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Next time you’re looking for a simple, warmly spiced treat to satisfy your sweet tooth, look no further than my easy Air Fryer Apples! Made with just 4 ingredients and a few minutes of prep, these buttery, cinnamon-sweet air fried apples have cozy apple pie vibes without the fuss (or guilt).

Looking for more apple recipes? Check out my Crescent Roll Apple Cobbler or Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip.

forkful of air fryer apple dessert served with whipped cream.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Apple Recipe

If you’re anything like me, you have a serious penchant for sweets, but also have healthy eating goals you want to stick to. Let me tell you — it’s a real conundrum! Luckily, this recipe for air fryer baked apples meets both needs in one quick and easy swoop. 

Aside from being both nutritious and delicious, these air fried apple slices are:

  • Quick & Easy – Whether you’re looking for a quick upgrade to your breakfasts or need a late night snack after the bars, this 15-minute recipe has you covered. All you need is 5 minutes of prep and a quick 10-minute spell in the air fryer for cinnamon apple perfection!
  • Easily Adaptable – While these air fryer apple slices are already pretty virtuous, you’re welcome to cut back on the butter or sugar, make them vegan, or swap in different spices depending on what you’re feeling.
  • A Textural Dream – They’re soft with a melt-in-your-mouth consistency, while somehow still boasting a slightly crisp bite. It’s the ideal texture!
  • Apple Pie Lite – These air fryer cinnamon apples taste like the filling of your favorite apple pie, but are a snap to throw together. Better yet, since you’re skipping the fussy pastry part, you’re also skipping most of the empty calories. 🥳

This delicious recipe is so wonderful you’ll be making it way past apple season!

closeup shot of baked air fryer apples topped with granola and whipped cream.

Ingredients & Substitutions

As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make my recipe for baked apples in air fryer. Here’s what to grab:

  • Apples – You’re welcome to use any variety of apple you like to eat out of hand. My favorites tend to be firm and sweet-tart, like Pink Ladies, Fujis, or Cosmic Crisps.
  • Light Brown Sugar – A touch of molasses-laced brown sugar adds a caramelly glaze. Feel free to swap in dark brown sugar, or alternative sweeteners like muscovado sugar, maple sugar, or grated piloncillo.
  • Salted Butter – Using salted butter adds the perfect amount of richness and seasoning. You’re also welcome to use unsalted butter and a pinch of two of salt to taste.
  • Cinnamon – Cinnamon and apples are as classic as PB&J. That said, you can have fun experimenting with all kinds of warming spices like ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, or even pumpkin spice or apple pie spice. Mix and match to your heart’s content!
ingredients for making air fryer baked apples on a white table.

Equipment 

How To Make Air Fryer Apples

When you see how easy it is to make soft, sweet apples in the air fryer, you’re gonna want to make them all the time! Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Season Apples. Add the sliced apples, light brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon to a small bowl. Combine and coat each apple slice as evenly as possible.

process shot of apple slices tossed with cinnamon sugar and melted butter in a mixing bowl.

Step 2: Air Fry Apples. Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F and line the basket with aluminum foil or a liner. Once preheated, add the apple slices. Spread evenly in a single layer. Air fry for 10 minutes, tossing halfway through.

apples placed in the foil-lined basket of an air fryer before cooking.
air fried apples in the base of an air fryer basket.

Step 3: Serve & Enjoy! They’re great plain, but especially delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or dollop of whipped cream. 😋

cinnamon air fryer apples served with granola and whipped cream.

Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations

Since there are so few ingredients, there are lots of directions you can take this air fryer apple dessert. Here are just a few variations to consider:

  • Dairy-Free/Vegan – Feel free to swap in the vegan butter of your choice. Coconut oil is also a great option!
  • Sugar-Free – Apples are sweet on their own, so you’re welcome to omit the brown sugar. You can also use your favorite cup-for-cup brown sugar replacement (e.g. brown monkfruit).
  • Oil-Free – You can omit adding any fat if you prefer, though you’ll lose a bit of the richness if you do.
  • Go Whole Apple – Rather than air frying apple slices, why not make a whole baked apple air fryer style? The only difference is how long it will take to cook to perfection. Halved apples also work!

Expert Tips

Making these cinnamon baked apples in the air fryer is a snap, but I’ve learned a few tricks along the way:

  • Be Kind, Do Line: To capture all the delicious air fryer baked apple juices and make cleaning easier, line your air fryer with a reusable liner, parchment paper, or aluminum foil. This prevents the sweet, sticky juices from dripping to the bottom, ensuring you get every last drop of goodness to pour over the apples when you’re done.
  • Soften ‘Em Up:  If you prefer your baked apples to be super soft, add an extra minute or two to the recommended cooking time. Just keep a close eye on them to ensure they don’t burn.
  • Core Issues: While you’re welcome to cut the apple pieces off of the core using a knife and cutting board, an apple corer is the hands-down easiest way to ensure all of your slices are the same width for even cooking.
  • Preheat for Perfection: For even cooking, preheat your air fryer for about 3-5 minutes before adding the apples. This ensures that the cooking starts immediately, resulting in a more evenly golden brown exterior. 
air fryer apple slices on a silver fork with a few granola crumbles and some vanilla ice cream.

