Description
Delightfully tender and flavorful Air Fryer Baked Apples stuffed with a spiced mixture of nuts, dried fruit, and brown sugar. This quick and easy recipe is perfect for a healthy dessert or snack, offering warm caramelized sweetness with a crunchy and chewy filling. Serve them on their own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt for an extra creamy touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Apples
- 4 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala work well)
Filling
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 2 tablespoons raisins or dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon melted butter or coconut oil
Optional Toppings
- Vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and allow it to preheat to ensure even cooking.
- Core the apples: Carefully remove the cores from the apples, making sure to leave the bottom intact to hold the filling securely inside while baking.
- Prepare the filling: In a small bowl, combine the chopped nuts, raisins or dried cranberries, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, vanilla extract, and melted butter. Mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well incorporated.
- Stuff the apples: Spoon the prepared filling mixture into each hollowed apple, pressing down gently to pack the filling evenly and tightly inside.
- Arrange in the air fryer: Place the stuffed apples upright in the air fryer basket, spacing them so they do not touch each other. This allows for optimal air circulation and even cooking.
- Air fry the apples: Cook the apples for 15-20 minutes at 350°F (175°C), until the apples are tender and the filling is bubbly and caramelized on top.
- Serve: Carefully remove the apples from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving. Optionally, top with vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt for a creamy complement to the warm baked apples.
Notes
- You can substitute walnuts with pecans or other nuts according to preference.
- For a vegan option, use coconut oil instead of butter and serve with dairy-free ice cream or yogurt.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, baked apples can also be made in a conventional oven at 350°F for 25-30 minutes.
- Make sure not to core the apples completely through; leaving the bottom intact keeps the filling from spilling out during cooking.
- The type of apple impacts flavor and texture; Honeycrisp and Fuji hold their shape well while also offering sweetness.
