These easy baked cinnamon apple slices are soft and sweet with just a little maple syrup, an abundant amount of cinnamon, and no butter or oil. They're delicious all on their own as a snack or dessert and also a healthy addition to pancakes, ice cream, waffles, and more!
You need just 3 ingredients to make this recipe and 5 minutes of hands-on time.
These baked cinnamon apple slices make a healthy Fall apple dessert or snack. This recipe is super easy to make alongside your meal since it requires little time and few ingredients, and it's well loved by kids and adults.
For related gluten-free apple treats that are a tad bit sweeter, try my Vegan Apple Crumble, Gluten-Free Apple Pie, Gluten Free Apple Fritters, Gluten-Free Apple Coffee Cake, and Pie Iron Apple Pie (a family friendly camping recipe).
For more healthy Fall treats, check out my Healthy Crustless Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Chia Pudding, Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffins, and Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread.
Jump to:
How to make it (with photos)
Ingredient Notes + Substitutions
You need only 3 simple and wholesome ingredients to make these easy baked cinnamon apple slices.
- apples - I use honeycrisp or cosmic crisp apples when I make this recipe. I recommend choosing crisp sweet apple varieties for best flavor and texture.
- maple syrup - This recipe is great without any added sugar, but I think it's best with a little bit of maple syrup for flavor, texture, and added sweetness.
You also need ground cinnamon to make this recipe.
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients with quantities.
Variations
Looking for something a little different? Check out the following easy variations to make this cinnamon baked apple slices recipe your own.
- With oil or butter - This recipe is oil and butter free, but you can add up to 2 tablespoons of melted oil or butter when mixing the other ingredients together.
- With lemon - Add the zest of 1 medium lemon. If making it saucy (below), you can use the lemon juice instead of water.
- Saucy - Add 3 tablespoons of all purpose flour or gluten-free flour and 2 tablespoons of water and mix together. Make sure the edges are bubbling before it's finished baking to thicken.
- Apple Crumble - If you want to add all of these variations together plus a streusel crumble topping, make my gluten-free Apple Crumble recipe instead!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Learn how to make baked cinnamon apple slices in just two easy steps!
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, add the apples, sprinkle with cinnamon, and drizzle with maple syrup. Mix thoroughly, then pour into a square 8 or 9 inch baking dish.
- Bake: Cover snugly with aluminum foil and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the apples are soft but not mushy. They will continue to cook while they cool. Pierce an apple with a fork to get a feel for the texture. Allow the apples to remain covered while they cool for at least 10 minutes or until they reach your desired texture.
Expert Tips
Make amazing baked cinnamon apple slices on the first try with these expert tips.
Choose crisp apples.
This recipe is best with crisp apples because you get distinct tender apple slices that don't fall apart or get mushy. I tried this recipe with honey crisp and cosmic crisp apples.
For more information on good baking apple varieties, check out this Food Network article on the best apples for baking.
Test for doneness, and undercook rather than overcook.
The ideal baked apple slice pierces easily with a fork but is not mushy. I found that the apples on the bottom cooked more quickly than the apples on the top.
If you're unsure if they're done baking, it's better to undercook the top slices a little and keep the pan covered in foil while they cool to steam the upper slices.
Recipe FAQ's
Here I answered some frequently asked questions about this Baked Cinnamon Apple Slices recipe. Don't see your question? Leave it in the comments at the end of this post and I'll answer within two business days.
Store leftover baked cinnamon apple slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
You can leave the skins on these apples. I don't enjoy the texture of baked apple skins, which is why I remove them in my baked apple recipes.
Baked apples are just as healthy as fresh apples! Without the skins, they do lose some of the healthy fiber content, and if there's a lot of added fat and sugar it can decrease the overall nutritional value. But simple baked apples with minimal additives are considered a healthy dessert or snack.
Related baked apple desserts to consider...
Looking for more baked apple desserts like this baked cinnamon apple slices recipe? Check these out:
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card or comment field below. Thank you!
Baked Cinnamon Apple Slices (scalloped apples)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds apples *, peeled, cored, and sliced into ¼ inch thick slices
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, add the apples, sprinkle with cinnamon, and drizzle with maple syrup. Mix thoroughly, then pour into a square 8 or 9 inch baking dish.
- Bake: Cover snugly with aluminum foil and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the apples are soft but not mushy. They will continue to cook while they cool. Pierce an apple with a fork to get a feel for the texture. Allow the apples to remain covered while they cool for at least 10 minutes or until they reach your desired texture.
Margaret
I love having a healthy baked apple recipe! We make these as toppings for pancakes and waffles in the fall. I also really enjoy them as a healthy dessert for lunch and dinner.