Air Fryer Baked Apples With Cinnamon Oat Stuffing

Try a couple of these Air Fryer Baked Apples With Cinnamon Oat Stuffing and it will look like you slaved all day (when it only takes 40 minutes).

This decadent snack looks way more complicated than it is! Plus, it brings together the best of both worlds: a sweet treat AND a hearty, wholesome bite.

The natural sugars of the apple coupled with the cinnamon, the nutty butter, and the earthy flavors of oats with a hint of smoky brown sugar and honey is already a decadent treat.

Yes, this recipe calls for using an air fryer.

Don’t be fooled by that “fryer” name – you can just as easily make baked apples (and lots of other goodies) with this gadget without having to go through a lengthy preheating process like you would with a conventional oven.

What are the best apples for baking?

In this recipe, I used Granny Smith apples simply because I loved their criap, tart flavor, but you’re free to use other varieties as well.

The most important thing is that you need apples that retain their texture (tender but still firm) after the baking process.

Other varieties that are great for baking include:

• Jonagold (tart and crisp, but needs to be used immediately as they don’t store well)
• Honeycrisp (very sweet and crisp)
• Braeburn (produces a very intense apple flavor after baking)
• Winesap (flavor becomes similar to apple cider after baking)
• and Rome (generally used for baking, since it does not have a sweet flavor when raw)

How to know when baked apples are done

Here are several ways of testing if your baked apples are done.

• Look at the baked apple.

Baked apples will have visibly softer and somewhat wrinkled skin, and the color changes to a dull brown or gray. Granny Smiths, for example, will change from a vibrant green to a somewhat muted olive color. Winesap apples, on the other hand, will change from a vibrant red to a deeper shade of brown.

• Second, do a “poke” test.

Take a sharp knife and pierce the flesh of the apple with the tip. The flesh should give way easily, but still be firm.

If the flesh is mushy, you may have overcooked the apple. (It will still be delicious, but the texture may be closer to applesauce.) The “doneness” of the apples will depend on your particular preferences.

Some people like their apples baked through and soft, while others may prefer just a slight give. Al dente, if you will. You can play with the timing and see which doneness you prefer.

How long to bake stuffed apples

The baking time of apples will depend on the size of the apples, the variety, and how well done you want them cooked.

Generally, the cooking time is around 25-30 minutes for apples that are cooked through and soft, but still firm enough to hold their shape.

Firm and thick-skinned apples such as Winesap and Rome will take longer to cook compared to apples with thin skin such as Jonagold and Honeycrisp.

Quick and Easy Air Fryer Baked Apples with Cinnamon Oat Stuffing

You can make this recipe as a delicious and healthy breakfast, an afternoon snack, or even as a bit of comfort food during a cold day.

The smell of apples cooking in your air fryer with cinnamon and brown sugar is right up there with chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven. An unforgettable heavenly fragrance!

Tips

1. Since you’re stuffing the apples, you need to ensure they’ll stay nice and upright in the air fryer. Most apples will stand up just fine on their own, but now and again, you’ll get apples that will tip over. If this is the case, slice off a very thin section at the bottom to give the apple a flat bottom. Don’t cut all the way through, as you don’t want the stuffing to fall out.
2. Keep the butter cold until the last minute so that it’s easier to stuff inside the cored apples. While you’re prepping everything else, keep your butter in the fridge and take it out only when you’re ready to put the stuffing inside the apple.
3. Lining the air fryer in foil will help speed up the cooking process AND keep all the stuffing and juices away from the cooking surface; otherwise, you’ll end up with a sticky, sugary mess inside your air fryer that’s a massive pain in the neck to clean.
4. When coring your apple, it’s best to use an apple corer. However, if you don’t have one, you can use a sharp paring knife and a spoon. Paring knives are easier to use because they give you better control over your cutting. Rinse and dry the apples, and carefully cut out the stem area with your knife. Using a spoon, you can then gently scoop out the flesh to around a two-inch circumference.
5. Yes, you need to use a sharp knife because it’s way more dangerous to use a dull blade! Sharpen your knife beforehand if you must.
6. If possible, use quick steel-cut oats or old-fashioned oatmeal instead of rolled or instant oats. Steel-cut oats can soak up more juices and still be firm, but instant oats may become too mushy. We made these with both quick steel-cut oats (ready in five minutes) and old-fashioned oats and both worked well; the steel-cut being slightly more toothsome and al dente. Definitely want to avoid mushy oatmeal-stuffed apples.

Ala Mode, Anyone?

If you really, really want to make everyone smile when you whip out this dish, get some vanilla ice cream ready. The combination of the warm stuffed apple against the cold ice cream is truly one that will get people talking (and probably Instagramming too!)

This versatile recipe can work as a breakfast, snack, or dessert. Depending on the size of your air fryer and your apples, you can tweak the recipe and increase the final yield so that all of your family and friends can enjoy the delicious dish.

However, there’s nothing wrong with popping in a couple of apples and saving one for later! The dish will keep well in your fridge for about a day, and the flavors will develop and intensify with a little time in the refrigerator.