like to make sure you know exactly how it’s done to ensure your culinary success!

Cook apples in water

Start making these cinnamon apples by placing diced apples into a non-stick fry pan and add water. Cover and cook until the apples are slightly soft. 

overhead view of a hand pouring water into diced apples in a nonstick fry pan showing how to make cinnamon apples

Add the rest of the ingredients

Add the maple syrup, vanilla, salt and cinnamon and stir until everything is evenly distributed. Cover and cook again, stirring occasionally. 

Overhead view of adding cinnamon to apples in a black fry pan showing how to make cinnamon apples

Cook 

Once the apples are soft, remove the lid and cook uncovered until all the ingredients caramelize onto the apples and they brown slightly. 

Overhead view of sautéed cinnamon apples in a non-stick fry pan

Serve

Transfer to a dish and serve the cinnamon apples warm! We like to serve them as a side dish, but they can also be used as a topping to your favorite breakfast foods! Here are some serving suggestions: 

Store

Store leftover apples in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.

Overhead view of sautéed cinnamon apples in a white bowl

Recipe FAQs

Are apples and cinnamon good for you?

This cinnamon apples recipe is a healthy and nutritious way to enjoy fresh apples.

Can I freeze this recipe?

No, fresh apples don’t freeze well so I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes! You can double or triple this recipe easily.

up close front view of cinnamon apples in a bowl

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Easy Cinnamon Apples Recipe

Laura
These Cinnamon Apples taste like a warm apple pie, but they come together in 15 minutes on the stovetop! This cinnamon apples recipe makes a perfect breakfast, pancake topper, snack, or light dessert.
5 from 130 votes
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 3 cups of apples (4 servings)
Calories 95.8
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Cut apples into same-sized pieces (about ½-1” cubes).
  • 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.
  • Add 1 TBS of butter 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).
  • Add Maple syrup, cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Stir until well mixed.
  • Cook for about 5 more minutes, stirring every minute until the apples reach your desired softness!
  • Remove from heat and serve!

Video

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)!
Ingredient Substitutions 
  • Apple Variety. I recommend honey crisp or pink lady apples, but any variety works beautifully in this recipe! Here are some suggestions: 
    • Gala
    • Jonagold
    • Golden delicious
    • Honey Crisp
    • Pink Lady (pictured in this post)
    • Granny Smith
    • Jazz 
  • Butter. coconut oil 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! You can also use granulated sugar, brown sugar, etc. 
  •  

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 95.8kcal | Carbohydrates: 16.6g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 3.7g | Saturated Fat: 3.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 66mg | Potassium: 112.7mg | Fiber: 2.4g | Sugar: 12.8g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 7.5mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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137 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you for this simple quick recipe, Laura!
    I’m a cranberry grower, so I added a handful of cranberries, which gave it a nice rosy color. Either fresh or frozen will work.

  2. 5 stars
    i loved it, my 13 year old girl made some of these and they were incredible. great substitute for a sweet tooth