Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples (6 Ingredients, 20 Minutes)

Name: Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 4 Honeycrisp apples (cored and cut into wedges, or another firm apple); 1 teaspoon neutral oil; 1 tablespoon maple syrup; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon brown sugar; ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

These air fryer cinnamon apples are tossed in brown sugar, maple syrup and a splash of vanilla, then air fried until they're tender and caramelized at the edges. Air fryer apples taste a lot like apple pie filling, but they're ready in about 20 minutes with just 6 ingredients and no stovetop.

I love them warm over oatmeal, pumpkin pancakes or vegan French toast, and they're just as good with a scoop of vegan ice cream for dessert. If you want something crunchy instead, my Dehydrator Apple Chips are thin, crispy and made for snacking.

Golden air fryer apple wedges with caramelized edges on a mesh air fryer tray.

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email & get this sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get great new recipes from me every week!

Jump to:

Ingredients for Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples
How to Make Cinnamon Apples in the Air Fryer
Toni's Recipe Tips
Ideas I Haven't Tried Yet
What to Serve with Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples
How to Store and Reheat Cinnamon Apples
Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples FAQs
More Vegan Fall Recipes
Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples

Why You'll Love These Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples

Soft, cinnamon-sweet apples that taste like apple pie filling.
Just 6 simple ingredients.
About 20 minutes from start to finish.
Great for breakfast, an afternoon snack or dessert.
A fun way to use up a big bag of apples from the store or the orchard.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples

Four whole red and yellow apples with small bowls of brown sugar, maple syrup, oil, vanilla and cinnamon.

Apples: I use Honeycrisp, but any firm, crisp apple works, sweet or tart. See the FAQs for more apple ideas.
Neutral oil: Helps the apples soften and caramelize at the edges.
Maple syrup: Adds sweetness and helps the cinnamon stick.
Vanilla extract: For a warm, bakery-style flavor.
Brown sugar: Just a little, for caramelized edges. Add a bit more if your apples are tart.
Cinnamon: Apples and cinnamon are a perfect match.

See the recipe card below for exact amounts.

How to Make Cinnamon Apples in the Air Fryer

Apple wedges on a speckled counter next to a whole apple and an apple slicer.

Step 1: Cut the apples. Core the apples and cut them into wedges. An apple slicer makes this quick and gives you 8 even pieces per apple.

Oil, maple syrup, brown sugar and cinnamon in a white bowl with a whisk.

Step 2: Make the cinnamon glaze. In a large bowl, mix the oil, maple syrup, vanilla, brown sugar and cinnamon.

Cinnamon glaze being poured from a small bowl over apple wedges in a large bowl.

Step 3: Add the apples. Add the apple wedges to the bowl with the glaze.

Apple wedges coated in cinnamon glaze in a white bowl with a spoon.

Step 4: Toss to coat. Gently mix until every piece is evenly coated.

Cinnamon-coated raw apple wedges spread in a single layer on a mesh air fryer tray.

Step 5: Spread them out. Arrange the apples in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray and pour any leftover glaze over the top.

Apple wedges cooking in an air fryer oven set to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 6: Air fry. Cook at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) for 10 minutes. Shake the basket, then cook for 5 more minutes.

How to tell they're done: a fork or paring knife should slide easily into the thickest piece, and the edges should look golden and caramelized. If they're not as soft as you like, keep air frying in 2-minute increments.

Overhead view of tender air fryer apple wedges on a mesh tray.

Looking for classic baked apples? Try my Healthy Apple Pie Baked Apples, filled with cinnamon apples and topped with a pie crust lattice.

Toni's Recipe Tips

Cut evenly. Same-size wedges cook at the same rate, so none end up mushy or underdone.
Adjust the sweetness. Sweet apples need less brown sugar, and tart apples may need a little more.
Don't crowd the apples. Keep them in a single layer so they caramelize instead of steaming. I use an air fryer oven, so if you have a basket-style air fryer, cook them in batches.
Shake halfway. Give the basket a shake (or flip the apples) after 10 minutes so they cook evenly.
Check early the first time. Every air fryer runs a little differently, so start checking at the 15-minute mark.

Ideas I Haven't Tried Yet

I haven't tested these yet, but they're easy ways to change things up. If you try one, let me know how it goes in the comments!

Different spices: Swap the cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice or chai spice. A reader made these with pumpkin pie spice and loved them.
Coconut sugar: Use it in place of the brown sugar.
A pinch of salt: To balance the sweetness.
Saucier apples: Toss the cooked apples with a little melted vegan butter mixed with extra cinnamon and brown sugar.
Whole stuffed baked apples: Cut apples in half (or scoop out the core of whole apples), brush with oil or melted vegan butter, sprinkle with cinnamon, and fill with the oat crisp topping from my Easy Peach Crisp mixed with chopped nuts. Air fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) until tender, checking after about 12 minutes.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples

Air fryer apple wedges with caramelized edges spread across a mesh air fryer tray.

Spoon them over oatmeal or Peanut Butter Jelly Overnight Oats.
Pile them on Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes, Easy Vegan Banana Waffles or Easy Vegan Just Egg French Toast.
Serve them warm with a scoop of Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream and a drizzle of Vegan Peanut Butter Caramel.
Layer them with dairy-free yogurt and granola for a quick parfait.
Add them to your Thanksgiving or Christmas breakfast table.
For an easy fall dessert spread, serve them alongside these puff pastry apple turnovers.

How to Store and Reheat Cinnamon Apples

Fridge: Let the apples cool, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They're best within a few days.

Reheat: Warm them for a few minutes in the air fryer, or in the microwave in short bursts, until heated through.

Close-up of soft, caramelized air fryer apple wedges on a mesh air fryer tray.

Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples FAQs

How long do you cook apples in the air fryer?

Air fry apple wedges at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) for 10 minutes, shake the basket, then cook for 5 more minutes. If you like them softer, keep going in 2-minute increments.

What are the best apples for air fryer cinnamon apples?

Any firm, crisp apple that holds its shape when cooked. For sweeter apples, try Honeycrisp, Fuji, Pink Lady, Gala or Golden Delicious. For tart apples, try Granny Smith or Braeburn. Skip mealy apples, since they turn mushy.

Do I need to peel the apples?

No. I leave the peel on for color and less prep, but you can peel them if you'd like extra-soft apples.

How do I know when air fryer apples are done?

A fork or paring knife should slide easily into the thickest piece, and the edges should look golden and caramelized.

Can I make air fryer apples without oil?

I always make them with a little oil because it helps them turn tender in the middle and caramelized on the outside. I haven't tested an oil-free version.

Do I need to shake the basket?

Yes, give it a shake (or flip the apples) halfway through so they cook evenly.

Can I make these in a basket air fryer?

Yes. I use an air fryer oven with a mesh tray, so if you have a smaller basket-style air fryer, cook the apples in batches so they stay in a single layer.

What's the difference between air fryer apples and apple chips?

Air fryer cinnamon apples are soft, warm and saucy, a lot like apple pie filling. For thin, crispy apple slices you can snack on, make my Dehydrator Apple Chips instead.

Did you make these air fryer cinnamon apples? I'd love to hear how they turned out! Leave a 🌟 star rating and a 📝 comment below, and tag me on Instagram so I can see your photos.