These baked apples made in the air fryer are a great way to showcase this popular fall fruit. Halved apples are filled with a buttery, oat crumble topping and air fried to perfection. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream for a quick and easy dessert!
I finally did it.
I bought an air fryer.
Don't get me wrong I love kitchen gadgets, but I'm also somewhat of a minimalist. Between blenders, mixers, food processors and slow cookers, I've needed to draw a line.
Then, a couple months ago I came across a deal on an air fryer. I had heard great things about these "countertop convection ovens", so decided to pull the trigger on this latest kitchen gadget.
While there's no replacing good ol' frying, I'm enjoying this air fryer for things like French fries, chicken nuggets, vegetables. Things cook quickly and you get pretty close to the signature crunch of regular fried food without all the calories or mess to clean up.
I've been wanting to branch out to try some new things in the air fryer. This apple dessert is my first creation and it is so delicious!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Individual portions - This apple dessert is like personal apple crisps for everyone to enjoy.
- Easily scaled - This recipe can easily be doubled serving a crowd, or halved for a date night dessert.
- Perfect fall flavors - What says fall more than the flavors of apple and warm spices?
Ingredient Notes
Here are a few helpful tips on the ingredients. For a full list of ingredients, check out the recipe card below.
- Apples - You want to use an apple that's considered good for baking. A crisp apple will bake nicely without getting overly mushy. Some great choices are Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Granny Smith, Pink Lady or Cortland.
- Cold butter - Using cold butter will help achieve the crispy topping on the apples.
- Old Fashioned Oats - Using old fashioned oats vs. quick oats will give the oat crumble a crunchier, chewier texture since the oats aren't as broken down as quick oats are.
- Pecans - Chopped pecans give the oat crumble more texture and a nutty flavor. Feel free to leave them out if you prefer.
Step-by-Step Instructions
These air fried baked apples are so easy to put together. Here's how you do it:
Step 1: Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees. - When first learning about my air fryer, I've seen the majority of suggestions saying to preheat it for about 5 minutes before adding your food. This helps the food keep it's crispy texture and makes for more accurate cooking times.
Step 2: Prep the apples. - Cut apples in half stem-to-stem. Use a melon baller or sharp knife to remove core and seeds. Brush entire apple halves with 1 tbsp. melted butter. I also like to cut a small slice off the "bottom" of each apple halves so they sit straight in the air fryer.
If you have an apple corer you can use this to remove the core before cutting it in half.
Step 3: Make the topping. - In a small mixing bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, spices, flour and pecans. Cut remaining 2 tbsp. cold butter into the oat mixture until there are no dry spots. A good pair of clean hands is the best kitchen tool for this.
Step 4: Fill the apples. - Divide oat filling between the 4 apples halves, pressing the filling into the center of the apple.
Step 5: Air fry. - Air fry the apples 15-20 minutes until the apples are soft and the topping is browned and crunchy. Poke the apples with a sharp knife after 15 minutes to check tenderness. Cooking times can vary depending on air fryer.
Serving Tips
These baked apples are best served warm right out of the air fryer. Top them with a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream, or a big dollop of whipped cream. Yum!
I love how this recipe makes essentially individual apple crisps, making it the perfect dessert for entertaining.
FAQ
While they are best served warm, the oat topping can be made a few hours in advance and kept in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the baked apples. As with any apple recipe, don't cut the apples before you are ready to use them to avoid them turning brown.
Yes! If you haven't made the air fryer leap yet, you can certainly make these in your conventional oven. Place the apples in an 8x8 baking dish and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, until the apples are tender.
While oats are naturally gluten-free, be sure to check the label as cross-contamination can happen during production. You can easily swap an almond flour or other gluten-free flour for all-purpose to make this recipe gluten-free.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Leftover apples can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, if they last that long!
To reheat, place the apples back in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 5-7 minutes until heated through. Reheating them in the air fryer will allow the topping to crisp back up.
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Air Fryer Baked Apples
Ingredients
- 2 apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith
- 3 tablespoon cold butter divided
- ¼ cup old fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon flour
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- pinch of salt
- ¼ cup chopped pecans optional
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees.
- Cut apples in half stem-to-stem. Use an apple corer or melon baller to remove core and seeds. Brush entire apple halves with 1 tbsp. melted butter. I also like to cut a small slice off the "bottom" of each apple halves so they sit straight in the air fryer.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, spices, flour and pecans. Cut remaining 2 tbsp. cold butter into the oat mixture until there are no dry spots. (Hands work best)
- Divide oat filling between the 4 apples halves, pressing the filling into the center of the apple. Place in air fryer basket.
- Air fry the apples 15-20 minutes until the apples are soft and the topping is browned and crunchy. Check apples after 15 minutes as cooking times can vary depending on air fryer.
Notes
- Serve warm with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream on top.
- A good, crisp baking apple is key. A crisp apple will bake nicely without getting overly mushy. Some great choices are Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Granny Smith, Pink Lady or Cortland.
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