Healthy Cinnamon Apples – Steamed Apples {Vegan, Whole30}
Simple and sweet, these stovetop Healthy Cinnamon Apples are the perfect good for you comfort food. A bowl of cozy steamed apples are sugar-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and Whole30 compliant. Cinnamon apples are also freezer-friendly and a perfect food for adults and kids alike.
I have been making these apples for so long that I could cook them in my sleep; they are that simple. Calling this a “recipe” is almost embarrassing.
When my (now) ten-year-old son Jack was a baby and ready for finger foods, the traditional store-bought options weren’t available to us. He had dairy and wheat issues and those ready-made puffs were off-limits to his tummy.
Plus we were broke as a joke so they weren’t even in our budget if he could have eaten them. The workaround I came up with was so popular and beloved that they were dubbed “Apple Jacks”.
I still make these cinnamon apples. We still love them.
What Can I do With a Lot of Apples?
A glut of apples is an amazing “problem” to have! When we have too many apples, we’ll can applesauce, can apple pie filling, make crockpot applebutter, make dried apples, and apple nachos.
And when we’re all done with that, we make cinnamon steamed apples! And save leftovers to make Apple Pie Egg Rolls.
What Are Cinnamon Apples?
My recipe is simple – chopped apples with a dusting of cinnamon. You’ll see lots of recipes out there for fried apples, or apples simmered in butter and sugar.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m 99.99% certain that those are absolutely delicious, but not ideal when you want something healthy and good for you.
The act of steaming concentrates the apple’s sweetness and takes these apples from yum to yuuuuuum. Even better, steaming locks down nutrients like Fort Knox.
How Long Does it Take to Steam Apples?
These steamed apples are ready in only five minutes. Yep, that’s it!
If you prefer to make apple slices instead of diced apples, you will need to add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time for a soft texture.
Is this Cinnamon Apples Recipe Vegan/Paleo/Whole30?
Yes! With just two wholesome ingredients, these cinnamon apples are everything compliant. And so dang good.
If you’re doing Whole30, the program guidelines would not recommend using this dish as “dessert” or a sweets replacement. I tend to serve them with breakfast or have them for a snack when I’m craving just a little extra something after lunch.
How to Serve Cinnamon Apples
We love them just as a side to a normal meal, but they are also amazing in oatmeal, mixed in with homemade Instant Pot yogurt, or on top of ice cream. They are also a key ingredient in my Apple Pie Pancakes.
Cinnamon apples are also the perfect final addition to your easy healthy meal prep. Nothing like a healthy little snack to finish up your lunch or dinner. You can also add them to Cinnamon Apple Donuts for an amazing texture and flavor.
Remember that dry ass little brownie you used to get excited about when it was TV dinner night growing up? You’d eat all that gross salsbury steak and gluey mashed potatoes, all while eying that hard little chocolate puck in its own compartment in the divided tray?
Those crappy brownies wish they could be these apples.
How to Make this Cinnamon Apple Recipe
*A detailed and printable recipe card is available at the bottom of this post.
Peel the apples, and dice in bite-sized pieces. In a pot fitted with a steamer basket, add enough water to cover the bottom of the saucepan. Cover the pan with a lid.
Steam the apples on medium-high until the apples are able to be pierced easily with a knife (about 4-5 minutes). Drain, place in a small bowl, and toss with cinnamon.
^I told you they were simple!
Variations on Cinnamon Apples
I tend to consider cinnamon a condiment and have a bit of a heavy hand with it. I reigned myself in for this recipe but you could (and should!) absolutely add more cinnamon to your version. And while you’re at it, how about a pinch of cloves and a dash of nutmeg?
A splash of homemade vanilla and/or almond extract is amazing with the base recipe. Just note, extracts are not allowed on the Whole30 plan.
Can You Freeze Cinnamon Apples?
YES, and you should! When my son was a baby, we froze “Apple Jacks” in Baby Cubes and 4 oz mason jars for quick snacks. Simply leave at room temperature for an hour or overnight in the fridge and they thaw beautifully.
Recipe Notes
- Need to make more or less of the recipe? Click and slide the “servings” number on the recipe card and the ingredients will adjust as needed. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
- Use an apple that will retain its shape and won’t turn into mush upon steaming. I prefer Fuji or Gala. And um, Washington grown. Obvs.
- Leave the peel on for added fiber and nutrition.
- There is no need to dice these apples unless you’re feeding little ones. Slices or wedges work perfectly fine and are faster for prepping! If you do cut your apples into large pieces, it may impact the cooking time.
- Five minutes of steaming works for our preferences for texture, but if you prefer a firmer apple, check at three minutes.
- Cool completely before freezing.
More Healthy Snack Recipes
- Lemon Bliss Balls
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Homemade Granola Bars
- Mexican Hot Chocolate Lara Bars
- Trail Mix Bars
- Strawberry Fudge Energy Date Balls
- Check out all our Whole30 Breakfast Recipes
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WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS
One serving of Cinnamon Apples has 0 WW Freestyle SmartPoints.
Making this recipe or others?
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Simple and sweet, this Stovetop Cinnamon Apple Recipe is the perfect healthy comfort food. A bowl of cozy cinnamon apples are paleo, and Whole30.
Peel the apples, and dice in bite-sized pieces. In a pot fitted with a metal steamer basket, add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan.
Steam the apples on medium-high until the apples are able to be pierced easily with a knife (about 4-5 minutes). Drain, place in a small bowl, and toss with the cinnamon.
Use apple that will retain its shape like gala or Fuji.
There is no need to dice these apples unless you're feeding little ones. Slices or wedges work perfectly fine and are faster! If you do cut your apples into large pieces, it may impact the cooking time.
Five minutes of steaming works for our preferences for texture, but if you prefer a firmer apple, check at three minutes.
Cool completely before freezing.
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I make these for my grandson, and he thinks he’s getting a treat!
Me too Paula, me too! 🙂 So glad you both enjoy them!