Microwave Baked Apples Recipe

Microwave Baked Apples are the perfect simple dessert for any occasion. This fruity treat is full of sugar and spice, and tastes just like apple pie!

I love apple recipes like this because there’s practically no preparation. Simply core an apple and add your brown sugar, cinnamon and butter.

You can make this quick dessert in a microwave oven or a regular microwave. The recipe is so easy that you can even make it together with the kids!

Enjoy this quick microwave recipe as an afternoon snack or simple after-dinner treat. You can even serve it as an accompaniment to other dishes at brunch!

Picking the Best Microwave Baked Apple Ingredients

Apples

When baking apples in the microwave, it’s important to choose a variety that will keep their shape. Softer varieties tend to disintegrate and become mushy when they’re cooked.

Choose firmer cooking apples such as Granny Smith for this recipe. The tartness of Granny Smith apples will also help balance the sweetness of the other ingredients.

If Granny Smith isn’t for you, Honeycrisp apples and Golden Delicious apples are other firm varieties. Mutsu apples are also nice and crisp and great for baking!

If you’re looking for flavor, Braeburn apples have a very concentrated taste. This will help the apples hold up to stronger flavors like cinnamon.

Cinnamon

It’s hard to imagine, but cinnamon actually comes from the tasty bark of Cinnamomum trees. This aromatic spice is often used in desserts, teas, and savory dishes around the world.

Cinnamon makes an appearance in many North American baked goods and breakfast foods. Cinnamon and sugar are also a classic seasoning for fruits such as apples.

Nutmeg and ground cinnamon are often used with each other. Nutmeg is pungent and bitter, which helps round out the warmth and sweetness of cinnamon.

You can add nutmeg to your baked apples along with cinnamon to get more depth of flavor!

Sugar

The best sugar to use in this recipe is brown sugar. This type of sugar has a rich flavor similar to caramel which works excellent with apples.

White sugar will work as well, but the flavor will not be as robust.

Instead of white sugar, opt for sweeteners like maple syrup or honey. They have that warmth and depth of flavor that pairs well with the spices in this dish.

If you want a less sweet dessert, you can skip the sugar altogether. The apples have enough natural sweetness on their own to still taste delicious.

Butter

Butter helps make this dessert extra rich and preserves the moisture of the apples. The hint of saltiness from the butter is also perfect to balance the sweetness of the apple.

The butter helps this dish taste more like apple pie because you get that buttery taste similar to pie crust. You can use margarine instead of butter, but the flavor won’t be as rich.

It’s not a necessary ingredient, so you can omit the butter altogether if you prefer.

Method

1. Wash Apples
   

   Scrub the skins of the apples under running water. The apples won’t be peeled, so the skins must be clean.
   

2. Mix Spices Together
   

   Add sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a medium mixing bowl. Use a whisk or fork to blend them together.
   

3. Core Apples
   

   Remove the cores from the apples with an apple corer or paring knife. Don’t remove the bottom part of the core, as this is what will keep all the ingredients inside.
   

4. Pack with Sugar, Spice, and Butter
   

   Spoon the sugar and spice mixture into the hole of each apple. Make sure the mixture is tightly packed.

   Add a tablespoon of butter on top. The butter will blend with the sugar as it cooks.
   

5. Bake Apples
   

   Place the apples into a microwave-safe dish. Pack them as closely as possible so they don’t wobble around.

   Cover the top of the apples with a paper towel. This will prevent splatters.

   Cook the apples on HIGH for 6 to 7 minutes. Check the apples every few minutes to see how soft they are.

   The apples are ready when they’re soft all the way through.
   

6. Spoon Sauce Overtop
   

   Place the apples into individual serving bowls. Collect the juices from the bottom of the microwave-safe dish and spoon it over top of the apples.

   If you want a thicker syrup, heat it for longer on the stove.
   

7. Serve!
   

   Serve your baked apple with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or yogurt!
   

Microwave Baked Apples Recipe Variations

The simplicity of this recipe is part of its charm. But there are also so many ways to mix things up and make it your own!

• I love adding some toasted oats or granola on top so this recipe tastes like apple crumble. If you do this, try adding some raisins or dried cranberries as well for a truly old-fashioned flavored treat.


• You can make this dessert much more decadent with a caramel sauce drizzle on top, or chopped nuts. One of my favorite simple ways to elevate these microwaved baked apples is with a splash of heavy cream!


• Coring whole apples can be a bit of a pain, so you can make this recipe with sliced apples instead. Just make sure you remove the core and seeds from the apple slices.

Storing Microwave Baked Apples

These microwave oven baked apples can be stored and reheated easily! Keep leftovers in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 4 days.

These apples freeze well too! These cooked apples will keep in the freezer for up to 5 months.

Cooked apples tend to brown, so to combat this add a squirt of lemon juice. It won’t affect the flavor when you reheat this treat and will keep the fruit looking fresh