Serving Suggestions

I’m certain you’ll find no shortage of delicious ways to put this cinnamon apples air fryer recipe to good use. Here are some of my favorite pairings:

  • Ice Cream Dream: Top your favorite scoop of ice cream (e.g. vanilla, salted caramel, or cinnamon ice cream) with warm, cinnamon-spiced baked apples. The contrast between the cold ice cream and warm apples is super dreamy.  Add caramel sauce on top too for the most delicious snack or dessert!
  • Breakfast of Champs: Transform your fluffy stack of pancakes, french toast, or crispy waffles into a fancy feast by adding sliced baked apples on top. Drizzle with maple syrup and/or a dollop of Greek yogurt for extra pizzazz.
  • Toast to Greatness: Spread a layer of cream cheese or ricotta on a slice of toasted crusty bread and top it with slices of baked apples. A sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey completes this simple yet elegant breakfast or snack.
  • Oat-rageously Cultured: Make a delectable breakfast bowl by topping your morning oatmeal or yogurt with air fryer fried apples.  They would be the perfect addition!  Add a sprinkle of granola for crunch and a dash of cinnamon for extra flavor.
  • Apple of My Pie: Baked apples are delightful on their own, but to get the full “apple pie” effect, serve them with shortbread cookies or baked puff pastry as the apple pie filling and a dollop of whipped cream.
  • Oh So Gouda: Add sliced air fryer baked apples to your cheese board. Brie, Camembert, or sharp Cheddar are all delicious!
  • Great in Bread: Create a sweet and savory sandwich with baked apples, ham or turkey, and Brie cheese on a couple of slices of rustic bread.
  • Nice to Meat You: Serve roasted pork or chicken with a side of warm baked apples. Their sweetness balances the savory flavors of the meat perfectly!
air fryer apples on a white plate with greek yogurt and a sprinkle of granola.

FAQs

Which are the best apples for frying in the air fryer? 

I suggest reaching for apple varieties that hold up well when cooked. Sweet-tart varieties like Honey crisp or Gala, or tart varieties like Granny Smith apples maintain their structure and don’t turn mushy easily. That said, you’re welcome to use any apples you have on hand!

At what temperature do apples break down?

Generally speaking, apples start to break down when they reach between 160-180F. The exact temperature at which apples break down can vary slightly depending on the type of apple and its initial firmness. Some varieties of apples, like Granny Smith, are firmer and may require slightly higher temperatures or longer cooking times to break down, whereas softer varieties like McIntosh tend to break down more quickly. 

Are air-fried apples healthy?

I’m not an RDN, so “healthy” is a word I’ll leave to the professionals. That said, making fried apples in air fryer vs making them in a pan will save you quite a few calories. 
First, you’re barely using any butter (just ½ tablespoon per apple), which you can cut back even more if you choose. There’s also barely any added sugars (again, just ½ tablespoon per apple). And, since apples themselves are quite nutritious (think of all the fiber and nutrients!), I personally consider this a guilt-free dessert. 🤷🏼‍♀️

How long should I put apples in an air fryer?

That’ll depend on how big your apple slices are, what variety of apple you choose, and how soft you like your apples. For this recipe, I used firm, sweet-tart honeycrisp apples cut into approximately 8 slices. I found that they were perfectly soft with ever so slight of an al dente bite after 10 minutes, and became even softer after another minute or two.

air fryer apples on a plate with vanilla ice cream and a silver fork.

Related Recipes

More Air Fryer Recipes

More Easy Dessert Recipes

Connect With Me!

If you make this air fryer recipe or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations.

serving plate of cinnamon air fried apples topped with granola and Greek yogurt.

Love this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating! I love to see and it helps me continue to develop delicious recipes for this blog.

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serving plate of cinnamon air fried apples topped with granola and Greek yogurt.

Air Fryer Apples

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
  • Author: Kayla Berman
  • Prep Time: 5 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 Minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 2 Servings 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Air Fryer
Print Recipe

Description

Next time you’re looking for a simple, warmly spiced treat to satisfy your sweet tooth, look no further than my easy Air Fryer Apples! Made with just 4 ingredients and a few minutes of prep, these buttery, cinnamon-sweet air fried apples have cozy apple pie vibes without the fuss (or guilt).

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 apples, peeled & sliced
  • 1 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp salted butter, melted
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Add the apple slices, light brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon to a small mixing bowl. Combine and coat each apple slice as evenly as possible.
  2. Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F and line the basket with aluminum foil or a liner. Once preheated, add the apple slices. Spread evenly. Air fry for 10 minutes, tossing halfway through.
  3. Serve and enjoy!I like to add vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on top.

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