Craving something warm, sweet, and comforting—but don’t want to fuss with the oven? These air fryer apples are your quick and cozy fix! These air fried apples are perfectly tender on the inside and caramelized on the edges. They taste just like classic baked apples—but they’re lighter, faster, and completely plant-based and gluten-free. Ready in just 15 minutes, they make a delicious dessert, wholesome snack, or naturally sweet breakfast topping. Big flavor, minimal effort!
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What Are Air Fryer Apples
Air fryer apples are warm, caramelized apple slices tossed with cozy spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. These apples are lightly sweetened with maple syrup, vegan honey, or agave. They are cooked in the air fryer until tender on the inside. The outside becomes slightly crisp. This easy dessert is made without butter, oil, eggs, or refined sugar.
These air fried apples are naturally vegan and gluten-free, making them a guilt-free treat for both kids and adults. This simple yet flavorful recipe is ready in just 10 to 15 minutes. It is perfect as a wholesome dessert. The way they look, you can also call them Air Fryer Apple Tots or Roasted Apple Fritters. Have it as a quick snack or add it as a topping for oatmeal, pancakes, yogurt, or ice cream.
If you're craving a cozy dessert, these vegan air fried apples are perfect. They deliver indulgence. You won't experience the heaviness. They're easy to make, packed with flavor, and a must-try if you love simple, clean ingredients and comforting food.
If You Love Apples, you’re in for a treat! Don’t miss these other delicious easy apple-inspired recipes on the blog:
- Indian Fruit Custard – A nostalgic classic made dairy-free and packed with fresh fruit.
- Vegan Honey – A plant-based twist perfect for drizzling over this air fried dessert.
- Apple Pistachio Mousse – A creamy, dreamy dessert that’s light yet indulgent.
Why Use An Air Fryer To Bake Apples
Using an air fryer to bake apples is a game-changer! It’s quicker than the traditional oven method and doesn’t require any preheating. In just minutes, you get soft, caramelized air fried apples with perfectly crisp edges—without heating up your whole kitchen.
Not only is it fast and efficient, but it's also a healthier option compared to deep frying. Air fryer apple recipe uses little to no oil, and no refined sugar, making them a light and wholesome alternative to traditional fried apples or apple pie. The air fryer provides that same warm, comforting flavor you’d expect from baked apples and it does so in a fraction of the time.
Best Way To Slice Apples For Air Frying Them
For the best texture and even cooking, slice your apple into bite-sized wedges. You can cut the apple into thick wedges or halve those wedges even further for smaller pieces. Avoid slicing them too thin. They may turn mushy or burn in the air fryer.
Prefer a crispier texture? You can also slice the apple, like apple chips, for a lighter, snackable version. Whatever shape you cut them, just make sure the pieces are uniform in size to ensure even air frying.
Love how easy this air fryer apple dessert is? Try more of my favorite air fryer recipes next:
- Jalapeño Poppers – Crispy, spicy, and totally addictive.
- Garlic Bread – Toasty and buttery, with a vegan twist.
- Air Fried Cauliflower – A healthy, crunchy snack or side.
- Air Fried Green Beans – Perfectly crisp and ready in minutes.
These recipes prove your air fryer isn’t just for fries—it’s a mealtime MVP!
Why Make It
- ⏱️ Quick & Easy beginner-friendly Dessert – Made with just 5 basic ingredients and ready in 15 minutes! Minimal prep, zero fuss, and easy cleanup.
- 🌱 Vegan, Gluten-Free and Nut-Free – A wholesome treat that suits most dietary needs.
- 🚫 No Butter, Oil, Eggs, Flour, or Refined Sugar – Light, clean ingredients without sacrificing flavor.
- 🍽️ Made in the Air Fryer – No need to heat the oven or wait for preheating. It's a healthy Air Fryer dessert recipe.
- 🍎 Great Way to Use Apples – Perfect for using up leftovers before they go soft!
- 🥗 Low-Fat and Low-Calorie – A light and wholesome apple crisp dessert recipe that you can enjoy guilt-free!
This simple and healthy Air Fryer apple dessert recipe checks all the boxes—fast, healthy, comforting, and crowd-pleasing! 💛
Ingredients needed 🧾
Apples - You can use any variety of crisp red apples when making this Air Fryer dessert recipe. I’ve used Honeycrisp variety here because of their natural sweetness and crisp texture, which hold up beautifully while cooking.
