Baked Apples Stuffed with Cinnamon Oats: A Perfect Autumn Dessert

Experience the comforting flavors of autumn with these delightful stuffed baked apples. Whole apples are generously filled with a warmly spiced cinnamon-sugar oat mixture and then baked to tender perfection. This recipe offers an incredibly easy yet undeniably impressive fall dessert that highlights the natural sweetness and crisp texture of seasonal apples, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

As much as I adore a classic slice of apple pie à la mode or a generous serving of a comforting apple crisp, there are times when I prefer the pure, unadulterated essence of fresh fall apples to truly shine without competing with rich, buttery crusts or elaborate crumble toppings. When autumn arrives and apples are at their peak, their natural sweetness and vibrant flavor are a treat in themselves.

This is precisely why I developed such a fondness for baking them whole. While a delectable cinnamon-sugar oat mixture is lovingly stuffed into the core of each apple, the dominant, pure apple flavor remains at the forefront, creating a beautiful harmony. The filling complements the apple rather than overshadowing it, resulting in a dessert that feels both wholesome and indulgent.

These stuffed baked apples are remarkably simple to prepare, requiring minimal fuss for maximum impact. They are the ideal dessert when you wish to serve something visually stunning and incredibly delicious, but find yourself short on time. The aroma alone as they bake will fill your home with the inviting scents of autumn, promising a truly memorable treat. Their rustic elegance makes them perfect for holiday gatherings, cozy family dinners, or simply a sweet indulgence on a crisp fall evening.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Baked Apple Recipe

There are countless reasons why these baked apples will become a cherished recipe in your autumn repertoire. Beyond their stunning appearance and incredible taste, they offer a host of benefits:

• Effortless Elegance: Despite their impressive presentation, these apples are surprisingly simple to assemble. No complicated crusts or intricate techniques are needed, making them perfect for novice bakers and seasoned pros alike.
• Pure Apple Flavor: Unlike desserts where apple flavor can get lost, this recipe celebrates the apple itself. The gentle baking process tenderizes the fruit, intensifying its natural sweetness and aroma.
• Customizable Filling: While the cinnamon-oat filling is a classic, it’s incredibly versatile. You can easily adapt it with additional spices, nuts, or dried fruits to suit your taste.
• Warm & Cozy: There’s nothing quite like a warm dessert on a cool evening. These baked apples provide ultimate comfort, especially when served with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream.
• Healthier Dessert Option: With less added sugar and fat compared to many traditional apple desserts, these stuffed baked apples offer a lighter, yet still satisfying, sweet treat.
• Wonderful Aroma: The scent of apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar baking in your oven is truly intoxicating, instantly transforming your kitchen into an inviting autumn haven.

Essential Recipe Ingredients for Stuffed Baked Apples

One of the many appealing aspects of this baked apple recipe is its delightfully short and simple ingredient list. You likely have most of these staples in your pantry already! Here’s a closer look at what you will need to create this comforting fall dessert:

• Apples: The star of the show! I typically opt for medium-sized apples, weighing approximately 5 to 5½ ounces each. This size ensures an ideal balance between the tender apple and the flavorful oat filling. If you choose larger apples, you might need to adjust the amount of filling or simply use fewer apples to maintain the perfect ratio. A good baking apple will hold its shape well and soften nicely without becoming mushy.
• Unsalted Butter: Butter adds richness to both the oat filling and the luscious cooking sauce. I always recommend using unsalted butter for baking. This allows you to control the exact amount of salt in your recipe, as the sodium content can vary significantly between different brands of salted butter. If you only have salted butter on hand, you can use it, but consider slightly reducing any additional salt in the filling (though this recipe doesn’t explicitly call for extra salt, it’s good practice for other recipes). Ensure your butter is softened for the filling, as this makes it easier to combine with the dry ingredients.
• Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: These provide a delightful chewiness and hearty texture to the stuffing. Old-fashioned oats hold up well during baking, absorbing the flavors and contributing to the satisfying crispness. While old-fashioned oats are my preference for their texture, instant oats can also be used if that’s what you have available. Instant oats will become softer more quickly, so the filling texture will be slightly different but still delicious.
• Brown Sugar: This ingredient plays a dual role, sweetening both the oat filling and the exquisite sauce that bathes the apples during baking. Brown sugar, whether light or dark, contributes a subtle caramel note that beautifully complements the apples and cinnamon. Its moist texture also helps create a cohesive filling. If you find yourself without brown sugar, don’t fret! You can easily make your own by combining granulated sugar with a small amount of molasses.
• Ground Cinnamon: The quintessential spice for apples! I use ¾ teaspoon in the oat filling to infuse it with warm spice and another full teaspoon in the cooking sauce to create an aromatic, flavorful liquid. Feel free to adjust the amount of cinnamon to your personal taste – you can add a little extra for a bolder spice profile or even incorporate a pinch of nutmeg or allspice for added complexity.
• Water: Essential for creating the cooking liquid that gently steams and sweetens the apples as they bake. It forms the base for the delightful sauce that accumulates at the bottom of the pan, perfect for basting and serving.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Stuffed Baked Apples

