Description
Simple baked cinnamon apple slices offer warm comfort. Easy to make, these sweet apples are perfect for breakfast or a light dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- Crisp Apple Base:
- 4 medium apples (Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Gala), cored and sliced 1/4-inch thick
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- Sweet & Spicy Dust:
- 1/4 cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- Optional Enhancements:
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Garnish & Toppings:
- Vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt (for serving)
Instructions
- Prep the Apples:: First things first, get those apples ready. Wash them, core them, and then slice them into about 1/4-inch thick wedges. I usually leave the skin on for extra fiber and a rustic look, but if you’re not a fan, peel away! Just try to keep the slices uniform so they cook evenly. Uneven slices? You’ll have some mushy, some crunchy, and nobody wants that, honestly.
- Melt the Butter & Combine:: Now, grab a large bowl. In a small microwave-safe bowl or saucepan, melt your butter. It doesn’t need to be sizzling, just liquid. Pour that melted goodness over your apple slices. Then, sprinkle in the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and that tiny pinch of salt. If you’re using vanilla or lemon juice, add those now too. Give it all a good, gentle toss until every apple slice looks beautifully coated. You want them glistening!
- Arrange and Bake:: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper – a step I learned the hard way after scrubbing burnt sugar off a pan too many times. Arrange your coated apple slices in a single layer on the prepared sheet. Don’t overcrowd them, or they’ll steam instead of bake and caramelize. We’re aiming for that lovely tender-crisp texture. Pop them into the hot oven.
- First Bake & Flip:: Bake for 15 minutes. The kitchen should already be smelling incredible, like a cozy autumn day! After 15 minutes, carefully pull out the baking sheet. Using tongs or a spatula, gently flip each apple slice. This ensures even caramelization and keeps them from sticking. Sometimes I get a little messy here, a few slips, but it’s all part of the home cooking charm, right? Don’t worry if a few break; they’ll still taste amazing.
- Second Bake & Soften:: Return the sheet to the oven and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, or until the apples are tender when pierced with a fork and have a beautiful golden-brown, slightly caramelized edge. Keep an eye on them, because ovens vary! You want soft, yielding apples, not mush. The smell, oh, it’s just divine at this point. That’s when you know you’re almost there!
- Cool and Serve:: Once they’re done, take those glorious apples out of the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. They’ll firm up a tiny bit as they cool, and that delicious syrupy sauce will thicken just slightly. Resist the urge to eat them all straight off the pan (I rarely succeed, honestly). Serve them warm, and get ready for some serious comfort.