Sweetener
I used maple syrup in this Air Fryer Apple Bites recipe. It gives the roasted apples a nice glaze too.
Spices
To bring out that cozy, baked-apple flavor, you’ll need: Cinnamon powder, Cardamom powder, and Nutmeg. These warming spices give the dessert a rich, comforting aroma and depth of flavor making it the best air fried apples recipe!
Oil - Use coconut oil spray or plant-based butter spray when making Air Fryer baked apples with cinnamon.
Air Fryer
Of course, you’ll need an air fryer for this recipe! It’s the key to achieving that perfect tender-yet-caramelized finish—without using any butter or oil.
🧼 Silicone Air Fryer Liner – For easier cleanup and to catch any excess juice from the apples, it's a great idea to use a silicone air fryer liner. It helps prevent sticking and keeps your fryer basket mess-free.
How to make it 🔪
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- Wash, peel, and core the apple. Cut each slice in half. If you want, you can also leave the peel on. Chef tip - Do this just before you plan to air fry them. They brown really quick if left out in the open.
- Immediately transfer to a mixing bowl.
- Add cardamom powder, ground nutmeg, and cinnamon powder.
- Drizzle maple syrup. Then lightly spray them with vegetable oil or coconut oil spray to help them get perfectly crisp edges during air frying.
- Mix till well combined.
- Arrange the apple pieces in a single layer. Do not crowd it. Spray with vegetable oil using an oil mister. Place the tray with apples in the Air Fryer and cook them at 380 degrees F for 8-10 minutes. There is no need to preheat it. The apple bites should turn golden and crisp and tender on the inside. Toss them midway if needed to cook them evenly. Be careful to not burn them. Watch closely.
Serving suggestions 🍽
When done, transfer to a serving plate. Enjoy this healthy snack with apples as is or and serve it warm with ice cream. Instead of vegan or regular vanilla ice cream, you can also serve it as is or with some plain or flavored Greek yogurt (Vanilla Greek Yogurt), whipped cream, frozen yogurt, or cottage cheese, on the side.
For additional flavor, drizzle some caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, dulce de leche sauce, peanut butter, nut butter, or applesauce. Garnish Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples with saffron strands, toasted granola, raisins, toasted nuts like pecans, walnuts, or almonds, rice krispies, sunflower seeds.
Enjoy it as is or pair it with oatmeal of your choice. They would make great toppings for Chocolate Coconut Ice Cream, pancakes, pies, bundt cakes, sponge cake, pound cake, acai bowl, French Toast, Fruit Custard, or Porridge. They could be a great addition to your Dessert Charcuterie Board.
Air-Fryer cinnamon apples can be paired with savory dishes like Potato Waffles, Pudla Toast, Loaded Nachos, or Oats Upma.
🍞 Serve on Toast – Spread cream cheese, cottage cheese, or ricotta on toasted bread, then top with warm air fryer roasted apples. Finish with a drizzle of maple syrup and a sprinkle of sea salt for a sweet and creamy treat—perfect for breakfast or brunch!
It's one of the quickest and easiest guilt-free desserts to make when you have surprised guests, or if sudden craving hits. You can also make it for Valentine's day, date night, serve it as a side at Thanksgiving or Christmas parties, or take it for potlucks. It' also makes for a great fall dessert! These maple-glazed, cinnamon-spiced air fried apples are the perfect cozy treat—enjoy them for breakfast, as a midday snack, or a naturally sweet dessert!
Top recipe tips 💭
Add one more tablespoon of maple syrup if your apples are not very sweet. If the air-fried apples are still not sweet, dust them with castor sugar. If you are in the mood to indulge, use vegan or regular butter instead of cooking oil spray when air frying the apples for an extra buttery flavor. Adjust the seasonings and ingredients to your liking for added variety. Apple pie spice, ginger powder, ground cloves, all spice, or pumpkin spice, can also be used in this Air Fried Apples recipe. Add half a teaspoon vanilla extract for added flavor.
