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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Dessert

Cinnamon Stewed Apples

Updated: Oct 28, 2024 · Published: Oct 15, 2021 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 15 Comments

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Diet: Gluten Free / Low Fat / Vegan
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A pan of Cinnamon Stewed Apples with a text title overlay.

Soft and sugary chunks of apple coated in a cinnamon sprinkle, this Cinnamon Stewed Apples recipe is so easy to make and it is perfect on top of porridge, pancakes or ice cream. A simple and warming autumnal recipe, this is a great way to use up lots of apple and it's a family favourite too.

A saucepan containing stewed apples surrounded by apples and cinnamon sticks.

Apple and cinnamon - I don't think there is a more autumnal combination. These apples are cooked low and slow in a mixture of brown sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon to make them soft and sweet, but with an incredible flavour. You can use them to make a quick and easy pie or crumble, but we love them as a topping on porridge or pancakes.

I had a lot of stewed apples as a child, as my grandparents had a huge apple tree in their garden and were always making pies and crumble. When I want the comfort of those flavours, but without the effort, I make these cinnamon stewed apples. Ready in under 20 minutes and you can make a big batch to freeze. If you can stop yourself from eating them all!

If you are looking for some other ways to use apples, why not try our Apple and Plum Crumble, Apple Cinnamon Pancakes, Apple Hand Pies or Apple Pie Smoothie?

Have you also seen our easy Stewed Plums recipe? It's seriously delicious!

Jump to:
  • Why You Will Love It
  • Ingredients and substitutions
  • Variations
  • How to Stew Apples - Step by Step
  • What to Serve with Cinnamon Stewed Apples
  • Extra Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Apple Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Why You Will Love It

  • Delicious autumn flavours - Apple and cinnamon are such a classic flavour combination and they are both so warming. This stewed apples recipe will definitely warm your belly.
  • Easy - Although they do need to cook low and slow so they get nice and soft without burning, they couldn't be easier. Just mix everything in a pan and let it cook away.
  • Versatile - There are SO many ways you can use this stewed apple recipe and we have included all of our favourite ways below.
  • Kids love it - We don't usually have any trouble getting our kids to eat fruit (vegetables is a different story), but these stewed apples are eaten in seconds. My two love it on Greek yogurt or in the porridge at breakfast with some chocolate chips.
  • Stores well - These freeze really well, so we make a big batch and then keep them in the freezer for easy breakfasts and desserts.

Ingredients and substitutions

All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

  • Apples - The star of this recipe. You really can use any apples for this recipe, however we used golden delicious. It really depends on if you prefer tart or sweet apples. If you are using cooking apples then you might need to add some extra sugar.
  • Lemon - Just a little squeeze of lemon juice helps to stop the apples going brown whilst you are getting all the other ingredients together.
  • Light brown sugar - This not only sweetens the apples, but gives it a lovely golden colour.
  • Maple syrup - Whilst the apples themselves are lovely and sweet, and we have added brown sugar for extra sweetness, we find that maple syrup not only adds sweetness, but a lovely flavour too. You could swap it for honey instead.
  • Water - This creates a bit of a sauce for the apples to help them cook in and the sauce is lovely to pour over the apples after.
  • Cinnamon - Cinnamon and apples is just a perfect match and it adds a lovely warm depth of flavour. You could swap it for ginger or nutmeg, or use a mixture of all three.

Variations

This is a pretty simple recipe, so there is not too much that can be changed. However, you could use half apples and pears for a nice autumnal mix.

You could also do a berry mix of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries. Or a stone fruit pie with peaches and nectarines.

Instead of using cinnamon, you could swap it for ground ginger or mixed spice, or even use a mixture of the three.

How to Stew Apples - Step by Step

A saucepan with chopped apples in it.
  1. Step 1: Chop the apples and put into a saucepan with the lemon juice. Mix well.
Cinnamon, sugar and maple syrup added to the pan.
  1. Step 2: Add the maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon and water. Mix well and cook on a low heat for 15 minutes, stirring regularly.

What to Serve with Cinnamon Stewed Apples

The great thing about stewed apples is that there are so many different ways to use them. Here are some of our favourite:

  • Serves with vanilla ice cream or custard for a simple and hearty dessert
  • Put on top of porridge or overnight oats.
  • Serve on waffles or pancakes for a warming weekend breakfast.
  • Mix into yoghurt for a snack.
  • Use them to make our Apple Hand Pies or Oaty Apple Crumble.
  • Add them to sausage rolls - trust us on this, the sweet and salty go so well together and sausage and apple is a delicious combination.
  • Make apple muffins

If you are looking for a hot drink to have this with as a bit of an afternoon pick-me-up, then why not they our Chai Tea Latte, Cinnamon Coffee or Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate.

A bowl of porridge topped with cooked apples next to some apples and a cup of coffee.

Extra Tips

  • Make sure you chop all the apples in similar sizes. This makes sure that they all cook evenly.
  • You can swap the cinnamon for nutmeg or ground ginger, or use a mixture of all three.
  • Add some extra crunch by sprinkling them with crushed pecans.
  • If the saucepan starts to dry out, you can always add a little more water.
  • Take these stewed apples to the next level with a drizzle of caramel sauce before serving.
  • You can swap half the apples for pears for something a little different.
  • If you don't want a strong cinnamon flavour (which we personally love), then you could add a cinnamon stick to the apples and just take it out before serving.
  • Vanilla is also a delicious addition. Just a little vanilla extract or vanilla paste goes a long way.
Stewed apples on top of a bowl of porridge with some red apples in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to peel the apples first?

