Maple Cinnamon Baked Apples (Paleo, Dairy & Refined Sugar-Free)
Maple Cinnamon Baked Apples are the perfect Fall treat served for breakfast, a side dish for dinner or over ice cream for dessert. These baked apples are Paleo, dairy & refined sugar-free!
If you live in the South, I'm sure you have seen or experienced cinnamon baked apples at the popular Southern restaurant, Cracker Barrel. My girls absolutely love them! In the past, I use to enjoy them occasionally for a special treat. But these days, I love making them myself with a few healthy ingredient swaps, but same great taste.
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These Maple Cinnamon Baked Apples are one of the best desserts during the Fall season! They are perfect just on their own, but even better with a scoop of dairy-free vanilla ice cream or served over pancakes.
Ingredients To Make These Maple Cinnamon Baked Apples
These cinnamon apples are so easy to make and taste just like a delicious apple pie filling.
Here’s the ingredients you will need:
- apples
- maple syrup
- coconut sugar
- avocado oil
- lemon juice
- pure vanilla extract
- arrowroot flour
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- ginger spice
- sea salt
Sweetener Of Choice
Most cinnamon apple recipes are made using brown sugar. I stopped using brown sugar years ago and discovered this healthy little swap below...
- Coconut Sugar. To make this dessert on the healthier side, I like to use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar. In fact, I don't even keep brown sugar in my pantry. Any recipe that might use brown sugar, I always use coconut sugar in its place.
- Maple Syrup. Coconut sugar and maple syrup give these apples the perfect caramelized texture & flavor. Maple syrup is a healthier option as well and I always have it stocked in my pantry.
- Cinnamon. This is one of my favorite spices. Cinnamon adds the perfect warmth and sweetness to this dessert, as well as many health benefits.
What To Use Instead Of Cornstarch
I must mention another ingredient swap here. All corn products are inflammatory, including corn starch. So what I do is replace any recipe that might use cornstarch with arrowroot flour. Arrowroot flour is a gluten/grain-free flour and can be used as a thickening agent. I also use arrowroot flour in many of my baked good and dessert recipes. It is perfect in recipes when combined with almond or coconut flour.
How To Make These Maple Cinnamon Baked Apples
Preheat oven to 375 and grease an 8x8 baking dish with palm shortening.
Peel and slice apples, coating them with lemon juice to prevent browning.
In a medium size bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients and pour over the apples.
Bake the apples for 20 minutes and then take out of the oven and stir. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until desired tenderness. Start checking apples at 30 minutes. Depending on the size of your slices, the apples might need less or more cooking time.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Best Apples To Use
I prefer using apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji or Gala because they hold up when baking dessert apples. There are some apples that become soft and mushy after cooking them.
Ways To Use Cinnamon Apples
These cinnamon apples can be used so many different ways. Here's how my family enjoys them:
- Cinnamon apples are the perfect little treat all by themselves. They are that delicious on their own...just grab a spoon and enjoy!
- Breakfast or brunch is also my favorite time to enjoy them. I love serving them over pancakes or as a side with eggs, bacon and my biscuit recipe.
- And of course, these are the best enjoyed as a snack or dessert. I love them with dairy-free vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
These Maple Cinnamon Baked Apples are so simple and delicious, I do hope you give them a try! Let me know if you do!
Maple Cinnamon Baked Apples (Paleo, Dairy & Refined Sugar Free)
Equipment
- 8x8 baking dish
Ingredients
- 3-4 apples
- 2-3 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 tablespoon arrowroot
- 2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ginger spice
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- palm shortening for greasing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 and grease an 8x8 baking dish with palm shortening.
- Peel and slice apples and coat them with lemon juice to prevent browning.
- In a medium size bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients and pour over the apples.
- Bake the apples for 20 minutes and then take out of the oven and stir. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until desired tenderness. Start checking apples at 30 minutes. Depending on the size of the apple slices, you made need less or more cooking time. I cut mine pretty thin, so I needed less cooking time.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
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More Healthy Desserts To Try
- Guilt-Free Chocolate Mug Cake
- Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- 3-Ingredient Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
- Skillet Blackberry Cobbler
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