Baked Apples with Cinnamon Oats – The Easiest Fall Dessert

So you’re craving dessert but don’t want to turn your kitchen into a five-hour baking marathon? Same.Enter: baked apples—aka the dessert that looks fancy, tastes amazing, but requires about as much effort as putting on socks. If you can slice an apple and turn on the oven, congrats—you’re already overqualified.

Table of Contents

Why This Recipe is Awesome?

Let’s cut to the chase—this dessert is:

Idiot-proof. Seriously, if you burn this, you probably need oven therapy.
Healthy-ish. I mean, it’s fruit… sure, with butter and sugar, but let’s not ruin the moment.
Customizable. Wanna stuff it with nuts, raisins, or chocolate chips? Go wild, Gordon Ramsay.
Perfect for lazy days. It’s warm, cozy, and tastes like you’ve been slaving in the kitchen all day—spoiler: you haven’t.

Basically, this is the dessert equivalent of sweatpants: comfy, low-effort, and still gets compliments.

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Ingredients You’ll Need for Baked Apples

Alright, here’s your shopping list (or just raid your pantry like I did):

4 large apples (Granny Smith if you want tangy, Honeycrisp if you want sweet—don’t stress, any will do)
4 tablespoons brown sugar (aka the magic dust)
1 teaspoon cinnamon (because fall vibes are mandatory)
¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional, but extra cozy points if you add it)
4 tablespoons butter (don’t ask me about margarine—we don’t do that here)
½ cup chopped nuts or raisins (optional, but makes you look fancy)
A drizzle of honey or maple syrup (optional, for those with a sweet tooth the size of Texas)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat the oven. Yes, you actually have to do this. 350°F (175°C) will do the trick.
Core your apples. Remove the seeds and make a little pocket in the middle. Don’t slice them in half unless you want sad, floppy apples.
Mix the filling. Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and nuts/raisins if you’re using them. Basically, make sweet apple stuffing.
Stuff the apples. Fill the hollowed-out cores with your sugary-spicy mix. Pack it in like you’re overstuffing a suitcase.
Top with butter. Place a small cube of butter on each apple. This is what makes them taste like heaven.
Bake. Place apples in a baking dish, add about ½ cup water to the bottom (keeps them from sticking/burning), and bake for 35–40 minutes.
Serve warm. Bonus points if you throw a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on top.

Boom. Dessert = done.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Skipping the water. Unless you want apples that look like they survived a desert apocalypse.
Overbaking. Mushy apples = apple sauce. Delicious, yes. But not the point here.
Using tiny apples. Cute, but they’ll shrivel up into apple raisins. Not the vibe.
Forgetting butter. Without butter, this is just a hot apple. And that’s… sad.

Alternatives & Substitutions

No brown sugar? Use white sugar + a drizzle of honey. It works.
Don’t like nuts or raisins? Stuff them with chocolate chips. Zero regrets.
Vegan? Swap butter with coconut oil. Still tasty, still melty.
Want extra drama? Add a splash of bourbon or rum to the filling. (Yes, please.)

Basically, you can’t mess this up unless you try really hard.

FAQS about Baked Apples

Can I make these ahead of time?

Sure, but they taste way better fresh. IMO, reheated apples just feel… tired.

Can I microwave instead of baking?

Technically yes, but they’ll end up soggy. Unless you like sad apples, stick to the oven.

Do I need to peel the apples?

Nope. The skin helps hold everything together. Plus, fiber. Yay, health.

What apples are best for baking?

Granny Smith = tart, Honeycrisp = sweet, Fuji = somewhere in between. Basically, use what you’ve got.

Can I skip the butter?

You can, but why would you hurt yourself like that?

Can I serve this cold?

You could, but you’d be missing the whole “warm, cozy dessert” thing. That’s like eating pizza straight from the freezer.

Can kids help make this?

Yes! Let them stuff the apples. Just… maybe don’t let them near the oven.

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Final Thoughts about Baked Apples

And there you go—baked apples that taste like autumn wrapped in a cozy blanket. They’re quick, easy, and guaranteed to make your kitchen smell like heaven without requiring you to actually, y’know, try hard.

Now go impress someone (or just yourself) with this dessert. You’ve earned it. And don’t forget the ice cream—because life’s too short for naked apples. 🍎✨