We’ve been playing around with the air fryer a lot lately, and one thing became obvious pretty quickly, it’s underrated for healthy snacks. Most people think of it for fries or frozen food, but we wanted to push it a little further. That’s where these air fryer apples come in. They’re warm, sweet, and surprisingly satisfying without needing any refined sugar, butter, or a lot of prep. Just a few clean ingredients, a quick toss, and about 10 minutes in the air fryer. That’s it.

These are one of those snacks we turn to when we want something comforting but still light. It’s perfect in the afternoon when you want a little pick-me-up or even late at night when dessert sounds good but you’re not trying to go off-track. We also throw them on top of protein pancakes, mix them into oats, or serve them with Greek yogurt. If you’re looking for a high-protein breakfast to go with these air fryer apples, try our Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl. They’re fluffy, clean-eating friendly, and perfect together.

Why We Keep Making This

For us, this recipe checks a lot of boxes. First off, it’s super fast. Like, actually 10 minutes from start to finish. That matters when you’re juggling workouts, work, and everything else. Second, it doesn’t take up oven space, and there’s barely any cleanup, two things that always earn extra points in our kitchen.

We also like that it keeps things light. There’s no butter or refined sugar, but the flavor still feels like dessert. It satisfies that craving for something sweet without weighing us down. And let’s be real: it’s hard to beat something this good for under 100 calories per serving. That’s a win, especially when you want to stay on track without feeling restricted.

And finally, apples are easy to find. You don’t need to wait for a season or go to a specialty store. This works year-round, whether it’s fall or summer.

Ingredients (Serves 2)

• 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji)
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp coconut sugar or maple syrup (optional)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• Optional: 1/2 tsp melted coconut oil
• Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

1. Choose and Prep the Apples

Start by selecting apples that are crisp and naturally sweet. Honeycrisp, Gala, and Fuji work best because they soften nicely without becoming mushy. Wash them thoroughly, then core and slice them into even 1/4-inch thick wedges. There’s no need to peel them unless you prefer a smoother texture.

2. Toss with Cinnamon and Flavor

Place the apple slices in a mixing bowl. Add the cinnamon, coconut sugar or maple syrup (if using), vanilla extract, lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and optional melted coconut oil. Toss everything together until the apple slices are evenly coated. The lemon juice enhances the brightness, while cinnamon brings warmth and sweetness.

3. Air Fry Until Tender and Golden

Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 2–3 minutes. Spread the apple slices in a single layer in the basket. Avoid overcrowding to ensure even cooking and caramelization. Depending on your air fryer size, you might need to work in two batches.

Air fry the apples for 8–10 minutes, flipping or shaking the basket halfway through. Keep an eye on them during the last 2 minutes, they should be soft and slightly crisp around the edges.

4. Serve Warm

Transfer the cooked apples to a bowl and enjoy them warm. They taste amazing as is, but you can also pair them with vanilla Greek yogurt, sprinkle on some chopped nuts, or drizzle with a touch of almond butter for a more filling snack.

Serving Ideas

These apples are versatile. Here are some of the combinations you can try:

• On oatmeal or overnight oats
• Over protein pancakes or waffles.
• Mixed with Greek yogurt or cottage cheese
• Topped with granola and nut butter
• Served cold over chia pudding

They are amazing on top of our High Protein Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl. The combo tastes like a healthy apple pie breakfast.

Nutrition Info (Per Serving)

Nutrition varies slightly based on apple size and whether sweetener or oil is used.

Tips We’ve Learned Along the Way

We’ve made this recipe a lot, and here are a few things we figured out after some trial and error:

If your apples are extra sweet, skip the added sugar. Cinnamon does enough on its own. If you want a richer texture, a touch of melted coconut oil goes a long way but it’s totally optional. We’ve done it both ways, and both versions are solid.

Make sure not to slice the apples too thin, or they’ll go soggy fast. About ¼ inch thick is ideal thick enough to hold up in the air fryer but still soft inside.

These keep well in the fridge too. You can store leftovers for a couple days and reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes. They won’t be quite as crisp, but still delicious.

Flavor Variations

We’ve had readers tell us they’ve swapped in apple pie spice, added chopped pecans, or drizzled almond butter on top and honestly, we’ve tried all those ideas ourselves. You can easily turn this into a protein snack or dessert depending on how you serve it. Just use what you’ve got and build on the base.

Wrap-Up From Our Kitchen

This one’s been in our rotation for a while now. It’s simple, healthy, and actually enjoyable to eat. No weird ingredients, no hassle. If you’re just starting to use your air fryer or looking for something new to do with apples, this is the one. Clean eating doesn’t have to be boring or complicated. Sometimes, it’s as simple as slicing up fruit and letting a little cinnamon do the rest.

Air Fryer Apples

Warm cinnamon and maple-glazed air fryer apples are the perfect healthy dessert that everyone will love! They are vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snacks

Servings 2

Calories 191 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 2 red apples, pink lady, honey crisp, or gala, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch bite-sized cubes
• 2 tablespoon real maple syrup, divided
• 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil, refined has no taste
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

 

• Preheat your air fryer to 380°F and lightly spray with non-stick spray.
• Add the peeled apple cubes into a bowl and toss with 1 Tablespoon maple syrup, coconut oil, and cinnamon.
• Add apple cubes to the heated air fryer basket. Make sure they don’t overlap too much, or else they will not cook properly.
• Air fry for 10 - 14 minutes, shaking halfway through. They should be golden, slightly crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. 
• Remove from the air fryer and toss the warm apples in 1 Tablespoon of maple syrup. 
• Enjoy warm with vanilla ice cream, oatmeal, or on its own!

Notes

Maple Syrup: I highly reccomend using maple syrup, but you can substitute with honey if needed.

 

Coconut Oil: Use refined coconut oil for no coconut taste. You can also substitute with olive oil if needed.

 

Storing: They are best enjoyed within 20 minutes of air frying, but you can also store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

 

Reheating: Reheat in a microwave-safe bowl for 30 - 45 seconds until warm.