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Sometimes the simplest desserts are the most satisfying. These Easy Old-Fashioned Baked Apples transform fresh apples into a warm, cozy treat with just a handful of pantry ingredients.
There’s no peeling or complicated prep—just halve the apples, fill the centers with a buttery cinnamon mixture, and bake until they’re tender and fragrant. They’re delicious on their own, with a spoonful of Greek yogurt for breakfast, or topped with a little light vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Whether you’re looking for a lighter dessert, a comforting fall treat, or an easy way to use up extra apples, this recipe is one you’ll come back to again and again.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple pantry ingredients
- No peeling required
- Naturally portion-controlled
- Easy enough for weeknights
- Perfect for dessert or breakfast
- Ready in about 45 minutes
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Apples — Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Rome, Granny Smith, Cortland, or Golden Delicious all work well. Choose apples that hold their shape during baking.
- Brown sugar — For sweetness and caramel-like flavor. Substitute maple syrup, honey, or a sugar-free alternative.
- Butter (melted) — Adds richness. Swap with coconut oil for dairy-free.
- Cinnamon — The warm spice that makes these irresistible.
- Nutmeg — Adds depth; you can omit if preferred.
- Water or apple juice — Keeps the apples moist during baking.
- Optional Add-ins for the filling: quick oats, chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds), dried cranberries, or raisins.
How to Bake Apples Step-by-Step
Step 1: Prep the apples
Wash and dry, then cut in half around the middle. Scoop out the core and seeds.
Step 2: Make the filling
Mix together brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add optional oats or nuts if desired. Spoon the mixture into the centers of the apples.
Step 3: Bake
Arrange apples in a baking dish, pour in water or apple juice, and bake at 350°F for 30–45 minutes, until tender.
Step 4: Serve
Enjoy warm, plain or topped with low-fat ice cream, whipped cream, or Greek yogurt.
Recipe Tips
- Slightly firm apples hold their shape best.
- Baking time varies depending on the variety and size of your apples.
- Cover loosely with foil if the tops begin browning before the apples are tender.
- Spoon some of the pan juices over the apples before serving.
Variations
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts.
- Stir oats into the filling.
- Add raisins or dried cranberries.
- Sprinkle with granola after baking.
- Swap brown sugar for maple syrup.
- Add a pinch of ginger or cardamom.
Serving Suggestions
Serve warm:
- with vanilla Greek yogurt
- with light whipped topping
- with a small scoop of light vanilla ice cream
- over oatmeal
- alongside pancakes or waffles
- with a drizzle of warm custard sauce for a classic dessert
Storage
Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat in the microwave (affiliate link) or a low oven until warmed through.
WW Points and Nutrition
According to my calculations each baked apple half has just:
- Calories: 116
- Points: To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) - Old WW Points: 3 PointsPlus
If you’ve made these old-fashioned Easy Old-Fashioned Baked Apples, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Easy Old-Fashioned Baked Apples
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large apples
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/3 cup water or apple juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Cut the apples in half around the middle. Remove the core and seeds with a small spoon or knife. Place the apples in an ovenproof baking dish.
- In a small bowl (affiliate link), combine the brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and nutmeg. Spoon this mixture into the centers of your apple halves. Pour water or apple juice into the baking dish.
- Bake apples for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the apples are tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife.
- Serve warm with low-fat ice cream, whipped cream or plain or vanilla yogurt and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 3 PointsPlus (Old plan) Variations:
These healthy baked apples can be customized too. Feel free to add up to 1/4 cup of other healthy ingredients to the sugar, butter and spices, such as:
- Chopped dried fruit such as raisins or dried cranberries
- Chopped nuts such as almonds, pecans or walnuts,
- Low-fat granola
- Quick cooking oats
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Easy Apple Recipes You’ll Love
If you enjoyed these simple baked apples, you might also like:
- This super-simple Microwave Cinnamon Apple Crisp for one mixes together in minutes with minimal ingredients and cooks quickly right in the microwave (affiliate link).
- With minimal ingredients this WW Microwave Baked Apple Dessert is ready in minutes.
- If you’re a fan of Cracker Barrel’s fried apples, you’ll love my WW Cinnamon Apple Stir-Fry, which is just as tasty and much lighter.
- This Enlightened Apple Pie Parfait combines layers of apple, yogurt, and granola for a wholesome treat.
Looking for More Easy WW-Friendly Recipes?
If you enjoy simple, comforting recipes like these baked apples, you’ll find hundreds more in my Slow Cook Yourself Slim Ultimate eBook Bundle , filled with easy, family-friendly meals designed to make healthy eating feel effortless.
I used Granny Smith’s & the recipe was SO delicious! Loved the seasonings. Definitely will make again. And it was easy to put together.
Went apple picking and pur fresh apples made this recipe..Really delicious! Thanks!
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This is just what I was looking for for my book club tomorrow night. Do you cover the apples while they bake??
Hi Rinah,
No, I baked them uncovered. You could cover them to make them softer/cook them more quickly. Hope this helps.
I’m new to weight watchers and still trying to figure out what I’m doing. Thank you so much for all the recipes! My transition to healthier eating is a lot less daunting! 🙂
Hi Cheryl,
Learning a new skill, like eating healthy with Weight Watchers can be daunting in the beginning. Just stick with it and it will get easier every day!! I’ve been at it for more than 20 years now, so if there is anything I can do to help, let me know! Hope the recipes help you stay on track as much as they do me 🙂
I accidentally put 2 tablespoons of butter in so I added some oats to thicken the mixture up and it turned out great! thanks so much!
Oops, Rochelle. I do those kinds of things all the time!! Glad the recipe worked for you.
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Am interested in wich weight watcher point system you are using. Thanks for all your hard work! Will pass your site around to all my weight watcher friends.
Hi Elana,
Thanks for your kind comment. I’m using the most recent Weight Watchers Point System, which is called PointsPlus.