One of the best things about making these baked apples in the oven is that there’s no tedious peeling required, and the preparation work is truly minimal. Follow these simple steps for a truly rewarding baking experience:

• Preheat Your Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (180°C). This ensures your oven is at the correct temperature when the apples are ready to bake, leading to consistent results.
• Prepare the Apples: The key to successful stuffed apples is proper coring. Carefully remove the core from each apple, making sure all seeds are extracted. An apple corer is a fantastic tool for this step, making the process much easier and cleaner. If you don’t have one, a small paring knife can be used, but be careful not to cut all the way through the bottom of the apple, as this will cause your filling to leak.
• Arrange Apples in Baking Dish: Once cored, gently place the apples into an 8 or 9-inch square baking dish. Arrange them snugly but without overcrowding, ensuring they stand upright. This setup is crucial, as you’ll be filling the apples directly in the pan to prevent any of the delicious oat mixture from escaping through the bottom.

• Create the Flavorful Filling: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, old-fashioned rolled oats, ground cinnamon, and brown sugar. You can mix this by hand with a rubber spatula, or for a quicker and more uniform blend, use an electric mixer. Ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined to create a crumbly, aromatic mixture.
• Stuff the Apples: With the apples already in the baking dish, carefully fill each cored apple with about 1 to 1½ tablespoons of the oat mixture. Continue adding until the entire center cavity of the cored apple is generously stuffed. Filling them in the pan helps prevent any of the precious oat mixture from leaking out if the apple bottom isn’t perfectly sealed.
• Prepare the Sweet Sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine the water, brown sugar, cinnamon, and the remaining butter. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar and melt the butter. Once boiling, remove it from the heat.
• Add Sauce to the Apples: Carefully spoon a large dollop of this warm, sugary liquid over the top of each stuffed apple in the baking dish. This initial basting helps to infuse the apples with flavor and moisture from the start. Then, pour the remaining liquid mixture directly into the bottom of the baking pan around the apples. This liquid will continue to cook and baste the apples as they bake, creating a delicious syrup.
• Bake to Perfection: Gently place the baking dish with the prepared apples into your preheated oven, positioning it on the center rack. Bake the apples for an initial 30 minutes. After this time, remove the pan from the oven and carefully baste the apples. Use a tablespoon to scoop the hot, sugary liquid from the bottom of the pan and spoon it generously over each apple. Return the apples to the oven and continue baking until they appear slightly burst and are wonderfully tender. The total baking time will depend on the apple size and your desired texture.

How Long Do You Bake Stuffed Apples?

The total baking time for these stuffed apples typically ranges from 40 to 55 minutes, depending on a few key factors: the size and variety of your apples, and your personal preference for texture (do you like them slightly crisp or very soft?).

You’ll begin by baking the whole apples for an initial 30 minutes. At this point, you’ll remove them from the oven to perform a crucial basting step, spooning the hot, sugary liquid from the bottom of the pan over each apple. This helps keep them moist and infuses more flavor.

After basting, return the apples to the oven for an additional 10 to 25 minutes. For apples of medium size (approximately 5 to 5½ ounces each), I usually find that an extra 10 minutes of baking (for a total of around 40 minutes) is perfect to achieve a tender yet still slightly firm texture. However, if your apples are larger, or if you prefer them exceptionally soft and melt-in-your-mouth, I recommend extending the second baking phase closer to 25 minutes, bringing the total baking time to around 55 minutes. Keep an eye on them; the apples should appear slightly burst, indicating they are cooked through and tender.

