Sauteed Apples with Maple Cinnamon – Eat Lean

Quick and EASY Maple Cinnamon Sauteed Apples are the perfect dessert topped with ice cream, a delicious snack on their own, or served with oatmeal, waffles, and pancakes!

I love recipes that are quick and easy to throw together, and this cinnamon apple recipe really couldn’t be easier! I’ve been making apples in the kitchen for my daughter since she started eating solids and she LOVES them mixed with a little cinnamon. Her apples inspired me to make these delicious Sauteed Apples with Maple Cinnamon Pan Made in Under 10 Minutes! All you need is just a few simple ingredients and this will come together perfectly

Not only are these apples so simple to put together, but your kitchen will smell absolutely amazing! This recipe is gluten free and no refined sugar is used. They’re naturally sweetened with 100% pure maple syrup, coated in warm spices, and simmered in apple cider! This recipe is essentially apple pie filling without the crust, because who can wait that long for a pie anyway?

Here’s what you’ll need

• apples – I used honey crisp apples for their delicious combination of sweet and sour, but any type of apple will work for this. I like to peel the apples because my toddler loves them, but you can also leave the skin on (which also saves time!)
• Butter (or coconut oil) – I have been making these applesauce for years and both butter and coconut oil work great! Coconut oil has more nutritional value and is a great option if you’re vegan or dairy-free, but butter always tastes better in my opinion 😉 Feel free to choose what works best for you!
• maple syrup – Naturally sweeten these apples and they taste amazing with all the warm spices! You can also use honey, coconut sugar, brown sugar, or another favorite sweetener
• Vanilla extract – gives those apples a flavor boost!
• apple cider – Make sure you use apple cider, NOT apple cider vinegar! This is what apples are simmered in and the cider really enhances that delicious apple flavor, you can also use water instead of the apple cider.
• cornstarch – This will thicken the sauce and make it nice and gooey!
• Spices – delicious combination of cinnamon spice and apple pie with a little salt (a little nutmeg tastes good too!)

How to make sauteed apples with maple cinnamon

1. Peel and slice the apples. This is honestly the most time consuming part and you can choose to peel the apples or leave the skin on, it tastes good either way. I always peel the apples as my picky toddler likes to eat them and I also prefer the way apples look when peeled.
2. Sauteed apples In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter (or coconut oil), add the apples and spices, mixing well. Fry the apples for about 4 to 5 minutes in the pan until they are soft. In a small bowl, mix together the apple cider and cornstarch to make a paste. Pour this into the apple mixture along with the vanilla and maple syrup. Continue to stir the sauteed apples for 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce has thickened and begins to boil. The apples should be soft and continue to mix so that the apples are completely coated in the sauce.
3. Serve! Enjoy Sauteed Cinnamon Apples immediately with ice cream, on top of breakfast, or on their own with a spoon!

How to serve maple and cinnamon apples

• Delicious topping for oatmeal, waffles or pancakes
• In a bowl with some melted vanilla ice cream or yogurt
• Top with something crunchy like chopped pecans, walnuts or peanuts
• Add some whipped cream or even some nut butter
• Enjoy it as a side dish or spoon it in!

What apples should I use?

Personally, I prefer Honeycrisp apples when making this because of their sweet/tart combination (I always have them in the fridge too!) and they also hold up really well without turning white. Feel free to use whatever variety you like, as there are many apples that will work well. Braeburn, Cortland, Pink Lady and Golden Delicious apples are good choices. Granny Smith apples tend to be very tart, but if you like apples, feel free to use them in this recipe.

Try to avoid using McIntosh, Gala, Fuji or Red Delicious apples as they can turn white when baked, but save them for when you want to make applesauce or cider!

Preparation and storage

The best thing about these apples is that they reheat very well! You can store these apples in a closed, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat them, add them back to a pan with a tablespoon or two of water (or more apple cider!) to loosen the sauce or you can simply heat them in the microwave.

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