Baked Apples Recipe with Cinnamon, Honey, and Walnuts

There’s nothing cozier than the scent of baked apples in the oven. These baked apples are tender, sweet and filled with warm cinnamon and brown sugar—an easy fall dessert that feels like apple pie without the fuss. They’re simple to prepare, can be assembled ahead of time, and are delicious served warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

This recipe began as a spur-of-the-moment idea when a friend gifted me a bunch of baking apples from her tree. I suggested salads and oatmeal, but dessert won out—these baked apples were quick to assemble and turned out perfectly the first time. No peeling or chopping required: the apples are simply cored and stuffed with an oat-and-nut streusel that offers the comforting flavors of cinnamon and brown sugar.

Why you’ll love this baked apples recipe

• Sweet, tender apples with a cozy oat-and-pecan filling flavored with cinnamon.
• Minimal prep—core, stuff and bake—so it’s perfect for busy holidays and entertaining.
• Flexible filling: swap nuts, spices or dried fruit to suit dietary needs and tastes.
• Works as a gluten-free dessert and can be made dairy-free by substituting coconut oil for butter.

Recipe ingredients

• Apples — Use baking varieties that hold their shape, such as Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Jonagold, Granny Smith or Golden Delicious.
• Oats — Old-fashioned rolled oats give a nice texture; quick oats will also work.
• Sugar — Brown coconut sugar is my preference, but use your favorite sweetener.
• Pecans — Swap with almonds, walnuts or omit for nut-free; dried fruit like raisins or cranberries is a great option.
• Butter — Use unsalted butter, or substitute coconut oil for dairy-free baked apples.
• Cinnamon — Adds warm, cozy flavor; cardamom or chai spice are nice alternatives.

Full ingredient amounts appear in the recipe card below.

How to make these baked apples

This baked apple recipe is intentionally simple: you core the apples, mix a small oat-and-nut filling, stuff the apples and bake. No peeling, no slicing, and very little hands-on time.

• Pro tip: Choose apples that are firm and flavorful so they remain intact while baking—Jonagold, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith are all excellent choices.

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Stand each apple upright and use a melon baller or small spoon to remove the core, leaving a 1-inch cavity and keeping the bottom intact.
2. In a small bowl, combine oats, chopped pecans, brown coconut sugar and ground cinnamon. Add softened butter and mix until the mixture is moistened and crumbly.
3. Divide the filling among the apples, packing it into each cavity. Place the apples upright in an 8×8″ (20×20 cm) baking dish.
4. Pour 1 cup of water into the bottom of the baking dish to keep the apples moist while baking. Bake uncovered for about 45 minutes, or until the apples are tender but still hold their shape.
5. Allow the apples to cool slightly, slice in half if desired, and serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Recipe FAQs

Recipe notes

• Pro tip: Use firm baking apples so they keep their shape while baking.
• Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
• Customize the filling with different nuts, spices or dried fruit such as raisins, figs or cranberries.
• Prepare apples in advance and bake when you’re ready to serve, or bake and keep covered until serving time.

More apple recipes you’ll love

• Homemade applesauce
• Apple cranberry pie
• Apple muffins
• Apple pie bars
• Apple tarte Tatin

Did you try this recipe? If so, please leave a review and tag @flavorthemoments on social media.

Note: This recipe was originally published in October 2019 and updated with new photos and expanded instructions.