What Are the Best Apples to Bake With?

Choosing the right apple variety is crucial for a successful baked apple dessert. You want an apple that can hold its shape well during the baking process without turning into mush, and one that offers a good balance of sweetness and tartness to complement the rich filling. For this particular recipe, I have found that Fuji or Honeycrisp apples yield excellent results.

Fuji apples are known for their crisp texture and juicy, sweet flavor, which becomes wonderfully concentrated when baked. Honeycrisp apples, as their name suggests, maintain their crispness even after baking and offer a delightful sweet-tart profile that pairs beautifully with cinnamon and brown sugar.

Other fantastic baking apple varieties that would work exceptionally well in this recipe include:

• Pink Lady: These apples are firm, crisp, and offer a pleasant balance of sweet and tart flavors. They hold their shape beautifully.
• Granny Smith: If you prefer a more tart dessert, Granny Smith apples are an excellent choice. Their firm texture ensures they won’t fall apart, and their vibrant tartness provides a lovely contrast to the sweet oat filling and sauce.
• Braeburn: Another firm, sweet-tart apple that bakes well and retains its flavor.
• Golden Delicious: These apples soften nicely and offer a mild, sweet flavor. They are a classic choice for many baked apple dishes.

Ultimately, the “best” apple is often a matter of personal preference, so feel free to experiment with your favorite firm, flavorful baking apples!

What to Serve With This Stuffed Baked Apple Recipe

While these stuffed baked apples are undeniably delicious on their own, serving them with a complementary topping can elevate the dessert to an even more indulgent experience. Here are some wonderful suggestions to complete your autumnal treat:

• Vanilla Ice Cream: A classic pairing for a reason! The cold, creamy vanilla ice cream slowly melts into the warm, tender apple and cinnamon sauce, creating a delightful contrast in temperature and texture. Feel free to experiment with other ice cream flavors like caramel, butter pecan, or even a spiced chai for an extra layer of flavor.
• Whipped Cream: Light, airy, and delicately sweet, a generous dollop of homemade whipped cream adds a touch of elegance and richness without being too heavy. For an extra special touch, you can lightly sweeten the cream with maple syrup or a dash of cinnamon.
• Salted Caramel Sauce: The luscious, buttery sweetness of salted caramel sauce perfectly complements the apple and cinnamon flavors. Drizzle it generously over the top for a truly decadent finish. The hint of salt helps to balance the sweetness beautifully.
• Chopped Candied Pecans or Walnuts: For an added textural element and nutty flavor, sprinkle some chopped candied pecans or walnuts over your baked apples. The crunch provides a lovely contrast to the soft apple and oat filling, and the caramelized nuts add an extra layer of sweetness and depth.
• A Dusting of Powdered Sugar: For a simple yet beautiful presentation, a light dusting of powdered sugar adds a delicate sweetness and a touch of visual charm.
• A Warm Beverage: Pair your warm baked apple with a cozy cup of coffee, a spiced chai latte, or a mug of hot cider for the ultimate autumnal comfort.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

For the best texture and flavor, these stuffed baked apples are most enjoyable on the day they are baked, when the oat filling retains a delightful crispness and the apples are perfectly tender. However, if you have leftovers, they can be stored and reheated.

• Storage: Allow the baked apples to cool completely to room temperature. Transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If you plan to make the syrup from the cooking liquid, it’s a good idea to store the syrup separately in a sealed container so you can control how much sweet liquid you add when serving.
• Reheating:
  • Microwave: For a quick reheat, place a single apple on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave for 20 to 30 seconds, or until warmed through. Be careful not to overheat, as this can make the apple mushy.
  • Oven: To reheat multiple apples or to achieve a slightly crisper filling, place the apples in an oven-safe dish. Reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C), uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until thoroughly warmed.