FAQs 📖
Use firm apples so they don’t turn mushy. Great way to use apples that are lying in your kitchen and are about to die! Cut the apple into bite-size pieces. Do not cut them very small. You can also cut them in wedges, like fries, or slices like chips.
I’ve used fresh red Honeycrisp apples here because of their natural sweetness and crisp texture, which hold up beautifully while cooking.
Other excellent choices include: Pink Lady variety (they are sweet-tart and firm) or Golden Delicious variety (they are mellow and soft when cooked), Braeburn, Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, Cosmic Crisps, or Jonagold variety can also be used. Feel free to use whatever apples you have on hand. Just make sure they’re naturally sweet, firm and crisp, so they hold their shape while air frying.
I haven’t tested this recipe with green apples (like Granny Smith), but feel free to use whatever apples you have on hand. Just make sure they are firm, crisp, and naturally sweet so they don’t turn mushy in the fryer.
Avoid using Red Delicious, as they tend to become mushy when baked, stewed, or air fried.
That being said, this is a great leftover apples recipe.
I used maple syrup in this recipe, but you can easily substitute it with: vegan honey, Agave syrup, brown sugar, dates syrup, cinnamon sugar (omit adding cinnamon then), or pancake syrup. Choose your favorite based on your flavor preference and dietary needs.
To make this air fryer apple dessert completely sugar-free, simply swap out the maple syrup for a low-carb sweetener like erythritol, xylitol, stevia, monk fruit blend, or your preferred sugar-free sweetener. Adjust the amount to taste, as some sugar substitutes are sweeter than others.
These air fryer roasted apples are best enjoyed warm, ideally within 20 minutes of making them. That’s when they taste the most flavorful and have the perfect soft-yet-crisp texture.
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When you're ready to enjoy them again, simply reheat in the microwave. While they may lose some of their crisp edges, the flavor will still be delicious and comforting.
To freeze, place the cooled air fryer apple bites in a freezer-safe, sealed container and store for up to 2–3 months. When you're ready to enjoy them, allow the apples to thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat in the microwave or air fryer until warm. For extra richness, feel free to toss them with a little melted vegan butter before serving.
You can follow the same recipe to make Air Fried Banana, Peach, or Pears. They all have similar flavor profile and will taste great when roasted in a the Fryer.
You can still enjoy delicious fried cinnamon apples using other methods:
🍳 Cast Iron Skillet – Cook the apple slices in a lightly greased cast iron skillet over medium heat. Sauté until they become soft and caramelized, about 8–10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
🔥 Oven-Baked Apples – Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Toss the apples with spices and sweetener, spread them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake for 20–25 minutes until tender and golden.
Both methods yield warm, flavorful apples with that classic baked apple vibe.
This isn’t an ideal make-ahead recipe since air fryer apple bites taste best fresh and warm. However, if you need to prep in advance, here’s a simple trick:
🍎 Slice the apples and place them in a ziplock bag with the sweetener and spices. Seal the bag and toss well to coat all the slices evenly. Store in the refrigerator until you're ready to air fry—ideally within 24 hours.
When it’s time to cook, just pop them straight into the fryer. It’s a great way to save time without sacrificing flavor!
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Recipe 📖
Air Fryer Apples – Easy Vegan Dessert in 15 Minutes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 apples
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or vegan honey
- ½ teaspoon cardamom powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- cooking oil spray
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and core the apple. Cut each slice in half. If you want, you can also leave the peel on. Chef tip - Do this just before you plan to air fry them. They brown really quick if left out in the open.
- Immediately transfer to a mixing bowl.
- Add cardamom powder, ground nutmeg, and cinnamon powder.
- Drizzle maple syrup. Then lightly spray them with vegetable oil or coconut oil spray to help them get perfectly crisp edges during air frying.
- Mix till well combined.
- Arrange the apple pieces in a single layer. Do not crowd it. Spray with vegetable oil using an oil mister. Place the tray with apples in the Air Fryer and cook them at 380 degrees F for 8-10 minutes. There is no need to preheat it. The apple bites should turn golden and crisp and tender on the inside. Toss them midway if needed to cook them evenly. Be careful to not burn them. Watch closely.
- When done, transfer to a serving plate. Enjoy this healthy snack with apples as is or and serve it warm with ice cream.
Want to save this recipe?
We'll email this recipe to you, so that you can look at it later!
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