Perfectly spiced and naturally sweetened, these Easy Sautéed Cinnamon Apples take just a bit of time on the stovetop before they're ready to be enjoyed! Eat them with breakfast, with dessert, or as a sweet snack in between meals...they're delicious however you serve them!
My kids literally go insane for these Easy Sautéed Cinnamon Apples! All three of them gobble it up so quickly and when I say I'm going to make it they cheer as if I'm offering them cake. It's honestly kind of hilarious! I typically double or triple the recipe and then mix in different varieties of apples. It's fun to experiment with the different flavors and find a balance of sweet and tart that we enjoy!
Ingredients in Sautéed Cinnamon Apples
This is a pretty straightforward recipe, and I chose simple ingredients that would let the natural sweetness and nostalgic flavor of the apples shine in every single bite.
- Red sweet apples - I peel the apples since I prefer that for this recipe, but you can leave the skins on for added nutrition if you don't mind them!
- Lemon - I prefer a fresh one!
- Maple sugar - This keeps the recipe refined sugar-free (as opposed to using brown sugar). You can sub coconut sugar as well.
- Vegan butter - Coconut oil also works here!
- Cinnamon - The recipe calls for ¾ teaspoon, but you can bump it up a bit if you love cinnamon! If you have apple spice on hand a sprinkle of that would also be super tasty in here.
- Arrowroot starch - This will help thicken the sauce at the very end. I love the texture it gives!
- Vanilla - Use pure vanilla extract and high quality if you can!
How to Make Sautéed Apples
Gather your ingredients and you're halfway there! Get everything except the vanilla and arrowroot starch cooking over medium heat for 15 minutes. Once the apples are fork-tender and the water has evaporated, pull them off the heat and sprinkle arrowroot starch and vanilla over the top. The arrowroot starch helps the apple liquids thicken into a caramelly, luscious sauce! It's absolute heaven.
All About Apples
Full disclosure: I LOVE apples. I honestly cannot get enough! I even wrote an article about the health benefits of apples in The Washington Post a couple years ago. Apples are full of powerful disease-fighting nutrients and health benefits. They keep you hydrated, they’re low in calories, fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, and full of fiber and immune-boosting vitamin C.
What Kind of Apples Are Best for Sautéing?
I put sweet red apples on the card for this recipe! Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Ambrosia would all be perfect varieties to shop for. I often double the recipe and mix in a Granny Smith to add some tartness to balance the sweet and we absolutely love it!
How to Serve Sautéed Cinnamon Apples
My kids love these apples completely plain by the spoonful! I love how many delicious possibilities there are with this sweet dish, though. Make a batch and eat it in so many different ways!
- Over your favorite vegan yogurt - I love the coconut yogurt vegan yogurt brand Culina because it is refined sugar-free (vanilla flavored is delish with this one)!
- With my Easy Granola Recipe - Crumble it overtop for some crunch
- Stirred into Creamy Vegan Oatmeal for a hearty breakfast
- With dessert! Spoon them over Blender Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream or add a dollop of Coconut Whipped Cream for a sweet treat.
These Easy Sautéed Cinnamon Apples are vegan (no dairy or eggs needed!), gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, refined sugar-free, soy-free, and nut-free. I hope you love them as much as me and my kiddos do! Please tag me on Instagram if you make them so I can see the results, and drop a review below to help others find this easy, delicious recipe!
More Apple Recipes
Easy Apple Nachos
Apple Ring Sandwiches
Vegan Apple Arugula Salad with Candied Walnuts
Vegan Apple Pie Smoothie
Blender Vegan Apple Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel Topping
Easy Instant Pot Homemade Applesauce (Refined Sugar-Free!)
Nana's Famous Apple-Walnut Charoset
Instant Pot Refined Sugar-Free Apple Butter
Homemade Spiced Apple Cider
Easy Vegan Apple Crisp
Easy Sautéed Cinnamon Apples (vegan + paleo)
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Perfectly spiced and naturally sweetened, Easy Sautéed Cinnamon Apples take a bit of time on the stovetop before they're ready to be enjoyed!
Ingredients
For the cinnamon sautéed apples
- 2 medium red sweet apple, peeled, cored and diced (measures ~ 2 ½ cups once diced)
- ¼ cup filtered water (or more as needed)
- ½ small lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoons maple sugar (or sub coconut sugar)
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter (or sub coconut oil)
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch of fine salt
- 1 teaspoon arrowroot starch
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
What to serve them with:
- blender vanilla ice cream (vegan + paleo)
- instant caramel sauce (vegan + paleo)
- homemade granola (vegan + gluten-free)
- oatmeal
- creamy cinnamon vanilla fruit dip or vegan yogurt (I love Culina brand in the vanilla flavor)
Instructions
- Add apples, water, lemon juice, maple sugar, vegan butter, cinnamon and salt to a non-stick, non-toxic skillet or small pot and saute over medium heat for 15 minutes until water has evaporated and the apples are fork tender. Stir every couple of minutes throughout the cooking process. The cook time will depend on the thickness of your diced apples.
- Turn off the burner. Sprinkle arrowroot starch overtop and add vanilla extract. Stir well.
- Serve hot. Pairs well with oatmeal, waffles, pancakes, French toast and vanilla ice cream. Also pairs well with vegan yogurt OR creamy vegan paleo cinnamon vanilla fruit dip + homemade cinnamon granola. Also delicious with my homemade vegan caramel sauce
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Equipment
Measuring Spoons [use code ELAINE-10 for 10% off]
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Premium Citrus Juicer - Manual Citrus Press and Orange Squeezer [use code ELAINE-10 for 10% off]
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Notes
You can leave the skin on the apple for better nutrition but I prefer the texture of this recipe with it peeled.
You can thinly slice the apple rather than finely dice it but you will need to cook it for longer. When I do this I typically add a little more water and cover the skillet to speed up the process. You can dice the apples finely to cook quicker (this makes them easy to sprinkle overtop yogurt or ice cream).
Feel free to add a sprinkle of apple pie spice too if you have that on hand.
I often double this recipe and mix in a Granny Smith apple to balance the sweet red apple with the tart Granny Smith flavor. But you can do all red apples if you prefer.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Dessert or Snack
- Method: Stovetop
Keywords: easy sauteed apples
Noel Burke says
This recipe looks easy and delicious! I will be making it this weekend with my boys. Love your simple, clear directions and accompanying pics.
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Noel! I hope you and your boys enjoy it this weekend! Best, Elaine
Victoria Guobaitis says
Made this last year! Ready for apple season to make it again! This time I’ll try to make the caramel sauce too!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you for the five star rating, Victoria! Yes, the caramel sauce sounds like the perfect pairing for this one! Best, Elaine
Megan feldman says
I’ve been making this one almost daily! So delicious! Thanks Elaine!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you, Megan! I'm so happy you have been enjoying this one! Thank you for the five star rating! Best, Elaine