This simple baked apples recipe is gluten-free and refined sugar-free. Made with coconut sugar, coconut oil, cinnamon, and rolled oats - they are simple to prepare and delicious for either breakfast or dessert!
Simple baked apples are one of our favorite ways to enjoy apples in the fall - along with apple crisp and Instant Pot apple butter!
These baked apples have all the delicious warm, buttery, and cinnamon flavors of a traditional apple crisp - but are so much easier to prepare! This recipe also happens to be dairy-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free.
Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
- they are perfectly sweetened thanks to the coconut sugar and cinnamon
- no peeling required - these simple baked apples are so much easier to prep than apple crisp!
- you can use a variety of apples for this recipe, and you can serve them as breakfast or dessert
Recipe Video
Watch the video below to see how to make baked apples! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.
Ingredient Notes
- Apples - we used ambrosia apples for this recipe because they are sweet, crisp, and perfect for baking! Some baked apple recipes call for leaving the apple intact and removing the core, but this takes longer to bake and is finicky to do. For this recipe, we cut them in half, scoop out the core, and add the filling.
- Coconut oil - you could swap for butter if you prefer
- Flour - we used white whole wheat flour but you can swap for whole wheat or even almond flour if you wanted a gluten-free option
- Rolled oats - use whole rolled oats (as opposed to quick oats or steel cut oats)
- Cinnamon - brings out the flavors of the apples and compliments their natural sweetness.
- Coconut Sugar - for some sweetness without refined sugar. You could also swap for brown sugar or maple syrup.
Types of Apples You Can Use
You can use any apple that will hold up to baking including:
- Ambrosia
- Honeycrisp
- Granny smith
- Fuji
- Golden delicious
- Braeburn
- Courtland
- Gala
Avoid: we suggest avoiding Macintosh or softer apples that might turn mushy when baking. Red Delicious can also end up grainy when baking.
Step by step directions
Season
Heat oven to 375°F. Place apples in a 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 square baking dish. Place ½ teaspoon coconut oil and ½ teaspoon coconut sugar in each. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.
Add topping
Prepare the crumble topping: melt coconut oil, then mix all ingredients together with a fork until completely mixed. Sprinkle over the apples.
Bake
Cover and bake in the oven for 45 minutes (smaller apples) to 1 hour (medium-large apples). Test by poking with a paring knife. When a knife inserts easily, apples are ready.
Serve
Serve with a dollop of ice cream for dessert or yogurt for breakfast.
FAQ
Absolutely, just swap for a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
You can keep them in the fridge for 2-3 days. They don't look as pretty but they still taste DELISH! Re-heat and top with yogurt for breakfast or ice cream for dessert!
We have not tested freezing them, however, apple crisp can be frozen. These baked apples would likely freeze well too! If you do try it, would you let us know in the comments below if it works out?
Great question! I used Ambrosia apples, but you could pick any apple that will hold up to baking, like Honeycrisp or even Granny Smith. I suggest avoiding Macintosh or softer apples that might turn mushy when baking. Red Delicious can end up grainy when baking, so I'd enjoy them raw instead.
Storage
- Fridge - baked apples can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Re-heat in the microwave and serve with yogurt or ice cream.
- Freezer- we've never tried freezing baked apples before, but have frozen apple crisp successfully. Leave us a comment below if you give it a try!
- Reheat- heat single serve portions in the microwave until steaming hot; reheat larger batches in a covered baking dish in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes until warmed through.
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Simple Baked Apples
Ingredients
- 3 apples halved and cored
- 3 teaspoons coconut oil or butter
- 3 teaspoons coconut sugar brown sugar or maple syrup work
- pinch cinnamon
Topping
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted; butter may be subbed
- ¼ cup white whole wheat flour almond flour may be subbed
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar brown sugar may be subbed
- ¼ cup rolled oats
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Season - Heat oven to 375°F. Place apples in a 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 square baking dish. Place ½ teaspoon coconut oil and ½ teaspoon coconut sugar in each. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.
- Add topping - Prepare the crumble topping: melt coconut oil, then mix all ingredients together with a fork until completely mixed. Sprinkle over the apples.
- Bake - Cover and bake in the oven for 45 minutes (smaller apples) to 1 hour (medium-large apples). Test by poking with a paring knife. When a knife inserts easily, apples are ready.
- Serve - Serve with a dollop of ice cream for dessert or yogurt for breakfast.
Tips:
- Fridge - These baked apples can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Re-heat in the microwave and serve with yogurt or ice cream.
Video
Nutrition Information
© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Shop This Post
Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.
Angela says
These baked apples are amazing! Love all the sub options to make it a healthier version. Thanks for this delicious recipe!
Super simple will be making again!
Denise Bustard says
Hi Angela! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed the baked apples! Thanks so much for reporting back 🙂