Looking for a comforting, easy, and delicious apple recipe? These stewed apples recipe with cinnamon are perfect for a quick snack, dessert topping, or a healthy treat to satisfy your sweet tooth. This simple recipe uses fresh apples, cinnamon, and a touch of maple syrup, making it a naturally sweet delight. Whether you enjoy it on its own, with yogurt, or as an apple pie filling, these cinnamon-spiced apples are bound to become a favorite.
What are Stewed Apples?
Stewed apples are apples that have been gently cooked down until soft and tender, usually with water and sweeteners like maple syrup or brown sugar. The result is a rich, syrupy fruit mixture that can be used in a variety of ways, from topping desserts to serving as a warm side dish.

Health Benefits of Stewed Apples
Stewed apples are more than just a tasty treat. They are also great for your digestive tract, as the cooking process helps break down the apple’s fiber, making it easier to digest. Apples are also packed with antioxidants, like vitamin C, which can help reduce oxidative stress. Plus, stewed apples are a great way to get a dose of soluble fiber, which supports gut health.
The Best Apples for Stewing
Choosing the right apples can make a big difference in the flavor and texture of your stewed apples. Here are a few apple varieties that work well for this recipe:
Granny Smith Apples
Tart and firm, Granny Smith apples hold up well during cooking and add a nice contrast to the sweetness of the maple syrup.
Pink Lady Apples
Pink Lady apples offer a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness, making them a favorite for many apple recipes.
Honeycrisp Apples
If you prefer crisp apples with a juicy bite, Honeycrisp apples are ideal for this stewed apple recipe. They soften well but maintain their shape.
Fuji Apples
For a sweeter option, Fuji apples are known for their natural sweetness and firm texture, making them a great addition to this dish.
Ingredients & Substitutions
To make this stewed apples recipe, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients:
- Apples: Fresh apples, such as Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, or Fuji, are ideal for stewing. Choose your favorite apple variety, depending on your personal preference.
- Maple Syrup: A natural sweetener, maple syrup adds a rich flavor to the cooked apples. You can substitute it with honey, brown sugar, or even a touch of apple cider for a different depth of sweetness.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a warming spice that complements the sweet apples perfectly. You can use a cinnamon stick or ground cinnamon.
- Water: Water helps soften the apples and creates a lovely syrup during the cooking process.
Feel free to adjust the ingredients based on what you have on hand. If you want a little tang, you can add a squeeze of lemon juice to the mixture.

Helpful Tools for Making Stewed Apples
Making stewed apples is a breeze with just a few kitchen tools:
- Small Saucepan: A medium heat-safe saucepan works best to simmer the apples and allow the flavors to meld.
- Wooden Spoon: A wooden spoon is great for stirring and ensuring the apples don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Sharp Knife: A sharp knife will make cutting and peeling the apples much easier.
- Peeler: If you prefer to peel apples, a good peeler will save you time and effort.
- Airtight Container: Store your stewed apples in an airtight container to keep them fresh for several days.
How to Make Stewed Apples
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to making delicious stewed apples:
- Cook the Apples
In a small saucepan on medium heat, add the chopped apples, water, cinnamon, and maple syrup.


- Cover the saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it boils, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

- Simmer to Perfection
Halfway through, remove the lid to allow the liquid to reduce.

- Continue cooking until most of the liquid has evaporated, and the apples are soft and tender.

- Serve and Enjoy
Serve these cooked apples as a warm snack, or top them over vanilla ice cream, oatmeal, or yogurt.

- The best part? These sweet apples are perfect for adding to apple pie filling or using in a variety of dishes. Enjoy!

Tips & Tricks for Perfect Stewed Apples
- Use Different Apple Varieties: Experiment with a variety of apples to find the taste and texture you like best.
- Adjust Sweetness: If you prefer a less sweet version, reduce the amount of maple syrup or use apple cider for a natural sweetener.
- Cook to Your Liking: The apples can be cooked until just soft or reduced until they break down completely. It’s all about personal preference!
Serving Suggestions
These warm, cinnamon-spiced apples are versatile and can be used in a variety of ways:
- As a topping for pancakes, waffles, or pound cake.
- Mixed into your morning oatmeal or yogurt.
- As a filling for apple pie or apple crumble.
Variations and Add-ons
For extra flavor, consider adding a pinch of ground ginger, nutmeg, or even a splash of vanilla extract. If you love extra texture, toss in a handful of walnuts or pecans after the apples have cooked.
Storage Tips
Store any leftover stewed apples in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. For longer storage, use freezer-safe containers.
How to Freeze Stewed Apples
You can easily make a big batch of these stewed apples and freeze them for future use. Let the apples cool completely, then transfer them to a ziplock bag or another freezer-safe container.
Why Stewed Apples are a Great Side Dish
Stewed apples aren’t just for dessert; they also make an excellent side dish for vegan pork, chicken, or even as a topping for pancakes.
FAQs
Absolutely! You can experiment with Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Fuji, and Honeycrisp apples to find your favorite.
When stored in an airtight container in the fridge, they will stay fresh for up to five days.
They pair beautifully with vanilla ice cream, yogurt, pancakes, or even as a side dish with pork.
Definitely! Feel free to add ground ginger, nutmeg, or even vanilla extract to the recipe.

Stewed Apples Recipe With Cinnamon
Ingredients
- 2 large apples cut into cubes
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Cooked Apples
- In a small saucepan on medium heat, add the chopped apples, water, cinnamon and maple syrup.
- Cover, bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 10-15 mins. Stir occasionally.
- I like to remove the lid halfway and cook until all the liquid is gone.
- Serve as a snack, on top of ice cream, on oatmeal, on yogurt or whatever else you'd love to add these delicious cooked apples to. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Conclusion: Stewed Apples Recipe
Stewed apples with cinnamon are a comforting, delicious, and versatile recipe that’s perfect for any time of year. Whether you’re making a big batch for meal prep or just whipping up a quick snack, this simple recipe offers a variety of ways to enjoy apples in their sweetest form.
I have so many extra apples right now so thank you so much for posting this. I will be making this this weekend and probably next weekend.
Thank you so much! Yes it’s the perfect use for those extra apples. Please let me know how you like it when you make it!
Love this stewed apples recipe! The apples are so tasty this time of the year and my apple tree has provided me with probably 100 apples so definitely loving these apple recipes.
That’s SO amazing you have your own apple tree! I’m so happy you are able to use your apples on this recipe. Thank you so much!
Found you on YouTube!! And obsessed with your delicious recipes!
ahh thank you SOOO much! I’m so happy you love the recipes 🙂 Thank you for watching!
So great! So many apples to cook!! 🧑🍳
yayyy! Thank you so much I’m so happy you loved this recipe for your extra apples!