Crock Pot Cinnamon Baked Apples

These healthy Crock Pot Baked Apples taste like the ooey gooey middle of an apple pie. Perfect make ahead topping on oatmeal or toast. Easy, budget friendly and a great way to get fruit in first thing in the morning.

Sliced apples after cooking down in a slow cooker.

As soon as it gets colder, I just want all the warm and gooey things. These apples always come to mind and have been my go to topping for pretty much everything I eat in the morning. And to be honest, when I just want a little sweet, I’ll just grab a spoon of these gooey Crock Pot Baked Apples and munch on it as needed.

Why the crock pot? It’s how I’ve always made them, and with the amount of apples, it’s so much less of a hassle compared to stirring on the stove top or trying to get them just as juicy in the oven. Trust me, these apples are pretty life changing, so they are worth the hour to make.

Why You’ll Love These Gooey Apples

  • Dump everything into a slow cooker and let the apples soften. It’s really that easy and doesn’t involve any special ingredients.
  • Budget friendly! The minimal ingredients make this super accessible. You likely have many of the ingredients on hand as well!
  • Makes breakfast and snacking so much easier. Love to use these apples to top oatmeal bowls, toast, and even on top of some vegan yogurt for a simple snack.
  • This recipe is completely vegan, gluten-free and nut-free as is!
Cooked apples over oats with berries and nuts.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Apples: Choose your favorite. I love making this dish with Fuji apples personally.
  • Cornstarch: This helps to thicken the juices as they release from the apples. You can use tapioca starch if you want an alternative, just use 2 teaspoons of it instead.
  • Sugar: Use what you have on hand. For a caramelized flavor I will either use organic light brown sugar or coconut sugar. You can also use a little maple syrup if you prefer.
  • Spices: These apples for me taste best with cinnamon, cardamom and a touch of Chinese 5 Spice, which has a hint of ginger, clove and star anise, which makes these apples so flavorful. If you can’t find Chinese 5 Spice, feel free to use a pinch of any of those mentioned spices or add a combination of warming spices you love.
  • Lemon Juice: This helps to sharpen the flavors of the dish, which also helps to prevent the apples from oxidizing too quickly.

How to Make Baked Apples in Your Slow Cooker

The most hands on time you will have for this recipe is just peeling the apples, if you decide to do that.

Once peeled and sliced as preferred, add the apples to your crock pot or slow cooker (I use this one linked) and top with the lemon juice. Sprinkle with the sugar, spices and cornstarch, and with a spatula, give everything a good toss to coat.

Cover the crock pot with a lid and then set on high for 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours. I stir the apples at least once or twice during the cooking time just to make sure that the apples are cooking evenly.

Tips for the Best Crockpot Baked Apples

  • Save time and leave the skin on your apples. Technically you can leave the apples unpeeled for this recipe and that will provide you with more fiber. If you are not a fan of the skin, feel free to put on your favorite music and spend some time peeling them.
  • Check the freshness of your spices. Make sure your spices are not expired or have been sitting in your cabinet for too long. The longer ground spices sit, the more flavor they lose overtime. So make it a point to change out spices when necessary.
  • Make these apples extra decadent by adding some vegan butter. Totally optional, but if you need a little extra treat, it really does make these apples even more flavorful and rich.
  • Don’t overcook your apples. I like to cook them just for 1 hour and 30 minutes as they are still soft, but hold their shape. If you cook them too long then you will just end up with mush similar to apple sauce. Still tasty, but we still want the slices to be intact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use any kind of apple for this?

I recommend using apples that are firm, sweet with a mild tartness. I personally love using honey crisp apples, pink lady apples, and Fuji apples best for this recipe.

Can you make these apples in advance?

Yes. I like prepping these on Sunday and will use as toppings or a quick snack throughout the week. Once the apples have cooled, just place in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. Take a portion of the apples and place in a microwave safe dish to warm up if you prefer.

Are baked apples still healthy?

They sure are! Cooked apples are rich in soluble fibers that are excellent for maintaining our gut health. They also will still retain a portion of their naturally occurring polyphenols. If you are not a big fan of raw apples, this might be a great way for you to enjoy these nutrient benefits!

Are baked apples naturally vegan?

Because I have the privilege, I like to make sure that if I am using brown sugar, that it is organic as there are still some places that practice the use of making sugar using bone char. It’s not as common now, and is even being phased out of production. However, it’s also something that really depends on your accessibility. I’d much rather someone be able to make something to meet their needs and do the best they can then call out someone because they couldn’t fit organic sugar into their budget. You are doing enough as is and there are no animal products in the ingredients.

Bowl of oats topped with cooked apples and walnuts.

How to Serve

I’ve mentioned a few ideas already for breakfast including on top of oats, toast with nut/seed butter, or even with some vegan yogurt. But there’s some more things you can do with them too.

  • Stuff into some puff pastry to bake for a decadent dessert
  • Top with some of your favorite granola for an easy crisp
  • Enjoy topped with vegan whipped cream for a fun snack
  • Replace the jelly in your classic PB&J for a delicious sandwich

More Healthy Apple Recipes

Bowl of oatmeal topped with slow cooker baked apples, berries and pecans with a splash of milk.
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Sliced apples after cooking down in a slow cooker.

Crock Pot Baked Apples

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  • Author: Catherine Perez
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 hours
  • Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Sides
  • Method: Slow Cooker
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

These healthy Crock Pot Baked Apples taste like the ooey gooey middle of an apple pie. Perfect make ahead topping on oatmeal or toast. Easy, budget friendly and a great way to get fruit in first thing in the morning.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds Fuji Apples, peeled and sliced thin or cubed based on preferences
  • Juice of one lemon, about 2 tbsp
  • 1 tbsp organic brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp cardamom
  • 1/4 tsp Chinese 5 spice or a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Place all your apples in the slow cooker and toss with the remaining ingredients to coat.
  2. Cover your slow cooker with a lid and set to high and cook for 1 ½ hours to 2 hours, stirring occasionally as the apples cook down to your liking (stirring 1-2 times is plenty).
  3. Serve on top of your oats as a quick way to jazz up your oats in the morning or on top of toast with peanut butter.

Notes

Save time and leave the skin on your apples if you don’t want to peel. 

Check the freshness of your spices. Make sure your spices are not expired or have been sitting in your cabinet for too long. The longer ground spices sit, the more flavor they lose overtime. 

Make these apples extra decadent by adding a tablespoon of vegan butter as they cook. 

Don’t overcook your apples. I like to cook them just for 1 hour and 30 minutes as they are still soft, but hold their shape. If you cook them too long then you will just end up with mush similar to apple sauce. 

If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog, then let me know what you thought in the comments below! And if you loved it, don’t forget to rate it too. Feel free to follow on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok for the latest nutrition tips and recipe videos.

 Catherine

This post contains affiliate links which means I will make a small commission if you purchase from those links. I only recommend and share products that I know, trust and personally use myself!

One Comment

  1. So good! We’ve made these apples multiple times and they never last more than few days for us because we can’t stop eating them. I really like them on top of peanut butter toast as you suggested. Thanks, Catherine!






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