These simple Caramelized Apples are a delicious topping for pancakes, waffles, ice cream or yogurt. If you love the flavor and texture of apple pie filling, but don’t have time to bake an actual pie, this is the recipe for you!
This recipe has the classic flavors of fall. It’s sweet, toasty and a bit spicy from a pinch of cinnamon. Sure, you could make this topping any time of year, but it’s perfect for those crisp and cool fall days.
I love to spoon on these caramelized apples onto Brown Butter Apple Pancakes or even our Brown Sugar French Toast. You can store it in a mason jar in the refrigerator and enjoy it throughout the week for breakfast, dessert, or even a spoonful for a snack.
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Ingredients that Matter
There are no complex or hard to find ingredients here! And best of all, you can use any apple for this recipe. Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe:
- Apples. This recipe calls for 3 apples and I suggest using your favorite variety. A combination of a crispy, tart apple like Granny Smith along with a good cooking apple, like Macintosh, provide a perfect balance of texture and flavor.
- Butter. The diced apples are caramelized in unsalted butter. The butter provides rich flavor and helps the natural sugars in the apples to caramelize.
- Brown Sugar. Sugar is added toward the end of the apples caramelizing to provide sweetness and to create a saucy texture. I prefer brown sugar for its natural caramelly flavor, but you can certainly use regular granulated sugar instead.
- Cinnamon. Apples and cinnamon are a perfect pairing, so only using a big pinch of cinnamon adds the right toasty flavor without overpowering the apple flavor.
- Salt. A little pinch of salt brings out the flavor of the caramelized apples.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
You can make these caramelized apples in about 15 minutes. Here is how the recipe comes together:
Peel and finely dice the apples. If you aren’t using them right away store in acidulated water (water with a splash of lemon juice or vinegar) to preserve the color.
Melt the butter in a large skillet and then add the diced apples. Cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to turn lightly brown, about 4 minutes.
Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and cook until saucing and dark brown, another 2 to 3 minutes.
Transfer the caramelized apples to a small bowl and serve immediately or a mason jar and store in the in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Hint: Add a couple tablespoons of water to the skillet to make the apples even more saucy.
Substitutions
You can make some simple tweaks to this recipe based on your dietary restrictions or personal preferences.
- Dairy-Free & Vegan – You can leave out the butter and instead use coconut oil or regular vegetable oil to make this recipe vegan and dairy-free
- More Spices – If you want to up the spices, try adding a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg, a small pinch of cloves and/or allspice.
- Pears – This recipe also works with pears instead of apples. You will likely need to use 4 pears instead of 3 to get the same yield.
Serving Suggestions
These caramelized apples are like apple pie filling. They are best used in sweet applications, like for breakfast on top of a plain yogurt with some chopped nuts, or spooned onto yogurt for a simple yet special dessert.
Try serving these apples with our Brioche French Toast Casserole or our dairy-free Fluffy Oat Milk Pancakes.
Equipment
You don’t need specialty equipment for this recipe, however I suggest investing in a large skillet like this Cuisinart 12-inch Skillet with Glass Lid.
Storage
Caramelized apples will keep in the refrigerator, stored in an airtight container or mason jar, for up to 5 days. You can eat them cold right out of the refrigerator or warm then in a skillet. If reheating, but sure to add a couple tablespoons of water to thin out the apples slightly and heat just until warm.
FAQ
Start by sauteing peeled and diced apples in butter until starting to brown, then add a bit of brown sugar, cinnamon and salt and cook until golden brown and saucy.
Use a combination of apples, including a crisp eating apple along with a softer cooking apple, for a pleasant texture and flavor.
More Desserts
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Dinner Ideas
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PrintRecipe
Caramelized Apples
- Total Time: 15 min.
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
Description
These simple Caramelized Apples are a delicious topping for pancakes, waffles, ice cream or yogurt. If you love the flavor and texture of apple pie filling, but don’t have time to bake an actual pie, this is the recipe for you!
Ingredients
- 3 medium apples
- 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 3 Tbsp. light brown sugar
- 1 pinch cinnamon
- 1 pinch table salt
Instructions
- Peel apples and finely dice. If not using immediately, store in an acidulated water (water with lemon juice or vinegar, enough to cover the apples–drain and rinse before using).
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat then add diced apples. Cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to turn golden brown, about 4 minutes. Add the sugar, cinnamon and salt and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and saucy. Add a tablespoon or two of water as needed to make the apples saucier. Serve hot or room temperature.
Notes
- Leftovers may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To reheat, add to a small skillet and add a couple tablespoons of water. Heat over medium and cook until warm.
- Caramelized apples taste delicious on yogurt, ice cream, French toast, pancakes or simply by the spoonful.
- Prep Time: 5 min.
- Cook Time: 10 min.
- Category: desserts
- Method: Sautee
- Cuisine: American
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