These succulent healthy baked cinnamon apples are the perfect treat after a long day! All you need is 7 ingredients and 25 minutes prep time to make these refined sugar free baked apples. If you are still craving apples after making this treat, try my mini apple caramel pies.
Why This Recipe Works:
- They are easy to make and only require 25 minutes of prep time.
- You get an intense cinnamon flavor with each bite.
- All you need is 7 simple ingredients.
- They are kid-friendly, and adults go wild for them.
- There is no refined sugar in this recipe.
Photo instructions
Take one apple and peel the skin and chop it. Then place the apple in a small bowl and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon. Give it a quick stir to combine, then set aside.
Combine oats, cream cheese, milk, maple syrup, ¾ teaspoon of cinnamon, and vanilla in a large bowl.
Fold in the chopped apples. You can see that the filling is creamy and has lovely chunks of fresh apples too.
Carefully, slice the tops off of the 4 remaining apples. Hollow out the centers until they have about 0.5-inch thickness.
Spoon the filling into the apples and place them on a baking sheet or in a casserole and cook for 18-20 minutes.Â
Substitutions
Cream Cheese
If you don't like cream cheese or are unable to eat it for some reason, you can replace it for this recipe. Here are a couple of ideas you can try:
- Mix together ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream and ½ cup (125g) yogurt (Greek or plain). Whisk together well.
- Toss ½ cup (125g) ricotta cheese and ½ cup (125g) of plain or Greek yogurt together. Mix well.
Maple Syrup
Don't worry; if you aren't a fan of maple syrup, there are other options for you to try out. That is what I love about these whole baked apples; they are super versatile.
- Use 4 Tablespoons (84g) of Honey
- Replace with 4 Tablespoons (84g) of Agave Nectar
- Brown Sugar is an option if you aren't worried about refined sugar. Add 4 Tablespoons (50g).
Vanilla Beans
If you don't have vanilla beans on hand, not a problem at all, just use 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract instead. I prefer the flavor of fresh vanilla beans, but the extract will also taste really good.
Frequently Asked Questions And Answers
How Do You Hollow Out An Apple?
Hollowing out an apple looks much scarier than it actually is. All you need to do is cut the top of the apple horizontally. Once it's off, you can use a spoon or melon baller to remove the flesh of the apple. Just keep removing parts of the apple and core until it's the width you want it to be.
Do I Have To Hollow Out the Apple?
No, another option is to cut the apple in half and remove a portion of the flesh with a spoon. Then instead of leaving the apple in the shape of a bowl, you will end up with two pieces of apple instead.
Are These Gluten-Free?
Yes, they are gluten-free, but you have to make sure you use the proper oats. When shopping for oatmeal, you need to make sure somewhere on the package it says they are certified gluten-free.
Otherwise, there is a lot of cross-contamination that happens in factories, so it may not be safe to eat if you are 100% gluten-free. Oatmeal is naturally gluten-free, but double-checking to see if it's certified makes all the difference.
How long do they last
These stuffed apples taste their best when they are served right away. If you aren't able to eat them all, then you can cover them with plastic wrap and place them in the refrigerator. They will last 2-3 days.
To reheat the cinnamon apples bake at 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes until hot. You can also microwave them for 30-60 seconds or so until they are warm as well.
Do they freeze well?
No, the texture of the filling is off when you freeze and thaw them. It's better to store leftovers in the fridge and consume within a few days.
More apple recipes to try
Recipe
Healthy Cinnamon Baked Apples
Ingredients
- 5 large apples
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats (100g)
- 7 oz cream cheese, softened (200g)
- ½ cup milk (120ml)
- 4 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 vanilla beans* (or 2 teaspoon vanilla extract)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F / 205°C.
- Peel and chop one apple and place in a small bowl. Add ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and stir to combine. Set aside.
- In a large bowl stir together oats, cream cheese, milk, maple syrup, ¾ teaspoon of cinnamon, and vanilla* to combine. Fold in apples.
- Cut off the top of the remaining 4 apples and hollow out until the apples have about 0.5-inch thickness. Spoon filling inside the apples and place on a baking sheet or in a baking pan and bake for about 18-20 minutes until the apples are soft but not mushy. Top with whipped cream, maple syrup, or chopped nuts, and serve immediately.Â
Notes
- Mix together ½ cup (120g) heavy cream and ½ cup (125g) yogurt (Greek or plain). Whisk together well.Â
- Toss ½ cup (125g) ricotta cheese and ½ cup (125g) of plain or Greek yogurt together. Mix well.Â
- Use 4 Tablespoons (84g) of HoneyÂ
- Replace with 4 Tablespoons (84g) of Agave Nectar
- Brown Sugar is an option if you aren't worried about refined sugar. Add 4 Tablespoons (50g).Â
- Use fresh apples that are still good when you make this recipe.Â
- Make sure to use old-fashioned oats because minute oats will become slimy.Â
- For best results, eat the whole baked apples when they are still warm.Â
Video
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Albert Bevia
I have never seen anything like these stuffed apples before, this looks so good! what a creative recipe! I have to try this!
Sabine
Thank you so much, Albert! Nothing beats a healthy though sweet dessert without any refined sugar.