Easy cinnamon apples made on the stovetop in about 15 minutes! Enjoy these buttery cinnamon spiced apples over ice cream for dessert, spooned over pancakes and waffles for breakfast, or as a deliciously sweet side.
Related: For more easy apple recipes, take a look at our cinnamon apple bread and this Instant Pot applesauce (so easy)
How to Make Cinnamon Apples
Since we sauté the apples on the stove, this recipe comes together fast. The apples taste like your favorite apple pie, and they last for days in the fridge. You can even freeze them for another day. I like placing them into freezer bags or containers and keeping them in the freezer for up to three months. To make these skillet cinnamon apples you will need the following (the full recipe is below).
- Apples – When choosing apples for this, look for apples you love. I love Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, and Pink Lady apples.
- Lemon juice or apple cider vinegar – A little acid like lemon juice or vinegar balances the sweetness from the apples and maple syrup. It makes everything pop.
- Butter – I love how the butter in this cinnamon apples recipe turns into a silky sauce. A plant-based butter is an excellent substitute.
- Cinnamon – We are pretty generous with the cinnamon in this recipe. You can add or reduce as you see fit. We also combine cinnamon and apples for this cinnamon baked apples recipe.
- Optional spices – I love tossing in a few extra spices like cardamom and nutmeg. They bump up the cozy factor and taste wonderful.
- Vanilla and maple syrup – We use vanilla and maple syrup a lot when cooking with apples — like in this apple cobbler.
To make these easy cinnamon apples, add chopped apples to a skillet with the lemon juice and a bit of water. Cover the skillet with a lid and cook over medium-high heat until the apples soften a little. When they are soft, toss in your butter, cinnamon, extra spices, vanilla, and maple syrup (optional).
Stir the apples around the pan until the butter melts and turns into a silky cinnamon butter sauce that coats the apples. When it does, the cinnamon apples are ready! I love serving them with pumpkin pancakes and on top of my oatmeal. My toddler also loves these sautéed apples, and happily eats them with a spoon (or more often, his fingers).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to peel the apples? Peeling for these cinnamon apples is entirely up to you. I love leaving the peel intact, but for softer cooked apples, consider removing the peel. If you plan to serve this to younger kids, you might find peeling is best (my toddler prefers these peeled).
What apples should I use? You can use any variety of apple in this recipe. I like my sautéed apples to have a bit of texture, so I reach for firmer varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Granny Smith. For softer, more melt-in-your-mouth apples, try Golden Delicious.
How long do cinnamon apples last? Store these stovetop cinnamon apples in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for a few months.
How do you serve cinnamon apples? These are delicious by themselves. We also love them with the following:
- Ice cream, pudding, or with these Blondies
- Spooned onto pancakes or waffles, try them with our Pumpkin Pancakes
- Added to oatmeal, try our Everyday Oatmeal or these Steel Cut Oats
Extra Easy Cinnamon Apples
- PREP
- COOK
- TOTAL
Extra easy cinnamon apples made on the stovetop in about 15 minutes! Enjoy these buttery cinnamon-laced apples over ice cream for dessert, spooned over pancakes and waffles for breakfast, or as a deliciously sweet side.
You Will Need
1 ¾ pounds apples, 5 to 6 small
1 teaspoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
2 tablespoons butter or vegan butter
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, optional
1/8 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg, optional
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 tablespoon to 1 tablespoon maple syrup, optional
Directions
1Choose whether or not you want to peel the apples. We prefer our apples with the peel. However, for softer cinnamon apples, peel them.
2Core and cut the apples into bite-size pieces, 3/4-inch to 1-inch cubes. For slices, slice the apples into 1/4-inch thick slices.
3Toss the apples, lemon juice (or vinegar), and two tablespoons of water into a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Cover the skillet with a lid (or tent them with aluminum foil). Cook, covered, for 3 to 4 minutes.
4Uncover the apples, and stir in the butter, cinnamon, optional spices (cardamom and nutmeg), vanilla, and maple syrup (optional).
5Cook, while stirring, until the butter melts and the apples soften to your liking, 3 to 5 minutes more. For more saucy apples, stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons more water. Simmer the water until it thickens and coats the apples. Taste, and then adjust with more maple syrup.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
You May Also Like...
What a fantastic recipe and I didn’t have to change a thing. Tastes great on yogourt, waffles and pancakes. Will be a keeper for sure.
Your recipe for Cinnamon Apples looks great! Can I freeze the finished product? Thanks so much. RCH
Hi there, You can definitely freeze these apples. Store them in an air-tight container for a few months in the freezer.
I was looking for something more substantial and tastier than applesauce with my oatmeal. This does the trick. Also good with vanilla ice cream and granola topping.
That is a great idea! So happy you loved it 🙂
My twin grandies are picky eaters, but I’m sure that they will love this recipe! With guidance, they will be able to help in the preparation. And I love the options you gave for serving this — over ice cream, pancakes or waffles, or as a stand alone. Thank you!