Air Fryer Apples

These sweet and warm-spiced Air Fryer Apples are easy fall treats that you can make using only 5 simple ingredients. They are cooked until golden and fork-tender with the juice from the apples mixed with the delicious maple-cinnamon syrup- it is heavenly! These are the perfect treats to satisfy your sweet cravings and can be enjoyed as an all-day snack, dessert, or as oatmeal toppings for breakfast!

Easy Air Fryer Apples Recipe

Fall season in full swing means plenty of juicy apples to enjoy! And when I say enjoy them- I don’t mean just munching away a piece a day! I am talking about incorporating these yummy fall fruits into different recipes like my nutritious Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal or my savory Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Root Vegetables.

In this easy air-fryer recipe, however, the apples take front and center and are simply flavored with festive spices, flavoring, and sweetener.  They are so decadently delicious, you’ll find yourself making these fruity goodies all season long! You’ll have them on the table in less than 20 minutes and the majority of the work will be done by your air fryer.

This recipe serves two, however, feel free to double this recipe if you have company over for the holidays or simply want to keep some for later. Your air fryer basket or tray should be big enough so the apples don’t overlap too much. Click the + and – signs next to the serving amount to automatically adjust the recipe to serve 4. 

Is it healthy?

It is no secret that apples are one of the most vitamin-rich and nutrient-dense fruits out there. These maple-glazed apples are naturally sweetened by using maple syrup and the juice from the apples, so they are healthier than most sweet treats out there.

Plus, they are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, paleo, and refined sugar-free. Effortless, tasty, and good for everybody. If you’re looking for more healthy fall snacks, you definitely need to air fry pumpkin seeds too!

Peel-on or peel-off?

This is entirely upon your preference. I like keeping the peel on for three reasons. First, it reduces my prep time by half. Second, it gives the dish more color and lastly, apple skin is actually packed with so many vitamins and nutrients like vitamins C, K, and A, calcium, fiber, and potassium. In fact, it is the healthiest part of the fruit, so it is such a waste to remove it.

Simple, Allergy-Friendly Ingredients 

You know you have a winner of a dish when the ingredient list is short and simple yet it is brimming with warm and comforting flavors! Here’s everything you’ll need: 

• Apples – I prefer using a sweet-tart apple like a Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, or SweeTango but Gala, Golden Delicious, or another sweeter apple variety works great too! I used 2 medium-sized apples, so if you have smaller ones, you can use three.
• Oil – I used coconut oil because it has a very mild nutty undertone and melts easily, which produces a silkier syrup. You can use other types of oil like avocado or olive oil. Butter or ghee will also work.
• Vanilla extract – this will give the air-fried apples a nice flavor and aroma.
• Maple syrup– use pure Grade A if you can. The darker the color, the more robust the maple flavor is. You can also use coconut sugar or brown sugar as alternatives.
• Spices– nothing gives dishes a more festive taste than a dash of cinnamon! You can also add a bit of nutmeg if you want to give the apples a more pronounced sweet yet spicy and nutty flavor.

How to Make Air Fryer Apples

All you need is your air fryer and a bowl to make these yummy treats. It’s as simple as slicing the apples, tossing them in the syrup mixture then letting your air fryer do its magic. Here’s how you do it:

Preparation:

• Preheat the air fryer to 380° Fahrenheit (193° C).
• Wash and dry the apples. Peel the apples if desired (optional) and cut them in half, slice each half into 6 wedges (12 wedges total per apple), and remove the inner core from each.

Steps:

1. Melt coconut oil in a medium bowl and add vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make sure the bowl is big enough to fit the apple slices.
2. Add apple slices and toss to coat. The apples should be evenly covered with the maple mixture.
3. Layer apple slices into the air fryer in a single layer and air fry for 12-15 minutes until soft enough to easily cut through with a fork but not mushy.
   
4. Let apples cool for a few minutes and place them in small serving bowls. You can pour any sauce that has collected in the air fryer basket or tray onto the apples before serving.

Note: If your apple slices are thicker, remove and shake the basket or for an oven-style air fryer, use a spatula to stir and flip apples halfway through. The exact time will depend on the thickness of the apple slices and your air fryer model. When done, apples should be able to be easily pierced with a fork and lightly browned.

