Sweet, tart, and warm – my caramelized apples recipe is an easy-to-make healthy Fall dessert, perfect to eat with a scoop of ice cream. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and even vegan too!
How to Make Caramelized Apples
Yay, more apple-based recipes! I have so many I need to use after all that apple picking I did in September, so hopefully this simple recipe can come in handy for you this Fall, too.
For this recipe, the apples are sautéed in butter, sugar, and cinnamon until tender and caramelized. They can then be added to sweet or savory dishes from pancakes to roasted pork loin, or be eaten directly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
What Does Caramelization Mean?
One thing to keep in mind that often gets confused is that caramelized apples are not caramel apples! Caramelization is actually the browning of sugar used in cooking for the resulting sweet nutty flavor and brown color.
What You’ll Need to Make Caramelized Apples
- Apples – Use 2-3 gala, granny smith, or any other firm cooking apple.
- Butter – I used non-dairy.
- Sugar – I used coconut sugar, but white sugar or brown sugar would also taste great!
- Cinnamon
Tips and Tricks
What Are The Best Apples to Use For Caramelization?
The best apples to use for this recipe are a firm apples such as Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala or Honeycrisp. Most people prefer Granny Smith because they are tart, which pairs perfectly with the sweet buttery caramelized sauce. It’s not a good idea to use a softer apple because they will fall apart while cooking.
What to make with caramelized apples?
Caramelized apples can be used on top of ice cream, on your pancakes, or as a pie filling. You can also use caramelized apples in savory dishes like chicken or turkey if you enjoy a sweeter taste to your meals. But honestly, you can use caramelized apples on almost anything you want!
How to Store Caramelized Apples?
Once cooled, place it in a jar with a tight fitting lid and refrigerate. It should keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
Healthier Caramelized Apples
Equipment
- large saucepan
Ingredients
- 2-3 whole apples
- 1 tablespoon butter I used non-dairy butter
- 2 tablespoons sugar I used coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Slice apples into even-sized pieces.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan before adding in the sugar, apples, and cinnamon.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes, tossing apples every minute or so until tender.
5 Comments
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This recipe is a game changer for me! I’ve always loved caramelized apples, but never thought I could make them vegan and refined sugar free. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. Can’t wait to experiment with different spices and flavor combinations!
The Real Person!
I’m so glad you found this recipe helpful! 🙂
Loved this recipe! I’m always on the lookout for vegan and refined sugar free options, and this caramelized apples recipe really hit the spot. It’s so sweet and indulgent, but I feel much better about eating it since it’s made with healthier ingredients. Definitely going to make this again for my next family gathering
The Real Person!
Thank you so much for sharing how much you enjoy this recipe! I’m all about a healthier sweet treat around here. 🙂