Description
This Easy Cinnamon Apples recipe offers a quick and delicious way to enjoy tender, flavorful apples infused with cinnamon and a touch of maple syrup. Perfect as a cozy snack, side dish, or topping for oatmeal and desserts, this skillet-cooked treat brings out the natural sweetness of apples with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Apples
- 3 apples (about 3 cups, chopped)
Cooking Liquids and Fat
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 1 Tablespoon salted butter (or coconut oil)
Flavorings
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the Apples: Cut apples into same-sized pieces, about ½-1 inch cubes, ensuring even cooking.
- Initial Cooking: Place the apple pieces into a skillet with 2 tablespoons of water. Cover the pan and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the apples are slightly soft and the water is mostly absorbed.
- Add Fat and Continue Cooking: Add 1 tablespoon of salted butter to the skillet. Stir the apples and butter together until all pieces are coated. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring every minute or so. Cover the skillet for the last 2 minutes to help soften the apples.
- Add Flavorings: Stir in the maple syrup, ground cinnamon, fine sea salt, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Final Cooking: Cook for about 5 more minutes, stirring every minute until the apples reach your desired softness and the flavors meld together.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve warm, either as a snack or as an accompaniment to other dishes.
Notes
- Peeling Apples: Peeling is optional. For young children or babies without teeth, peeling the apples is recommended.
- Apple Varieties: Honeycrisp and Pink Lady are recommended for their sweetness and texture, but alternatives like Gala, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Jazz also work well.
- Butter Substitutes: Coconut oil or ghee can be used as alternatives to butter for different flavor profiles or dietary preferences.
- Maple Syrup Substitutes: Honey can replace maple syrup; granulated or brown sugar are also acceptable options.
- Liquid Substitutes: Apple juice or apple cider may replace water to add extra depth of flavor.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in a glass container with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¾ cup
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 4.5g
- Saturated Fat: 2.7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 0.3g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
