These baked apples are tossed with the delicious fall flavors of brown sugar, cinnamon, fresh ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom, and baked until caramelized and tender. The aroma is amazing, and they will remind you of everything you love about apple season.
Serve this tasty apple recipe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, homemade whipped cream, or caramel sauce.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Apples: Granny Smith Apple, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Cosmic Crisp, and Pink Lady are great baking apples.
- Butter: unsalted or salted. If using salted butter, eliminate the added salt.
- Ginger: Grated fresh ginger or ginger paste. Ginger paste works just as well as fresh ginger, and once opened, it lasts about a month when stored in the refrigerator.
How To Make Baked Apples
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
Toss the cut apples with lemon juice, butter, brown sugar, and the spices. Sprinkle with the sea salt and cornstarch and toss to coat again. Spread the apples in a 9×13-inch or equivalent-sized dish. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of water, and cook for another 10-15 minutes or until your desired tenderness.
Preparation Tips
- To peel or not to peel. Either way works. The apples might not be as tender with their skins on, but they hold up better with their skins intact, and even cooked skins have fiber. It is a matter of personal preference.
- There are lots of great cooking apples. Experiment and see which ones you prefer. Some apples that are NOT good for cooking are Red Delicious, Gala, Fuji, and McIntosh.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or microwave for short increments until warm.
Ways to Enjoy Baked Apple Slices
Enjoy them for dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, fresh whipped cream, or caramel sauce. Serve as a side for savory dishes like pan-fried pork chops or ham steak. They are also delicious for breakfast with buttermilk bacon pancakes and pumpkin pancakes.
More Apple Recipes
Baked Apples
Ingredients
- 6 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (see notes)
- 1½ teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1½ teaspoons freshly grated ginger or ginger paste
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1-2 tablespoons water (see notes)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease 9×13-inch baking dish or an equivalent-sized baking dish for easier cleanup.
- Toss the sliced apples in a large bowl with lemon juice, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom. Sprinkle with the sea salt and cornstarch and toss to coat again.
- Spread the apples in the prepared baking dish. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of water, and cook for another 10-15 minutes or until your desired tenderness.
Notes
- Use any good baking apples like Granny Smith Apple, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Cosmic Crisp, and Pink Lady
- After baking for 20 minutes, stir 1-2 tablespoons of water or apple juice into the baked apples. The amount will depend on your desired consistency.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. For best results, reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave for short increments at reduced power until warm.
Tammy
This recipe brings back so many memories. My mom used to make these all the time in the fall.
Beth Pierce
Smart woman!
Yolanda
I adore baked apples, they are so sweet and delicious. They taste great with the ginger and work so well as a topping for other puddings like ice cream.
Claudette
These are so good! They were perfectly tender. My husband loved them with his ice cream.
Catalina
I made these for dessert and they came out perfectly soft and sweet. The cinnamon made the whole house smell amazing!
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it, Catalina!
Grasyah | Of Coffee and Crackers
the combination of apples and cinnamon is always divine!!!
April
Wow, this Baked Apples recipe was so good! My family enjoyed it with morning waffles.
Catalina
I made these for dessert and they came out warm, soft, and perfectly spiced. Such a cozy treat!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Catalina! So glad that you enjoyed them!
Amy
Nothing says fall like baked apples, and the ginger-cardamom combo here is such a fragrant touch. Great recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Amy!
Kristin
So classic and so easy! I made it for dessert last night to go with my beef stew. Chef’s kiss.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Kristin!
Maria
I love this recipe so much. It’s a true southern classic done in true southern fashion!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Maria!