These 3 ingredient baked apples are a simple and delicious treat that’s perfect for a cozy dessert or a healthy snack. This recipe is only three easy-to-find ingredients, and takes no time to prepare. The natural sweetness of the apples, paired with a touch of cinnamon and a bit of butter, creates a warm, comforting dish that’s sure to satisfy your cravings. Whether you’re new to baking or looking for a quick dessert, these easy 3 ingredient baked apples are perfect for any occasion and even better the whole family will love them.

Why You Will Love 3 Ingredient Baked Apples

Simple to make: It takes hardly any effort to make these 3 ingredient baked apples. As long as you are able to use you knife you can make these.
Easier on digestion: Baked apples are easier to digest (learn more below) and pairing them with butter aids in nutrient absorption.
Great for the whole family to enjoy: I love these apples and so does my toddler. They have also been a big hit at birthday parties and baby showers.
Great for a snack or dessert: I love to pair these apples with cheese or yogurt for a more balanced snack or enjoy them warm with vanilla ice cream. You really can’t go wrong either way.

Why Baked Apples are Easier for Digestion

Lately, I’ve been exploring the importance of proper food preparation. It can play a big role in digestion and nutrient absorption. For example, cooked apples are often easier to digest because the cooking process begins to break them down, yet they retain their nutrients. This is especially helpful for those with digestive issues, anyone working on improving gut health, or even during pregnancy. When you’re pregnant, your body is focused on supporting the baby, which can slow down digestion. That’s where proper food preparation comes in handy. Cooking apples reduces some of the digestive load, making it easier for your body to process them. Adding cinnamon increases antioxidants and provides anti-inflammatory benefits, while butter adds healthy fats that help your body absorb all the nutrients in the apples.

Baked Apple Ingredients

Apples: Apples are a good source of fiber, vitamins and minerals. When choosing apples for this 3 ingredient baked apple recipe, choose organic if possible. Choosing organic is a better option to protect yourself and family from harmful toxins and chemicals found in sprayed, conventional produce.

Butter: Quality butter is a good source of healthy fats and acids that fight bacteria and have anti-inflammatory properties. Pairing a healthy fat with other foods also helps your body to absorb all of the nutrients better. When choosing butter look for grass-fed and find a local option if possible.

Ceylon Cinnamon: Ceylon cinnamon has a delicious sweet and aromatic flavor that pairs perfect in these baked apples. Studies even show that Celyon cinnamon is helpful for regulating blood sugar and the antioxidants found in it are good for heart health. Make sure to choose an organic brand, I love this brand because they use regenerative farms and do not use toxic chemicals to treat the cinnamon.

How to Prep Apples for Baking

I cook a large bunch of apples at the beginning of the week and then store them in the fridge to snack on. We snack on these for most of the week adding them to breakfast or eating them alone.

First, wash the apples and peel them. Peeling will make them even easier to digest. I would recommend peeling the apples if you are struggling with gut issues.
Use an apple slicer to slice each apple evenly or use a knife to cut the apples to your desired size.

How to Make 3 Ingredient Baked Apples

First peel and wash apples. If desired you can omit peeling but make sure to wash thoroughly.
Next cut apples using an apple slicer or knife. You can cut them to your desired thickness.
Place all the apple slices in a large glass baking dish and top with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon. Don’t worry too much about spreading the butter out when first adding it to the apples.
Allow the apples to cook for about 15 minutes, then remove them from the oven and stir to distribute the butter. This helps to keep them from drying out. Return to the oven to finish baking for another 15 minutes or until tender.
Remove the apples from the oven and enjoy them warm. Eat them by themselves, put them over ice cream, enjoy them with whipped cream or yogurt.

Recipe Variations

Feel free to customize this recipe to your liking. You can adjust the amount of butter or cinnamon, or even double the recipe if needed. Top with oats and sugar to make a crumble or add them to a pie crust. If you’d rather not bake, you can also stew the apples on the stovetop. Stewed apples are perfect for a chilly day when you’re craving something cozy. They become softer and create a sauce-like texture, similar to apple pie filling. To make stewed apples:

Add all of the ingredients to a sauce pan over low to medium heat.
Cover and allow to cook until tender.
Watch closely to make sure the apples do not stick and stir them if needed.

FAQ’s

Should you peel apples before baking? Yes, if you need easier digestion, then you should peel apples before baking. Another great reason to peel apples is to avoid the wax coatings often applied to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables.

Are baked apples still healthy? Yes, baked apples are still healthy. They still contain many nutrients and are healthy for digestion.