Make these Easy Air Fryer Baked Apples for a quick dessert in under 15 minutes. Tender, caramelised, and full of warm cinnamon flavour, they’re one of the easiest air fryer desserts to satisfy instant sweet cravings.
These small-batch air fryer baked apples are my go-to when I want an almost-instant, healthy-ish sweet treat in under 15 minutes or so. They still give you that warm, cosy baked-apple flavour, but without the long oven time.
With the huge apple harvest we had this year, I’ve been making apple recipes nonstop from ABC Juice, Air fryer Apple Chips, Apple Butter to Instant Pot Apple Cider drink.
I used to rely on the oven for a simple apple-pie-style filling and serve any extras with Ninja creami homemade vanilla ice cream. But trying the recipe in my Instant Pot Vortex air fryer changed everything. The apples cooked evenly, turned tender and golden in just 8–10 minutes, and the flavour was spot-on. Since then, this has become my go-to method.
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Sandhya's Top Tips & Tricks
- Choose firm apples. Gala, Golden Delicious, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Braeburn, or Granny Smith all work well.
- Adjust sweetness to the apple variety. Tart apples may need a touch more sweetener.
- Brush with a little butter (dairy or dairy-free) for richer flavour.
- Keep the seasoning simple: maple syrup, light brown sugar, and cinnamon. You can also add nutmeg, ginger, or pumpkin spice if you like.
- Air-frying time depends on slice thickness. Thicker slices need a few extra minutes.
- Avoid overcooking. Air-fry just until the apples are fork-tender, not mushy.
Why You'll Love This Recipe?
- You'll need only 5 ingredients and 15 minutes to make air fryer baked apples.
- It's faster to make in the air fryer than the oven.
- The recipe is suitable for vegans, vegetarians and those on gluten gluten-free diet.
- Can Be enjoyed all year around. How about serving for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year?
How to Make Baked Apples in Air Fryer?
Step 1: Pick firm Apples for the baked apple recipes. I have used Royal Gala Apples. Wash, Dry and Core the apples.
Step 2: Slice the apples into equal sizes.
Step 3: Transfer the apple slices in a single layer into the air fryer basket. Brush the apples with a small amount of butter.
Tip: Don't skip the butter. This lends an extra bit of buttery flavor.
Step 4: Air fry the apples at 360°F (180 °C) for about 8-10 minutes until they are cooked and begin to brown on the edges.
Step 5: Transfer the cooked apples to a bowl. Drizzle maple syrup, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Gently combine.
Step 6: Serve the warm air fryer baked apples on their own, with vanilla ice cream or Ninja Creami vanilla yoghurt.
Depending upon the model and size of the air fryer, the cooking time can vary. I have used Instant Pot Vortex Air fryer 6 in 1 for this recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these Air Fryer Apples warm in a bowl on its own. My family loved air fried baked apples with homemade vanilla ice cream or Ninja creami frozen yoghurt.
Storing Leftovers
These air fryer baked apples stay delicious in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just pop them back in the air fryer for 2–3 minutes until warm and enjoy!
I don’t recommend freezing them.
Recipe FAQ's
Use a firm variety of apples for baked apples recipes like Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Braeburn, or Granny Smith.
Yes! Baked Apples are good for you. This recipe is healthy, nutritious with low sugars, low calories, and fat than most Baked apples.
It typically takes about 15-20 minutes to cook baked apple slices in the oven.
Air fryer-baked apples take just about 8-10 minutes to cook until tender. The air fryer method is perfect for making small-batch baked apples.
More Easy Air Fryer Dessert Recipes
Ingredients
- 3 Apples
- ½ teaspoon Butter / Dairy free butter
- 2 teaspoon Maple Syrup
- 1 teaspoon Light brown Sugar
- ½ -¾ teaspoon Ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Wash, dry, and core the apples. Slice the apples into equal sizes slices.3 Apples
- Preheat the air fryer at 360F / 180C for 2 minutes. Transfer the apple slices in a single layer into the basket and brush them with a small amount of butter. (This lends an extra bit of buttery flavor. Optional)½ teaspoon Butter / Dairy free butter
- Air fry at 360F / 180C for 8-10 minutes until they are cooked and begin to brown in the edges.
- Transfer the cooked apples to a bowl. Drizzle maple syrup, sugar, and ground cinnamon. Gently mix the seasoning into the apples.
- Serve the warm baked apples on their own, with ice cream or vanilla yogurt or sprinkle granola on the top.
Notes
Expert Tips
- Use firm apples like Gala, Golden Delicious, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Braeburn, or Granny Smith.
- Adjust sweetness to suit the apple variety—tart apples may need a bit more sugar or syrup.
- Brush with a little butter (dairy or dairy-free) for extra flavour.
- Keep it simple with maple syrup, light brown sugar, and cinnamon. Not a vegan, use honey instead.
- Air-fry according to slice thickness; thicker slices need a few extra minutes.
- Cook just until fork-tender—avoid overcooking to keep them from getting mushy.
Matt Jamie says
My all time favourite