Warm Stovetop Cinnamon Apples
Simple and sweet, Warm Stovetop Cinnamon Apples are the perfect healthy comfort food. A bowl of cozy cinnamon apples are sugar-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and Whole30 compliant.
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) nine-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, we still love them, and they are still part of our family.
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.
Are Cinnamon Apples 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 yogurt, or on top of ice cream. They are also a key ingredient in my Apple Pie Whole Wheat Pancakes.
Cinnamon apples are also the perfect final addition to your meal prep boxes. Nothing like a healthy little snack to finish up your lunch or dinner. Remember that dry ass little brownie you used to get excited about when it was TV dinner night? 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 Cinnamon Apples – Step by Step
- 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.
^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 clove and a dash of nutmeg?
A splash of vanilla and/or almond extract is amazing with the base recipe. Although extracts are not “allowed” on the Whole30 plan we still continue to use them in our cooking. Simply put, we don’t drink in our normal lives, so removing 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract from our diets won’t impact the integrity of the program.
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.
- 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.
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Simple and sweet, Warm Stovetop Cinnamon Apples are the perfect healthy comfort food. A bowl of cozy cinnamon apples are sugar-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and Whole30 compliant.
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.
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 apple that will retain its shape and won't turn into mush upon steaming. I prefer Fuji or Gala.
There is no need to dice these apples unless you're feeding little ones. Slices or wedges work perfectly fine and are faster! The small pieces are just ingrained in our hearts in this house so we continue to make them that way. 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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Yum! My Great-grandmother used to make apples with cinnamon and sugar but I’ve never tried it with just cinnamon.
I bet it was soooo good with the sugar too!
Making it a goal to try one new recipe from your site a week. These apples sound like a delicious treat.
I think I like how you set goals girl!!
I used to sautee slices of apple in butter and add cinnamon to create a sweet treat for my MIL because she had lost so many of her teeth. I still do it occasionally just for myself for breakfast, add toast and a bit of cheese… yum. I also sprinkle cinnamon on sliced banana too.
Wait, do you combine the cheese and toast together with the apples, or serve them on the side?
I’m not a raw banana fan but I do love to caramelize them to put them on pancakes and waffles. Never thought to add cinnamon before. Genius!
The apples, cheese and toast are all separate items on the plate. The cinnamon is supposed to be good for your blood pressure so I try to throw it on fruit whenever I can.
I think cinnamon is also really good for regulating blood sugar! My grandpa was a diabetic and his doctor encouraged him to add it to lots of things. And it is delicious so that is an added benefit for all of us.
I’m not gonna lie, I was that kid with the t.v. dinner and every once in a while I crave that Salisbury steak. I also occasionally crave spaghetti o’s, but I ate my full of those while I was pregnant.
These look amazing! I need to stock up on smaller mason jars… maybe I could freeze them in silicone muffin cups and keep them in baggies so then I can just plop one into our yum box.
Adding apples to the grocery list!
Oh, we were totally a TV dinner family! Healthy Choice was our poison of choice (barf).
I’m not sure how they would work in a muffin tin since there is no liquid. But if you try it out and it and it works please report back!
This is just the kick I needed to stop buying ready made applesauce! Absolutely delicious and I love all your spice recommendations too. Thanks for an awesome recipe.
So glad you and little Odette enjoyed them!
Have you tried making Apple Jacks in your insta pot?
I haven’t, only because it’s only 5 minutes on the stovetop. I can’t see the IP saving me much time if any.