These cinnamon-sweet, buttery Air Fryer Apples are tender, flavorful, and ready in just 10 minutes. They’re not typical fried apples drenched in butter — just a touch of butter brings out deep, warm flavor. Serve them as a side, spoon them over ice cream for dessert, or enjoy them on their own.
We love using the air fryer for quick, delicious dishes, and these cinnamon apples might be among our favorites. They highlight apple season perfectly — sweet, tender slices with a cozy cinnamon finish.
They make a lovely breakfast side alongside Air Fryer French Toast Sticks or Super Fluffy Pancakes and pair well with a variety of brunch plates.
Why you will love these Air Fryer Apples:
- Rich, concentrated flavor without a lot of butter. Cooking apples in the air fryer gives them a buttery, caramel-like taste while using far less butter than pan-frying.
- Ready in about 10 minutes. Just a few minutes of prep and a short cook time — no standing over the stove required.
- Versatile for breakfast, dinner, or dessert. These apples are great with pork or roasted chicken, as a topping for pancakes or oatmeal, or served warm with vanilla ice cream.
Recipe Ingredients:
- Apples: Use a sweet, crisp variety like Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious. Pink Lady works too. For a tart option, try Granny Smith. Peeling is optional.
- Cinnamon: Add a base coating for cooking and then toss with more cinnamon and sugar at the end. Optional: a pinch of nutmeg or apple pie spice for variation.
- Oil: Any mild-flavored oil works; canola is a good choice. Coconut oil is an option for extra flavor.
- Vanilla: A little vanilla extract brightens the flavor.
- Butter: A small amount of melted butter gives a rich, classic finish.
- Sugar: Sweeten to taste. Granulated sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey all work.
Step-By-Step Instructions:
Quick overview:
- Core and slice apples into 1/2-inch slices. Toss with oil, vanilla, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F and arrange apples in the basket in a single layer if possible. Lightly spritz the basket with oil if desired.
- Air fry for about 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through so the slices cook evenly.
- Transfer apples to a bowl and toss with melted butter, the remaining cinnamon, and sugar. Serve immediately.
Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Slice apples right before cooking to avoid browning. Apples brown quickly after cutting, so prepare them close to the cook time.
- Pick firm, sweet apples. Gala, Fuji, and Honeycrisp are excellent choices for texture and sweetness.
- For saucier apples, add more butter or a splash of maple syrup. An extra tablespoon or two of melted butter or maple syrup will create more sauce.
- Monitor cooking time closely. Air fryer models vary. After shaking the basket at the halfway point, check every two minutes so the apples don’t overcook.
Recipe Storage Recommendations:
Store cooled apples in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, microwave for 30–60 seconds or warm in the air fryer at 350°F for 2–4 minutes. You can freeze apples in a freezer-safe container for 2–3 months; thaw before reheating and add a bit more melted butter if desired.
Serving Your Air Fried Apples:
These apples are very versatile. Ideas:
- Serve with pork chops or pork tenderloin.
- Pair with roasted chicken.
- Top pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, or French toast casserole.
- Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel for a simple dessert.
Other Air Fryer Recipes:
- Air Fryer Hand Pies
- Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Slaw
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast
- Buffalo Cauliflower
- Parmesan Crusted Air Fried Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Steak Bites with Lemon Garlic Butter
- Air Fried Corn on the Cob
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Air Fryer Apples
Ingredients
- 4 small/medium apples (we use Gala)
- 1½ tsp cinnamon, separated
- 1 T canola or vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 T butter, melted
- 2 T sugar (or maple syrup/honey to taste)
Instructions
-
Remove cores and slice apples into 1/2-inch slices. Keep or remove peels as you prefer. Toss slices with oil, vanilla, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
-
Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Place apples in the basket in a single layer if possible (lightly spritz basket with oil if desired). Air fry 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to turn the apples.
-
Transfer cooked apples to a bowl and toss with melted butter, remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and sugar. Serve warm.
-
Storage: Refrigerate up to 5 days in an airtight container or freeze for up to 2–3 months.
Notes
- Slice apples just before cooking to limit browning.
- Pick firm, sweet varieties like Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp for best texture.
- For more sauce, add extra melted butter or a tablespoon or two of maple syrup.
- Watch cook time as air fryers vary; check apples every couple minutes near the end.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
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