Variations

The beauty of simple, homemade recipes like this is that you can adjust or add ingredients to your liking.  As lovely as these golden-baked apples are as is, you can always spruce them up with these ideas:

• You can swap out ½ tsp. of the cinnamon with pumpkin pie spice if you want more complexity. This is perfect if you are planning to serve this for Thanksgiving or Christmas eve.
• For saucier fried apples, you can add 1 tablespoon more coconut oil.
• If you want it sweeter, you can finish with a sprinkle of coconut sugar, white sugar or brown sugar once they are plated.
• You can make an apple ring version of this recipe by removing the core and slicing the apple vertically.

Serving Ideas

Enjoy these Air Fryer Apples as they are or serve them with fun and yummy add-ons like the following:

• Vanilla ice cream
• Frozen yogurt
• Banana nice cream
• Whipped cream
• Over oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast topped with chocolate coconut granola
• Nuts
• Dried Fruits
• Chocolate chips

Pro-Tips for the Best Results 

• Keep apples fresh! It is best to slice the apple right before cooking them so they stay fresh and don’t brown. If you really want to do it ahead of time, spray or soak them with lemon juice (1 Tbsp. juice to 1 cup water) and keep them covered and chilled to keep them pretty and fresh.
• Slice the apples uniformly. This will ensure that they cook evenly. If you have thicker pieces than others, they might not become as tender as the rest.
• Easy clean-up. To keep the after-cooking clean-up at a minimum, you can melt the coconut oil directly into the basket or tray of your air fryer and then toss apples and other ingredients right on the tray or basket. No need to use or wash a bowl afterward.
• Check on your apples. All air fryers cook at slightly different rates so make sure to check your apples 10 to 12 minutes into baking time. They are done once you can easily pierce them with a fork.

Storing Air Fryer Apples

They’re best eaten warm but to store leftovers, cool them completely and then keep them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in a tightly sealed container. You can reheat either using the microwave or back in the air fryer.

Recipe

Recipe

5 from 2 votes

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Air Fryer Apples

Created by: Christy Gurin

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

2

These sweet cinnamon Air Fryer Apples are an easy snack that you can make using only 5 simple ingredients. They're great on their own, served with ice cream for dessert or over oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast!

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Equipment

• 1 Air Fryer

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

• ▢ 2 medium apples
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon melted coconut oil or avocado, olive oil, butter, or ghee
• ▢ 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 Tablespoons pure Grade A maple syrup (or coconut, brown or white sugar)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ▢ 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg optional

Instructions

• Wash and dry apples. Peel apple if desired (optional) and cut in half, slice each half into 6 wedges (12 wedges total per apple) and remove inner core from each.
• Preheat air fryer to 380° Fahrenheit (193° C).
• Melt coconut oil in a medium bowl (big enough to fit apple slices) and add vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
• Add apple slices and toss to coat.
• Layer apple slices into air fryer in a single layer and air fry for 12-15 minutes until soft enough to easily cut through with a fork but not mushy. If your apple slices are thicker, remove and shake basket or for an oven style air fryer, use a spatula to stir and flip apples half way through. Exact time will depend on thickness of apple slices and your air fryer model so check for doneness at 10 minutes. When done, apples should be able to be easily pierced with a for and lightly browned.
• Let apples cool for a few minutes and place in small serving bowls. You can pour any sauce that has collected in the air fryer basket or tray onto the apples before serving.

Notes

• Depending on your air fryer model, you can probably just melt the coconut oil directly into the basket or tray of your air fryer and then toss apples and other ingredients right on the tray or basket to not dirty a bowl.

• If your air fryer basket or tray is big enough, you can easily double this recipe as long as the apples don’t overlap too much. Click the + and – signs next to the serving amount to automatically adjust the recipe to serve 4.

• I prefer using a sweet-tart apple like a Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji or SweeTango but Gala, Golden Delicious or another sweeter apple variety works great too.

• Can swap maple syrup for coconut sugar or brown sugar or whatever you have.

• Can swap out ½ tsp. of the cinnamon with pumpkin pie spice if you want more complexity.

• They’re best eaten warm but to store leftovers, cool completely and then keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in a tightly sealed container. To reheat either microwave or reheat in air fryer to warm up.

• Prep right before making so the apples stay fresh and don’t brown.

• For more sauce, you can use 1 Tbsp. more coconut oil.

• If you want it sweeter, you can finish with a sprinkle of coconut sugar, white sugar or brown sugar once plated.

• All air fryers cook at slightly different rates so make sure to check your apples at 10-12 minutes.

• Serving ideas: on their own, with vanilla ice cream, frozen yogurt, banana nice cream, whipped cream, over oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast, topped with granola.

Nutrition

Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 101IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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