Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples
Why this recipe works
- Ready fast: The air fryer softens the apples quickly while helping the buttery sugar coating caramelise at the edges.
- Balanced sweetness: Brown sugar and vanilla add warmth, while lemon juice brightens the fruit and stops the dessert tasting overly sweet.
- Simple technique: Evenly cut wedges and one shake during cooking are enough to give tender apples with glossy, spiced syrup.
Get the most out of this recipe
Ingredient notes
- Choose firm apples: Crisp apples hold their shape better in the air fryer and are less likely to collapse into a soft purée.
- Use lemon to taste: Add the lemon juice at the end so it lifts the buttery sugar coating without dulling the caramelised flavour.
Texture tips
- Cut evenly: Keep the wedges a similar thickness so they soften at the same pace and caramelise consistently.
- Check early if needed: If your air fryer runs hot, check the apples before the full cooking time and stop when they are tender with bronzed edges.
Serving ideas
- Use as a topping: Spoon the warm apples over porridge, yoghurt, pancakes or waffles for a quick fruit topping.
- Serve with something creamy: Vanilla ice cream, custard or thick yoghurt work well with the warm cinnamon syrup.
Make-ahead tips
- Reheat gently: Reheat in the air fryer at 180°C (355°F) until piping hot, or warm gently in a saucepan so the sugar does not catch.
- Best served warm: The apples are at their glossiest straight after cooking, when the buttery cinnamon coating is still loose and syrupy.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Melt the butter, then pour it into a mixing bowl. Core the apples and cut them into even wedges.
- Add the apple wedges to the bowl with the light brown sugar, ground cinnamon and vanilla extract. Toss until the apples are evenly coated and glossy.
- Tip the apples into the air fryer basket in a single layer as much as possible. Air fry at 190°C (375°F) for 7 minutes, shaking halfway through, until tender with caramelised edges.
- Squeeze over a little lemon juice and toss gently to lift any buttery sugar from the basket back onto the apples. Serve warm straight away.
Recipe notes
Tips
- Cut the wedges to a similar thickness so they soften evenly and caramelise at the same time.
- If your air fryer runs hot, check at 5 minutes and cook just until the apples are tender and the edges look bronzed.
Substitutions
- Replace Light brown sugar with Caster sugar for a cleaner, less caramel-like sweetness.
- Replace Vanilla extract with an extra 0.5 tsp Ground cinnamon for a more boldly spiced finish.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 3 days
- Cool, then refrigerate in an airtight container. Reheat in the air fryer at 180°C (355°F) for 2 to 4 minutes until piping hot, or warm gently in a saucepan so the sugar does not burn.
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Recipe overview
- Servings: 4 servings
- Total time: 12min (5min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: American
-
Allergens:
Milk
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