Oven-Baked Cinnamon Apples with Brown Sugar

These easy baked apples are filled with a crunchy granola streusel and baked until perfectly tender. They fill your kitchen with cozy autumn aromas and make a simple, elegant dessert—serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of nut butter for extra richness.

Let’s Make Baked Apples

These baked apples combine the tart-sweet flavor of whole apples with a crunchy, spiced granola streusel. The method is straightforward: core the apples, par-bake to soften slightly, stuff them with the granola mixture, then finish baking until tender. The result is a warm, satisfying dessert that feels special without much effort.

Ingredients for Baked Apples

• 4 large Honeycrisp apples (or any baking apples you prefer)
• 1 cup of your favorite granola
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and separated
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

How to Make Baked Apples

Core the apples

Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Use an apple corer or a spoon to remove the core from each apple, making a well about halfway down so the apple remains intact but has space for the filling. Arrange the apples in a baking dish, leaving a little space between them for even air circulation.

Par-bake the apples

Brush each apple with some of the melted butter to help the skins soften and brown. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes—this gives the apples a head start so they finish evenly once stuffed.

Make the streusel filling

While the apples par-bake, combine the remaining melted butter with the granola, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, coarse salt, and maple syrup in a mixing bowl. Stir until the granola is evenly coated and slightly sticky; this will help the mixture hold together when baked. Taste and adjust the cinnamon if you like a stronger spice note.

Finish baking

Remove the par-baked apples from the oven and spoon about 1/4 cup of the granola mixture into the center of each apple. Cover the baking dish with foil to trap steam and return the dish to the oven. Bake for another 30–40 minutes, or until the apples are soft when pierced with a fork but still hold their shape.

Let rest & serve

Take the apples out of the oven and uncover them. Let them rest for about 10 minutes so the filling sets slightly and the apples are easier to handle. Serve warm with a drizzle of nut butter, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a sprinkle of extra granola for crunch.

Top Tips

• Apple variety: Honeycrisp offers a great balance of sweetness and firmness, but any firm baking apple works well—Granny Smith, Fuji, Braeburn, or Gala are fine choices depending on your taste.
• Granola choice: Use a granola whose flavors you enjoy—maple, nut, or cinnamon-forward granolas will all influence the final flavor.
• Toppings: Warm apples with cold vanilla ice cream is a classic pairing. For a lower-sugar option, try plain yogurt or a nut butter drizzle.
• Make-ahead: You can prepare the granola filling ahead of time and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake.

Storage

Store leftover baked apples in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm in a 350ºF oven for about 15 minutes or until heated through. Reheating in the oven helps preserve texture better than the microwave.

Recipe Details

Prep: 20 mins   Cook: 1 hr   Total: 1 hr 20 mins   Servings: 4

Author: Emily Richter

Ingredients

• 4 large honeycrisp apples
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and separated
• 1 cup of your favorite granola
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Core each apple about halfway to create a well, then place the apples in a baking dish.
2. Brush the apples with some melted butter and par-bake for 15 minutes.
3. Mix the remaining melted butter with granola, cinnamon, cardamom, salt, and maple syrup until evenly coated. Set aside.
4. Fill each apple with about 1/4 cup of the granola mixture. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30–40 minutes, until the apples are soft.
5. Uncover and let rest for 10 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream, whipped cream, or a nut butter drizzle.

Tips & Notes

• You can use any apples you have on hand; firmer apples hold their shape better when baked.
• The flavor of the granola strongly influences the finished dish—choose one that complements the spices you prefer.

Nutrition

Calories: 366 kcal · Carbohydrates: 53 g · Protein: 4 g · Fat: 17 g · Fiber: 6 g · Sugar: 31 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.