Air Fryer Baked Apples

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These Air Fryer Baked Apples are coated in delicious warm spices and topped with a crispy maple syrup oat topping.

Pair them with a scoop of ice cream to make the perfect quick and easy snack or dessert. 

Looking for more air fryer dessert recipes? Give this Air Fryer Banana Bread a try next!

Air Fryer Baked Apples Recipe

Air Fryer Baked Apples are great for when you’re craving something sweet, but you’re not wanting chocolate or other sweet treats.

This recipe is made out of ingredients that are kitchen staples and they can be made in under 30 minutes. 

If you love apple recipes, try out Cranberry Apple Hand Pies, Baked Brie, and Apple Flatbread, or even this Crispy Prosciutto Salad next!

Air Fryer Baked Apples Ingredients

Gala apples: for this recipe, I like to use gala apples. They are the perfect crisp, yet sweet, apple that doesn’t get too soft while they’re cooking. 

Butter: you will use melted butter to both brush over your apples and add into the baked apple topping. 

Spices: ground cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg bring warm and homey flavors to this recipe.

Brown sugar: adds sweetness to the spice mix that is put onto the apple slices. It caramelizes while the apples are baking, giving them a nice golden brown color.

Rolled oats: you can buy any rolled oats that you like. I like to use old-fashioned rolled oats. Just be sure not to get flavored oats!

Maple syrup: brings sweetness to the rolled oat topping but it also combines the sticky and sweet topping together. 

Pure vanilla extract: vanilla extract helps with giving the air fryer baked apple topping a delicious flavor. 

Vanilla ice cream: this is optional but I highly recommend! Who doesn’t love pairing baked apples with a scoop of vanilla ice cream?!

How to Make Air Fryer Baked Apples

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350° F on the “bake” setting. If your air fryer does not have this setting, the air fry setting is ok.

2. Slice the apples. Slice the apples down the middle from the stem to the end and remove the core and the seeds.

After removing the core, scoop out some of the apple around the core to form a cavity in the middle of the apple. Save the carved apple and set it aside.

3. Season the apples. Brush the apple halves with butter using a pastry brush and sprinkle with sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground nutmeg.

5. Prepare the oats topping. In a medium bowl, add the rolled oats, melted butter, extra apple pieces, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon.

6. Air fry the apples. Top the apple halves with the crispy oat topping mixture and place the apples in the air fryer basket. Cook for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

7. Let cool before serving. Remove the baked apples from the air fryer and let them cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream on top and enjoy!

How does an air fryer work?

An air fryer may look a little intimidating at first, but once you learn how to use an air fryer, you won’t want to go back to using a toaster oven ever again!

Air fryers work just like convection ovens, the heat circulates around the food to get it nice and crisp, while making sure it cooks evenly. They also heat very quickly, making cooking a breeze!

While using an air fryer, I do recommend checking on your food if it’s the first time you’re cooking in it.

Some of them run hotter than others (just like ovens). A bonus about air fryers is that you don’t need much oil, which, in turn, makes your food much healthier.

What are the best apples for baked apples?

There are a few apples that do not turn super mushy when they’re air fried, but here are my top favorite apples:

Honeycrisp: they are one of my favorite apples to use while baking. Because the apples start out a little crisper than other apples, they tend to keep their flavor and texture throughout the baking process. They’re also easy to access year-round. 

Granny Smith: these are by far one of the most commonly used apples when baking or cooking with apples. This is because they are one of the most acidic (or sour) apples so they keep their texture really well.

They also have a thicker and more firm flesh so that also helps keep them from becoming super mushy. 

Cortland: these apples compare to McIntosh apples but without turning into mush as soon as they start cooking.

They’re bright red and a little bit softer than the other apples that are used in some recipes. They’re juicy, and the sweetness goes well with the warm spices that are added to this recipe.

Pink Lady: also known as Cripps Pink apples, they are a perfect combination between tart and sweet. Once they’re done cooking, you can still taste the delicious, almost honey-like flavor, but still enjoy the firmness of other apples. 

At what temperature do apples soften?

It depends on the apple. I like to keep my apples around 140 degrees so they soften, but they don’t get too soft. I wouldn’t go over 165 degrees or your baked apples will turn into applesauce!

What apples should you not bake with?

While there are a few apples that I do not recommend baking, there is one in particular that is a big no-no when it comes to baking, and that is the red delicious.

The flavor of the apple lessens when cooked, and they have the tendency to get very soft and mushy. I also don’t recommend using McIntosh or Fuji apples because they, too, will get very soggy when they’re air fried. 

Pro Tip: sweeter apples will soften quicker than sour or more acidic apples.

Should I peel the apples before baking?

This is up to you. For this recipe, I do not peel them because I like a little more of a textured skin once they’re done cooking. If you prefer softer air fryer apples, I would recommend peeling them first. 

How do I store air fryer baked apples?

While your baked apples can sit at room temperature for up to three hours, you will either need to refrigerate or freeze your leftovers.

You can store your air fryer baked apples in an air-tight container in your fridge for up to four days. They can keep in the freezer for a couple of months.

To reheat, toss them in your oven or air fryer at 350 F for 10-12 minutes.

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