Maple-kissed Air Fryer Apples are the perfect dessert – light, healthy, and most of all delicious!
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I will admit here – I have an insatiable sweet tooth. No meal is complete without dessert, even if it’s only a tiny bite of dark chocolate. However, it becomes a huge plus when I can have something as delicious as air fryer apples and not feel like I’m breaking my diet!
I remember my grandma making baked apples whenever we would come to town for a visit. The smell of cinnamon in her kitchen was soothing to the soul. Maybe that’s why I put cinnamon on as many foods as possible today: to recreate that feeling. Since getting my air fryer, I find myself experimenting with food more than ever. Air-frying apple slices is a game-changer. It has turned my world upside down.
Caramelized Goodness in Every Bite
Air-frying fruit brings out the caramel flavor from the natural sugar. You don’t need to add maple syrup, but wow, it ramps up the taste. It’s almost like a caramel apple, a baked apple, and an apple pie got together and had a baby. You get the best of everything in every delectable bite without the dairy often found in caramelized desserts. Best of all, unlike crumbles, cobblers, or crisps, there are no doughs to mix.
Are Air Fryer Apples Healthy?
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, so clearly, apples are healthy. However, when you add many other ingredients, like in pies, you start to whittle away at the health benefits. Air fryer apples use only 3 ingredients besides the apples: coconut oil, maple syrup, and cinnamon. You get the heart-healthy and metabolic benefits associated with coconut oil, the antioxidant, digestive, and nutrient benefits of maple syrup, and the anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-regulating, and metabolic benefits of cinnamon, along with the fiber and vitamins in apples.
A Gluten- and Dairy-Free Delight
This air-fried apples recipe is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo. However, you can substitute butter or a butter alternative if you cannot have coconut. Remember, if you use butter, it is no longer dairy-free. You can also use honey or agave syrup instead of maple syrup if you prefer. If you want to use a granulated sweetener, mix it with coconut oil until it is well incorporated before coating the apple slices. Feel free to add a sprinkling of nutmeg, cloves, ginger, or allspice along with the cinnamon for a different change of pace.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 medium apples (such as Gala or Honeycrisp), cored and sliced
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS
Prep
Preheat the air fryer and prepare the apple mixture.
Cook
Air fry apple slices until tender.
Serve
Drizzle with maple syrup and enjoy.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
Making air fryer apples far in advance changes the texture of the apples. They taste best when eaten right after making them, typically within 30 minutes. However, because they can be used in many ways, making extra to save for breakfast in the morning is fine. Place them in an airtight container and refrigerate them before reheating in the microwave. They will last that way for a few days. I don’t recommend freezing them. While I haven’t tried this yet (the apples never last that long), I’d bet you could chop them up and use them in cookies or muffins. Let me know if you try this.
Peaches, nectarines, pears, and bananas are other superb options for air-frying this way. My favorite might be pears, only because the amazing flavor was unexpected.
My favorite apples for air-frying include Honey Crisp, Pink Lady, Jonagold, and Gala. Some people like the sour taste of Granny Smith apples, so if that is what you like, they will also work with this recipe. You can also cube them instead of slicing them, depending on how you plan to enjoy them.
Serving Suggestions
Air fryer apples are not just for dessert, although topping them with a scoop of ice cream and some whipped cream is heavenly. You can enjoy them any time of day.
Let’s explore different options. For breakfast, add them to Carrot Cake Oatmeal for the ultimate flavor sensation. Top some Oatmeal Waffles or use them instead of the topping in these Apple Cinnamon Pancakes. You can also add them to a bowl of yogurt or cereal. Enjoy them with a handful of nuts for a midday snack, or serve them alongside this Easy Avocado Egg Salad for lunch. Make a tasty dinner of Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin, Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Asparagus, and these apple slices. Or, go ahead and eat them straight out of the air fryer. No one will blame you.
Air Fryer Apples
Ingredients
- 2 medium apples such as Gala or Honeycrisp, cored and sliced
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
-
Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
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In a bowl, toss the apple slices with melted coconut oil, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, and cinnamon until evenly coated.
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Arrange the apple slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12-15 minutes, turning halfway through, until the apples are tender and slightly caramelized.
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Drizzle the cooked apples with the remaining tablespoon of maple syrup before serving.
Nutrition
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