Oh, honey, when that chill finally hits the air, you know what I crave? Anything that smells like a huge hug! Forget complicated pies and fussy crumbles for a minute. My absolute favorite thing to whip up when I want instant comfort is this ridiculously easy recipe for a Cozy Fall Apple Delight. Seriously, it’s just baked apples, but done right! My mom used to serve these when we came inside from trick-or-treating, and the smell of warm cinnamon and softening apples just takes me right back home.
This isn’t some slow-cooking, all-day thing either. That’s the beauty of it! We get that rich, gooey center without scrubbing a sink full of dishes later. It’s simple, it’s warm, and it’s pure autumn in a little apple cup. Trust me, once you try this, it’s going straight onto your list for weeknight treats.
Gathering Ingredients for Your Cozy Fall Apple Delight (Prep Time: 10 min)
Don’t worry when you see the ingredient list; ten minutes is all it takes to get these beauties ready for the oven! Remember, we’re keeping this easy, which is why these baked apples are such a go-to dessert for me. For the best results, you absolutely need apples that hold their shape well while baking. I highly recommend Honeycrisp or Fuji—they get soft but don’t completely turn to mush, which is terrible! You’ll also see we’re using good old rolled oats, not the instant stuff, for that necessary texture.
You’ll need four medium apples to start, and make sure that butter is cut into four tiny little pieces—one for the top of each apple before it goes in. If you need some inspiration on other comforting baked goods while you gather your things, you might want to check out this super tasty Amish Applesauce Cake recipe!
Key Components for the Cozy Fall Apple Delight Filling
This filling is where all the magic happens, folks! It’s just oats, sugar, and spice working together. You need about a quarter cup of lovely brown sugar—that dark molasses flavor really sings with the apple, much better than white sugar, in my opinion. Then, add one teaspoon of ground cinnamon. I love cinnamon, so sometimes, if I’m feeling especially festive, I toss in a teensy pinch of nutmeg too, but that’s just me being extra!
Most importantly, make sure you are using rolled oats here. Skip the instant stuff; it dissolves too fast and you lose that fantastic chewiness in the baked center. We’re mixing these three ingredients until they are perfectly combined before we even see the apples. Keep it dry for now!
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Perfect Cozy Fall Apple Delight
Okay, time to put this simple recipe into action! It moves super fast once the oven is hot. First things first, get your oven warmed up to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, which is about 190 degrees Celsius. Have your small baking dish ready nearby—you don’t want to be scrambling for dishes when the apples are prepped!
If you are looking for a similar but different baked treat, this Easy Homemade Apple Crumble is another winner for fall!
Preparing the Apples and Oat Mixture for Your Cozy Fall Apple Delight
Wash those apples well, but here’s the critical core trick. You need to core them out, but you absolutely must leave the bottom intact! Think of it like creating a little edible bowl. If you cut through the bottom, your delicious oat filling is just going to run right out into the water—and that’s a mess we don’t need. Leave a sturdy little wall at the base so the filling stays put.
Next, take that oat mixture you made earlier. Now, you spoon that mixture right into the center cavity of each apple cup, dividing it evenly. Don’t pack it down too hard, just press enough so it fills the space. Remember that quarter cup of water for the pan? That goes into the bottom of your baking dish around the apples—it steams them perfectly! Never pour it inside the oat filling, or it turns gummy fast.
Baking and Resting Your Cozy Fall Apple Delight
Once the water is in the dish, just place that tiny piece of butter right on top of the oat stuffing on each apple. That little dollop melts down and makes the topping glossy! Pop the whole dish into the hot oven for about 30 to 35 minutes. How do you know they are done? You poke them gently with a fork! If the fork goes in easily—tender, not crunchy—they’re ready. Don’t forget to let them rest on the counter for a few minutes after you pull them out. They’re piping hot, and you want those sweet juices to settle a bit before you dig in!
Tips for Success When Making Cozy Fall Apple Delight
Baking is fun, but sometimes things need a little tweak to make them work for your kitchen. Don’t stress if you’re missing one tiny thing; this recipe is wonderfully forgiving! If you ever need more ideas for baked apple glory, check out this interesting Upside-Down Apple Tart.
Ingredient Substitutions for Your Cozy Fall Apple Delight
I mentioned brown sugar is my favorite here, but if you’re fresh out, you can absolutely substitute it with maple syrup. Just be careful! Use about 3 tablespoons of maple syrup instead of the brown sugar, and cut back on the water in the bottom of the pan slightly, because syrup is wetter than sugar. Another little swap I’ve tried with success is when it comes to the butter dollop on top.
If I’m trying to keep things dairy-free sometimes, I’ll use a teaspoon of solid coconut oil instead of the butter piece. It melts beautifully and gives the topping an amazing, subtle nutty flavor that pairs great with the cinnamon. See? Simple changes, same cozy result!
Serving Suggestions for Cozy Fall Apple Delight
This Cozy Fall Apple Delight is wonderful all on its own, especially when the kitchen smells unbelievably good. But serving them warm? That’s when they become an actual dessert experience instead of just a snack. Since they bake up so beautifully tender, you have a perfect little vessel ready to hold something cool and velvety on top.