Customize Your Stuffed Baked Apples

While this recipe provides a fantastic foundation, feel free to get creative and customize your stuffed baked apples to suit your taste preferences. Here are some ideas for variations:

• Add Nuts: Incorporate finely chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds into the oat filling for added crunch and nutty flavor.
• Include Dried Fruits: Mix in a small amount of dried cranberries, raisins, or chopped apricots into the filling for bursts of chewy sweetness.
• Spice It Up: Enhance the warm spice profile by adding a pinch of ground nutmeg, allspice, or cardamom to the oat mixture or the cooking sauce. A touch of ginger can also be lovely.
• Citrus Zest: Grate a bit of orange or lemon zest into the oat filling for a bright, aromatic lift that complements the apples beautifully.
• Maple Syrup: Substitute some or all of the brown sugar in the sauce with pure maple syrup for a different kind of rich sweetness.
• Bourbon or Rum: For an adult twist, add a tablespoon of bourbon or dark rum to the cooking sauce for a deeper, more complex flavor.
• Coconut Flakes: For a tropical hint, add unsweetened shredded coconut to the oat filling.

More Easy Apple Dessert Recipes!

If you’ve fallen in love with these baked apples and are looking for more delicious ways to enjoy seasonal apples, explore these other fantastic recipes:

• Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake
• Apple Oatmeal Cookies
• Classic Apple Cake
• Rustic Apple Hand Pies
• Delightful Mini Apple Pies

Video Tutorial: How to Make Stuffed Baked Apples

Baked Apples

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 55 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Whole apples are stuffed with a cinnamon-sugar oat mixture before being baked. These stuffed baked apples are an easy but impressive fall dessert!

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Ingredients

Servings: 6 apples

For the Apples

• ▢ 6 apples (approx. 2 to 2.25 pounds total, or 5 to 6 ounces for each apple)
• ▢ 5 tablespoons unsalted butter softened (70 grams)
• ▢ ⅔ cup old-fashioned rolled oats (60 grams)
• ▢ ⅓ cup packed light or dark brown sugar (65 grams)
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Sauce/Cooking Liquid

• ▢ 1 ½ cups water (360 ml)
• ▢ 1 ½ tablespoons light or dark brown sugar (22 grams)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (30 grams)

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Instructions

 

• To prepare the apples: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
• Remove the core of the apples using an apple corer, making sure that all of the seeds are removed. Place apples into an 8 or 9-inch square pan and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter, rolled oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Use an electric mixer, rubber spatula, or your hands to work the mixture together until fully combined.
• Fill each cored apple with 1 to 1 ½ tablespoons of the oat mixture or until the entire center of the cored apple is stuffed. Be sure to fill the apples with filling in the pan so that the oat mixture doesn’t leak out of the bottom of the apples.
• Once all apples are stuffed with the oat mixture, set aside while you prepare the sauce.
• To prepare the sauce: In a medium saucepan on the stove, over medium heat, combine the water, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter and bring to a boil.
• Once the mixture is boiling, remove it from the heat. Spoon a large spoonful of the liquid over each apple in the pan. Then, pour the remaining liquid mixture into the bottom of the pan.
• To bake the apples: Place the pan with the apples into the oven, on the center rack, and bake for 30 minutes to start.
• At the thirty-minute mark, remove the pan from the oven and baste the apples again using the hot sugary liquid at the bottom of the pan. Simply, use a tablespoon to scoop the liquid from the bottom of the pan back onto each apple.
• Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 10 to 25 minutes. The apples will slightly burst, but not completely. Baking time will vary depending on the size of your apples and how crisp or soft that you prefer them. For apples that are about 5 and 1/2 ounces each, I bake them for another 10 minutes. If your apples are larger or you prefer them softer, then I recommend baking them closer to 25 more minutes.
• Allow to cool 15 minutes before enjoying. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Notes

Apples: I like to use Fuji or Honeycrisp apples for this recipe. Another type of baking apple like Pink Lady or even Granny Smith apples will work great too.

Storage Instructions: Best eaten the day of for optimal oat texture. You can store the cooled apples in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Store liquid mixture separately if you like so you can add as much sweet liquid to the baked apples as you like. 

Reheat in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds or place in the oven at 350°F, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes. 

Turn the apple liquid into a syrup: After the apples finish baking, remove the excess liquid from the pan and place into a medium pot on the stove. Bring to a simmer and cook for 25 to 35 minutes, until thickened and half the amount of liquid. The longer you cook it, the thicker the syrup will become. Serve the syrup with a baked apple and scoop of ice cream!

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert

Author: Danielle Rye

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