No, you don't have to peel the apple first. Not only does it save time, but there is lots of goodness in the peel too. I know some people don't like the texture of the apple peel, so you can peel them if you prefer.

How do you know when the stewed apples are cooked?

You want the apples to be nice and soft, but also not mushy. They should feel a little tender when you check them with a knife. After 15 minutes cooking on low, we found that they were perfect. It does depend on what heat you are cooking them though, so check them as they may need a little longer. If you prefer your apples with a bit of crunch, then you can always cook them for a little less.

How to store cinnamon stewed apples.

We love making a big batch of these to keep to add on breakfast, desserts and snacks. You can keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days for best freshness.

Can you freeze stewed apple?

If you want to freeze them, you can put them in a freezer container and they will keep for around 6 weeks.

How to reheat cinnamon stewed apples.

Once they are fully defrosted, you can reheat them in the oven or microwave, or heat them through in a pan.

Can you make sugar free stewed apple?

You could leave out the brown sugar and maple syrup, and add a little extra water and cook them like that. They would still soften and have some natural sweetness, but you wouldn't get the same flavour or caramelisation. You could also reduce the amount of brown sugar and maple syrup used.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, you can easily double or triple this recipe, and there are no adjustments that need to be made. You just need to make sure you have a pan big enough.

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If you’ve tried this stewed apples recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Cinnamon Stewed Apples on top of a bowl of porridge.

Cinnamon Stewed Apples

By: Dannii Martin
Soft chunks of apple coated in cinnamon sprinkle, this Cinnamon Stewed Apples recipe is so easy to make. Perfect on top of porridge, pancakes or ice cream.
A circular logo saying GF.
Gluten Free
the words low fat in a white circle.
Low Fat
An illustration of a v-shaped plant in a pot.
Vegan
5 from 16 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Prep: 2 minutes mins
Cook: 15 minutes mins
Total: 17 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 183kcal
Allergens:
No Common Allergens

Ingredients

  • 4 Apple - diced
  • 0.5 Lemon - (juice only)
  • 2 tablespoon Maple syrup
  • 80 g (0.33 cups) Light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Water
  • 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Chop 4 Apple and put into a saucepan with the juice of 0.5 Lemon. Mix well.
  • Add 2 tablespoon Maple syrup, 80 g Light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon and 1 tablespoon Water. Mix well and cook on a low heat for 15 minutes, stirring regularly.

Recipe Tips

  • Make sure you chop all the apples in similar sizes. This makes sure that they all cook evenly.
  • You can swap the cinnamon for nutmeg or ground ginger, or use a mixture of all three.
  • Add some extra crunch by sprinkling them with crushed pecans.
  • If the saucepan starts to dry out, you can always add a little more water.
  • Take these stewed apples to the next level with a drizzle of caramel sauce before serving.
  • You can swap half the apples for pears for something a little different.
  • If you don't want a strong cinnamon flavour (which we personally love), then you could add a cinnamon stick to the apples and just take it out before serving.
  • Vanilla is also a delicious addition. Just a little vanilla extract or vanilla paste goes a long way.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 265mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 103IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Vivien Bishop says

    April 18, 2023 at 6:26 pm

    Wow this is so tasty. So easy to make a good for you. I added a bit of ginger to…

    Reply
    • Dannii says

      April 19, 2023 at 10:28 am

      Yum! Ginger goes so well with apples doesn't it.

      Reply
  2. Mandy Applegate says

    October 25, 2021 at 10:25 am

    5 stars
    Cinnamon stewed apples - what's not to love?

    Reply
  3. sonia says

    October 25, 2021 at 8:55 am

    Apples are very healthy fruits .
    Excellent this recipe

    Reply
  4. Adolfo says

    October 25, 2021 at 8:26 am

    5 stars
    I loved this recipe! It was super tasty and easy to make!

    Reply
  5. Farah Abumaizar says

    October 25, 2021 at 8:02 am

    5 stars
    So seasonal, comforting and beautiful! I have a stack of pancakes that this would be the perfect pairing for. Thanks for such a timely recipe!

    Reply
  6. Kristen Wood says

    October 24, 2021 at 11:09 pm

    5 stars
    This was positively delicious! Thank you so much!!

    Reply
  7. Tara says

    October 24, 2021 at 10:59 pm

    5 stars
    These apples look absolutely fantastic! I love the idea of using them as a topping for porridge. Such comforting flavors.

    Reply
  8. Anjali says

    October 24, 2021 at 10:17 pm

    5 stars
    These apples were so simple to make and turned out to be sweet and delicious! We topped our oatmeal with them this morning and my kids said it made the oatmeal taste like apple pie! :)

    Reply
  9. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

    October 24, 2021 at 10:01 pm

    5 stars
    These stewed apples are absolutely perfect for this time of year! Such a delicious combination of flavours!

    Reply
  10. Aparna says

    October 24, 2021 at 9:34 pm

    Tasted absolutely delicious with everyday oats. Thank you for this easy recipe!

    Reply
  11. Heather Perine says

    October 17, 2021 at 5:52 pm

    5 stars
    These were delicious and easy to make...made them for a big old pile of French toast. Perfect Fall breakfast :)

    Reply
  12. Tavo says

    October 17, 2021 at 4:58 pm

    5 stars
    I loved this apples on my morning porridge!

    Reply
  13. Cathleen says

    October 17, 2021 at 3:47 pm

    5 stars
    This is so perfect for apple season!! I am definitely going to try this next week, thanks so much for the recipe :)

    Reply
  14. Andrea says

    October 17, 2021 at 3:17 pm

    5 stars
    What an easy recipe. I love all the flavors and how versatile these stewed apples are.

    Reply
5 from 16 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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