Baked Apples [step by step VIDEO] - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

Baked Apples are topped with a brown sugar oat crumble and baked until tender – top with a scoop of ice cream or some vanilla Greek yogurt for a fun breakfast treat!

See the step by step recipe video down in the recipe card.

This post is made in partnership with Cosmic Crisp and I was compensated for my time spent creating this recipe. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Recipe Rebel possible!

These Baked Apples are one of our favorite treats!

They are simple to make, they’re a healthier treat that we can jazz up with ice cream or vanilla yogurt, and they’re made with one of our favorite fruits!

Plus, nothing beats the smell that will be wafting out of your oven while these are baking 😉

What kind of apples are best for Baked Apples?

We are loving Cosmic Crisp apples for everything these days!

They are perfectly crispy and sweet, but slow to brown unlike other apple varieties. They were classically bred at Washington State University, and are non-GMO.

Cosmic Crisps make the perfect snack, so I did have to hide a few of them away so my kids wouldn’t eat them all before I could whip these up. Once they tried a bite, they weren’t mad about it, because they are just as perfect for cooking and baking!

If you have a few hanging out in your crisper drawer after these Baked Apples are devoured, we also love dipping them in this Cream Cheese Fruit Dip — and the best part is that you can slice them and store them in the fridge and they won’t turn brown! They maintain their perfect flavor and texture after being sliced.

Baked Apple filling ingredients and substitutions:

• Apples: Cosmic Crisp Washington state Apples are a great baking apple because of their firm texture and sweet flavor!
• Butter: A little something to glue our topping together! You can substitute with vegan margarine to make these dairy-free and vegan
• Brown Sugar: Some sweetness! The rich flavor of brown sugar complements the flavor of the apples, and it holds together better than granulated sugar.
• Oats: I like to use large, rolled oats for the added texture but you can swap out quick oats if you like. You can also use certified gluten-free oats to make this a gluten-free dessert.
• Flour: A little flour helps to keep our topping together. You can substitute for gluten-free flour or oat flour to keep these Baked Apples gluten-free.
• Cinnamon: Just because apples and cinnamon are a match made in heaven 😉 Feel free to add additional spices like ginger, nutmeg, allspice or cloves.

Other modifications for this Baked Apple recipe:

• I prefer to halve my apples, then top and bake. They bake more quickly, and I find they’re easier to eat! Plus, sometimes a half is just the perfect amount. You can leave them whole, remove the core, fill and bake, but you will need to double the bake time.
• You can also make these in the slow cooker! Put ½ cup of water in the bottom of a slow cooker, then place your apples carefully on top so as not to disturb the topping. Cover and cook until tender, about 4-5 hours on low.

Can I make these ahead?

These Baked Apples can be baked ahead of time and reheated to serve later — no leftovers have ever gone to waste here! (Not that we have any, but if we did…. 😉 ).

Simply cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, then reheat in the oven or in the microwave until heated through.

More ways to enjoy Cosmic Crisp apples!

• In this healthier Cinnamon Apple Bread — perfect for breakfast!
• In this Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Pudding Cake — the perfect treat for a cold day.
• This Apple Crumble Pie is topped with the same delicious oat streusel!
• Slice and serve with this Snickers Cheese Ball.