These air fryer baked apples are an easy, comforting dessert filled with a warm cinnamon, oat, and maple syrup mixture. They come together quickly and make a lovely alternative to traditional oven-baked apples.
Why You’ll Love This Dish
This is a relatively healthy dessert that still feels indulgent. The apple halves are filled with a soft, slightly chewy oat mixture flavored with cinnamon and maple syrup—warm, cozy, and satisfying.
Air frying the apples speeds up cooking and simplifies cleanup compared with a conventional oven. This recipe is also a great way to use up extra apples.
What You’ll Need
- Fresh apples — Honeycrisp work beautifully; Pink Lady, Gala, Golden Delicious, or Granny Smith are also good choices depending on how sweet or tart you like them.
- Old-fashioned oats
- Maple syrup
- Cinnamon
- Cayenne — optional, for a subtle warmth
- Butter — unsalted preferred so you can control salt; salted works fine too
- Kosher salt — a pinch for the filling if using unsalted butter
- Flaky sea salt — such as Maldon, for finishing
How to Bake Apples in the Air Fryer
Follow these step-by-step directions to make the recipe.
Step One — Core the apples with an apple corer if you have one, then slice each apple in half. If you don’t have a corer, slice through the stem and remove the core with a knife or spoon.
Step Two — Scoop out a little more apple flesh from each half with a spoon or paring knife to create a round cavity for the filling.
Step Three — Make the filling: in a medium bowl combine the oats, melted butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, a pinch of salt, and the optional cayenne. Mix until evenly combined.
Step Four — Sprinkle each apple half with a little cinnamon, then fill the cavities with the oat mixture. Arrange the filled halves in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Step Five — Air fry at 350°F (175°C) until the apples are tender and the oat topping is lightly browned and caramelized, about 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool briefly before handling, or use tongs to remove the hot halves from the basket.
FAQ
Yes. Fruits and vegetables cooked in an air fryer typically retain more nutrients than with some other cooking methods, and air frying uses less added fat than frying.
Air frying concentrates flavor and moisture, creating a baked texture with a soft interior and slightly caramelized exterior.
Many fruits work well: apples, pears, strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, and bananas can all be prepared in an air fryer with great results.
Expert Tips
- Air fryer models vary. If your unit runs hot, check the apples a few minutes early to avoid overcooking.
- Work in batches if necessary; don’t overcrowd the basket so the apples cook evenly.
- Experiment with different apple varieties and warm spices—nutmeg, allspice, or apple pie spice all pair nicely.
Variations
Add chopped walnuts for crunch, or substitute brown sugar for maple syrup for a sweeter topping. Leave out the oat mixture and brush apple slices with butter, cinnamon, and maple syrup for a simpler filling similar to apple pie. You can also bake these in a 350°F oven in a baking dish with about 1 cup of water in the bottom for roughly an hour, until tender and golden.
How to Store
Serve these apples fresh for the best texture. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days; the topping will soften over time. Freezing is not recommended. Reheat in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes or until warmed through.
How to Serve
These baked apples are delicious on their own, or serve them with toppings such as:
- Whipped cream
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream
- An extra drizzle of maple syrup
- Warm spices or a side of cinnamon rolls or crepes for a special brunch
Recipes You’ll Love
Other fruit desserts you may enjoy include air fryer pears, air fryer strawberries, and air fryer blueberries.
Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Baked Apples
A quick and comforting dessert: apples filled with an oat, cinnamon, and maple mixture, air fried until tender and caramelized.
Ingredients
- 2 large apples
- 1/3 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon, divided
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Pinch flaky sea salt, or to taste
Instructions
- Core the apples and slice them in half. If you don’t have a corer, cut through the core and remove seeds with a spoon or knife.
- Scoop a bit more of the apple flesh to create a cavity for the filling.
- Combine oats, melted butter, maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, cayenne (if using), and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Mix well.
- Sprinkle each apple half with the remaining cinnamon and fill the cavities with the oat mixture. Place apples in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 12–15 minutes, until apples are tender and the topping is golden. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
General: Honeycrisp apples are recommended, but most varieties work well.
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 3–4 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 223 | Carbohydrates: 41 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 7 g | Fiber: 6 g | Sugar: 25 g