Delicious Caramelized Apples (Easy Recipe)

This delicious caramelized apple recipe is so easy to make. It takes only 30 minutes to make, including the prep time and cooking. These cinnamon and sugar apples are the perfect topping for pancakes, cakes, ice cream, or eaten on their own.

I love these apples so much! I actually began making these in the last few years to have an alternative filling for my apple dumplings with puff pastry instead of whole apples.

I tested a few apple varieties and different ratios and types of brown sugar and came up with this which is amazing. The apples are perfectly soft but still have shape and are not mushy and the amount of dark brown sugar is just right.

Not too sweet but just right!

These cinnamon and sugar apples are great on their own or as a topping for homemade cheesecake, individual cheesecakes, Homemade pancakes with ricotta, or vanilla French toast.

Best apples to use

To make caramelized apples, you want to start by selecting firm yet juicy apple varieties such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. These types of apples hold up well during cooking and baking and offer a perfect balance between tartness and sweetness in recipes. Once you have your apples, follow these simple steps:

How To Make

1. Prep the Apples:
   Wash and dry the apples thoroughly before peeling them. Core and slice them into 1-inch cubes.
2. Cook the Caramel:
   In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, melt butter until it starts to bubble slightly. Add brown sugar along with a pinch of salt, cinnamon powder, and vanilla extract for added flavor. Stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves completely and forms a smooth sauce.

3. Caramelize the Apples:
   Add the diced apples to the pan with caramel sauce. Toss gently to coat every piece evenly. Allow them to cook over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes or until they become tender but still retain their shape.
4. Serve & Enjoy:
   Once cooked, remove from heat and let cool slightly before serving warm either on their own or as an accompaniment to ice cream, pancakes, waffles, or even yogurt and oatmeal!

Storing Leftovers

If you are lucky to have leftovers of these cinnamon sugar apples, they are stored beautifully in the fridge and freezer.

If refrigerating them, they last for up to one week in the fridge.

If freezing them, they last for 3 months in the freezer. To thaw, just place them in the fridge overnight.

Tips

• Customize it: Caramelized apples can be made your way and with what you enjoy, by adding spices like nutmeg or cloves for extra warmth or incorporating chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for added crunch and texture.
• Do not overcook: You want to make sure to cook the apples just until they are tender and the caramel sauce coats them nicely.
• Dice them: Dicing the apples helps the apples soften nicely and it gives the apples more surface area to pick up that delicious buttery cinnamon and sugar sauce.
• Pick the right apples: Choosing the right apples for this recipe is important. You want to work with baking apples that are firmer in texture and won't get mushy. We've written up a list above for the best apples to use.

More Apple Recipes

If you love these caramelized apples, you may also like these: