Description
This Easy Cinnamon Apples recipe is a quick and delicious way to prepare tender, flavorful apples with warm cinnamon and a touch of vanilla. Perfect as a side dish, snack, or topping for pancakes and oatmeal, this recipe uses simple ingredients and a stovetop cooking method to bring out the natural sweetness of apples with a comforting, spiced twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Apples
- 3 apples (about 3 cups, chopped)
- 2 Tablespoons water
Flavorings
- 1 Tablespoon salted butter (or coconut oil or ghee)
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup (or honey, granulated sugar, or brown sugar)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Apples: Cut apples into uniform pieces about ½ to 1 inch cubes to ensure even cooking.
- Steam Apples: Place the chopped apples 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 start to soften and the water has mostly absorbed.
- Add Butter and Continue Cooking: Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet and stir to coat all the apple pieces. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes, stirring every minute to prevent sticking, and cover the pan for the last 2 minutes to help soften the apples fully.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in maple syrup, ground cinnamon, sea salt, and vanilla extract until evenly mixed with the apples.
- Final Cook: Cook the apples for about 5 more minutes, stirring frequently until they reach your preferred softness and flavor blend. Remove from heat and serve warm.
Notes
- Peeling Apples: You may peel the apples if desired, especially for feeding infants without teeth, but leaving the skins on adds texture and nutrients.
- Apple Variety: Recommended varieties include Honeycrisp or Pink Lady, but Gala, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, or Jazz apples work wonderfully.
- Butter Substitutions: Coconut oil or ghee can be used as alternatives for butter.
- Sweetener Alternatives: Honey, granulated sugar, or brown sugar may replace maple syrup.
- Water Substitution: Using apple juice or apple cider instead of water adds a flavorful twist.
- Storage: Leftover cooked apples can be refrigerated in a sealed glass container for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¾ cup
- Calories: 90 kcal
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
- Fat: 3.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 7 mg
