Tender, slow-cooked cinnamon apples bring together classic fall flavors into a simple, nourishing treat! Made with fresh produce and pantry staples, this slow-cooker dessert is an effortless finish to your home-cooked meals. The spiced apples also make a tasty breakfast topping or a healthier filling for baked goods!

closeup view of white ramekin of slow cooked apples with another ramekin in background, with apple slices, gold spoon, cinnamon sticks, whole apple surrounding it

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What’s To Love About This Recipe

This simple slow cooker dessert is naturally sweetened with maple syrup instead of refined sugar. It makes a delicious, healthy treat to pair with toppings and mix-ins, or a homey scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Slow-cooker apples are made with fresh apples and pantry staples. You can skip the canned pie filling or heavy syrup and use natural ingredients with a few spices for incredible flavor.
Cinnamon apples make a tasty, light dessert and are also versatile enough to be added as a breakfast topping to yogurt or oatmeal or served as a sweetened side dish.
The tender, slow-cooked apples are added crisp and fresh, but still hold their shape after cooking. With a slightly thickened syrup, you can enjoy this comfort food hot or refrigerate it for sweet additions later.

Ingredients Needed

Apples – Firm apple varieties will hold their shape best during slow cooking, so use apples like Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or a mix of the three. Avoid softer varieties like McIntosh unless you want a more applesauce-like texture. Peel and slice the apples into uniform pieces for even cooking.
Apple juice – The slow cooker needs some liquid to cook the apples, so apple juice is the perfect addition, as it enhances their natural sweetness. If desired, you can also substitute water for the juice.
Maple syrup – Maple syrup keeps the overall recipe lightly sweet without being super sugary. Adjust the amount of syrup up or down based on the apple variety’s sweetness.
Ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg – There’s no better complement to fresh, sweet apples than cinnamon and nutmeg! This combination produces a classic fall flavor that brings warmth and depth to any season. For a stronger spice element, slightly increase the amount of cinnamon.
Salt – Adding just a pinch of salt is essential to balance the sweetness of the apples and syrup, enhancing the overall flavor.
Vanilla extract – Add high-quality vanilla extract at the end of cooking for a smooth, rich finish. This brings just the right amount of depth to the recipe!
Tapioca flour slurry (or cornstarch) – Mix 1 tablespoon of tapioca flour (or cornstarch) with 1 tablespoon of water to slightly thicken the juices. This keeps the apples from being too watery in the slow cooker and makes a glossy, light sauce.

ingredients to include large glass bowl of peeled and sliced apples, with small bowls of apple juice, maple syrup, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, salt, tapioca and a small container of vanilla

How To Make Slow Cooker Apples

Add the sliced apples to the slow cooker.

overhead view of black slow Cooker with sliced apples

Pour in the apple juice, then sprinkle the maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt over the apples. Stir gently to coat.

overhead view of black slow Cooker with sliced apples with hand pouring apple juice onto apples

overhead view of black slow Cooker with sliced apples and apple juice with maple syrup and dry ingredients added

Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 1½–2 hours, until the apples are tender but still hold their shape.
Stir once halfway through cooking, if possible.
Once the apples are cooked through, stir in the vanilla and tapioca slurry, then let it heat for 5-10 minutes.

overhead view of black slow Cooker with cooked apples with hand pouring tapioca and vanilla slurry over apples

Stir and serve warm, or let the apples cool and store them in the fridge or freezer.

overhead view of slow cooked apples on a woven place mat surrounded by apples, cinnamon sticks and striped dish towel

Pro Tips

Cooking on the low setting (for 3-4 hours) will produce the best texture and help prevent the apples from turning mushy. The high setting also works if you’re short on time, but check the texture earlier to prevent overcooking.
Many slow cooker recipes are forgiving of time, but in this recipe, it’s important that the apples do not overcook. They should be fork-tender, but still keep the slices intact.
Stir gently once halfway through cooking to redistribute the juices.
For firmer apples, reduce the liquid slightly or shorten the cooking time.
This recipe doubles well in a 6-7 quart slow cooker with the same cooking time.
Avoid overfilling the slow cooker since the apples will release liquid as they cook.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Change up your apple choices for flavor and seasonal availability. The best varieties with a firmer texture and structure are Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, Pink Lady, or Braeburn apples.
If you prefer, you can leave the skins on for additional fiber, but the apples will have a more rustic texture.
For lower sugar content, reduce the maple syrup or omit it entirely if the apples are naturally sweet.
Create a spice-filled holiday version by adding cloves, allspice, or a pinch of ginger.
For a maple-bourbon-cooked-apple dish, add 1 tablespoon of bourbon at the end of cooking.
Swap the maple syrup for light brown sugar if preferred.
If you like your apples applesauce-style, cook them slightly longer and mash lightly at the end.

closeup view of wooden spoon holding cooked apples with slow Cooker containing apples in background

How To Serve Slow Cooker Apples

Warm cinnamon-spiced apples make a tasty dessert served with a dollop of whipped cream or spooned over a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

They’re easy to use with many other dishes as well! Add some sweetness to your breakfast foods by incorporating cooked apples into oatmeal or layering them into homemade yogurt parfaits. The warm, sweet apples are delicious as a pancake or waffle topping, or you could stir them into cottage cheese for a high-protein snack.

Sweet apples also pair wonderfully with pork chops or roasted chicken for a homey, comfort-style dinner.

Another fun use is to add this healthy slow-cooked filling to hand pies, turnovers, or other pastries!

For other apple-inspired treats, check out Slow Cooker Apple Butter (So Easy!), Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bites, and Apple Crisp In The Slow Cooker.

overhead view of white ramekin of cooked apples topped with vanilla ice cream with another ramekin in background, surrounded by gold spoon, whole apple, and cinnamon sticks

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftover cooked apples in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freezer

The cooked apples will also freeze well for up to 3 months. The texture will soften slightly after thawing, but still maintain excellent flavor.

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through. Add a splash of water or juice if needed to thin the sauce.