Cinnamon Apples

These sweet, spiced cinnamon apples are just as good for breakfast as they are for dessert. Serve them over oatmeal, pancakes, or ice cream!

Cinnamon apples

Sweet, soft, and nicely spiced, these easy cinnamon apples taste like the inside of a warm apple pie. But unlike a pie, which requires hours of chilling and baking and cooling, this cinnamon apples recipe is ready in under 30 minutes. I love its simplicity. Its lack of crust, batter, or crumble topping allows it to be just as at home at breakfast as it is at dessert. It also means that this recipe is 100% about the apples. If you have a craving for cozy, apple-y fall flavor, there’s no easier or more satisfying way to indulge it than with this cinnamon apples recipe.

Honeycrisp apples, apple cider vinegar, water in glass measuring cup, and glass dish of cinnamon on marble

Cinnamon Apples Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make these easy cinnamon apples:

  • Apples, of course! I recommend choosing the same types of apples that you’d use in baking recipes, such as Granny Smith, Gala, or Honeycrisp. These varieties hold their shape well when they’re cooked, unlike, say, McIntosh apples, which break down quickly. If you like tart apples, go for Granny Smith. Gala or Honeycrisp are good sweeter options.
  • Apple cider vinegar – It adds a pop of tangy flavor to balance the apples’ sweetness.
  • Water – It helps the apples steam and soften.
  • Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg – They add warm, spiced fall flavor.
  • And a pinch of sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Chopped apples on wooden cutting board with knife

Start by peeling and coring the apples. Then, cut them into 1-inch chunks. Try to cut the pieces to similar sizes so that they’ll cook evenly.

Chopped apples in saucepan with wooden spoon

Place the apples, water, and vinegar in a saucepan and cook, covered, over low heat. Stir occasionally to make sure the apples don’t burn on the bottom of the pan.

When the apples are tender, after about 15 minutes, uncover the pan and stir in the spices and salt. Season to taste and enjoy.

That’s it!

Juicy, spiced apple mixture in saucepan with wooden spoon

How to Use Cinnamon Apples

The simplest way to enjoy this recipe is to eat the warm apples straight off the stove. Serve them as a side dish with an autumnal recipe like stuffed squash or butternut squash soup, or savor them for a light dessert. If you’re in the mood for something a tad more indulgent, use the apples as a starting point for an apple crumble or apple crisp. They’re also fantastic as a topping for vanilla ice cream.

Leftover cinnamon apples are great for breakfast. Serve them over oatmeal, steel cut oats, overnight oats, or chia pudding, or swirl them into yogurt with homemade granola. We also love them on pancakes, waffles, or French toast.

How do you like to eat cinnamon apples? Let me know in the comments!

Cinnamon apples recipe

More Favorite Apple Recipes

If you love these cinnamon apples, try one of these fall apple recipes next:

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Cinnamon Apples

rate this recipe:
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves 6
These warm cinnamon apples are such an easy, delicious fall treat! Serve them as a side dish or simple dessert, or top them onto ice cream, oatmeal, pancakes, or French toast. Find more serving suggestions in the post above.

Ingredients

  • 5 apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

  • Combine the apples, water, and vinegar in a saucepan, cover, and simmer over very low heat, stirring occasionally to make sure the apples don’t burn on the bottom of the pan, for 15 minutes.
  • Uncover, stir, and add the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt and stir again. The apples should be tender and the juices should be thick.
  • Serve warm from the stove or store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Find our favorite serving suggestions in the post above.

6 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Julia
    01.31.2024

    5 stars
    Yum! I put these on pancakes and they were delicious! So easy and quick.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.02.2024

      Hi Julia, I’m so glad you loved them!

  2. Amy Sparks
    06.27.2023

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for this fantastic recipe. I left out the apple cider vinegar and added a little honey. It turned out great, though. This is delicious, healthy, and quick to make.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.29.2023

      I’m so glad you loved them!

  3. Anne
    09.22.2022

    Can I leave the apples unpeeled?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.23.2022

      yep, you can if you’d like.

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.