The absolute classic—and my personal recommendation—is topping each warm apple with a generous scoop of good quality vanilla ice cream. I mean, the contrast between the hot, spiced apples and the cold, melting cream is just heaven, isn’t it? It makes the whole thing feel incredibly decadent, even though it was so easy to make!
If ice cream isn’t your thing, don’t worry one bit. You could drizzle a little bit of caramel sauce over the top, or even better, get a dollop of slightly softened whipped cream and dust it with a tiny bit more cinnamon. If you’re looking for other comforting dessert presentation ideas, you might want to peek at this Boston Cream Poke Cake for some inspiration on decadent toppings!
Honestly, sometimes, if I’m serving these for breakfast or a light afternoon treat, I just leave them plain. Pouring that extra little bit of melted water and sugar from the bottom of the pan over the top before serving really creates its own beautiful, syrupy sauce. It’s all good!
Storing Leftovers of Your Cozy Fall Apple Delight
Now, the best part about these baked apples is that they genuinely taste great the next day, too! If you’re lucky enough to have any left over, you need to treat them right so they don’t get dry. Pop them into an airtight container—you can put them in the fridge for up to three days.
When you’re ready for a second round of cozy goodness, reheating is simple. I prefer popping mine back into a low oven (around 300 degrees) for about ten minutes to warm them slowly. But if you’re in a total rush, a quick zap in the microwave for 30 seconds does the trick, just be careful not to overdo it!
Frequently Asked Questions About Cozy Fall Apple Delight
It seems like every time I make this dessert, someone asks me the same couple of things! Baking simple things like these baked apples still leaves room for questions, which is totally normal. We all want that perfect texture when we’re making a special fall dessert, right? I’ve gathered the most common things folks ask me about getting this recipe just right.
If you’re interested in exploring some other amazing sweet endings, take a peek at some truly decadent dessert inspiration on the blog!
Can I use different types of apples for this Cozy Fall Apple Delight?
Yes, you absolutely can change them up! But listen closely: you want apples that are firm when raw. If you use something super soft like McIntosh, they’ll probably turn to applesauce before they bake through. Stick to Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or even Granny Smith if you like a little tartness. The key is that firm texture so the apple keeps its shape while the middle gets soft and gooey.
How do I prevent the oat topping from burning during baking?
Oh, I’ve had that happen when my oven runs a little hot, especially if I piled the oats too high! If you notice the topping looking dark brown and crispy while the apple itself still feels a little firm, just grab a piece of aluminum foil, loosely tent it over the tops of the apples, and continue baking. The foil acts like a little shield and lets the inside finish cooking without incinerating that lovely cinnamon-oat goodness!
Nutritional Estimates for Cozy Fall Apple Delight
Okay, so I know we aren’t baking this because we’re counting every single calorie, right? It’s a comfort dessert! But for those of you who like to keep track, I pulled the rough estimates for one baked apple based on the recipe measurements. Please take these numbers with a big grain of salt though, because I always say that the exact nutrition depends on the size of your apples and precisely how much butter melts into the bottom of the pan!
Because this recipe uses whole fruit and oats, you get a decent dose of fiber, which I love. If you’re curious about how much sugar is naturally in your favorite fruits, you might want to read up on the surprising sugar content of fruits!
Here is the quick breakdown for one serving (one apple):
- Serving Size: 1 apple
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Remember, these are just ballpark figures. If you use a massive Fuji instead of a small Honeycrisp, those numbers creep up a tiny bit! But honestly, for something this delicious and warming, I think subtracting 15mg of cholesterol is a tiny price to pay for all this cozy goodness!
Share Your Cozy Fall Apple Delight Experience
Whew! We did it! Now, here is where you come in, my friend. This whole recipe is about sharing that warm feeling, so I really want to hear what you thought!
When you make this Cozy Fall Apple Delight—and I know you will!—please take a moment to leave me a star rating right down below. Your feedback helps so many other home cooks know that this recipe is worth the few minutes it takes to prep. And don’t just stop at the stars!
Tell me what you did with it! Did you stick to my suggestion and serve it with a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream? Or did you try something totally different? Maybe you paired it with yogurt, like that tasty dip idea I saw over at apple slices with cinnamon yogurt dip suggests! Tell me how you dressed up your baked apples.
Hearing your stories and seeing how this simple little baked apple recipe fits into your autumn tradition truly makes my day. Happy baking, everyone!
Print
Cozy Fall Apple Delight
- Total Time: 45 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A simple, warm dessert featuring baked apples with cinnamon and oats.
Ingredients
- 4 medium apples (such as Honeycrisp or Fuji)
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- Wash the apples. Core the apples, leaving the bottom intact to create a cup shape.
- In a small bowl, mix the rolled oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
- Spoon the oat mixture evenly into the center of each cored apple.
- Place the apples in a small baking dish.
- Pour the water into the bottom of the baking dish around the apples.
- Top each apple with a small piece of butter.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute maple syrup for brown sugar for a different flavor.
- Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 apple
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 28
- Sodium: 5
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 15
Keywords: apple, baked apple, fall dessert, cinnamon, oats, cozy, sweet