These easy stewed apples with cinnamon are made with Bramley apples, warming spices and a touch of sugar. Ready in under 30 minutes, this homemade stewed apples recipe is incredibly versatile - perfect as a dessert, a breakfast topping, or a fruit filling for bakes. You might also like my slow cooker stewed apples recipe.
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A Quick Look At The Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Stewed Apples With Cinnamon
🕒 Ready In: 25 minutes
👪 Serves: 8
🍽 Calories: 121 per serving
🥣 Main Ingredients: Bramley Apples, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon
📖 Dietary Info: Low in fat, gluten-free, rich in vitamin c
👌 Difficulty: Easy
Summarise & Save This Content On
One of my favourite things to do in autumn is stew apples from the large Bramley apple tree in our garden. I usually make a big batch and freeze it in portions, which means we're never far away from a comforting apple crumble or homemade apple pie when the mood strikes.
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ✔️ Why you'll love this stewed apples recipe
- 🥘 Ingredients
- Need to substitute an ingredient?
- 📖 Variations
- 🔪 Instructions
- 🍴 Serving suggestions
- Top Tips for Perfect Stewed Apples with Cinnamon
- Storage
- ❓ Frequently asked questions
- Troubleshooting Guide
- 😋Related recipes
- Recipe
- 💬 Comments
✔️ Why you'll love this stewed apples recipe
- Quick and easy to make from scratch
- Uses simple ingredients you probably already have
- Naturally gluten-free and vegan
- Can be served hot or cold
- Perfect as a topping for porridge, pancakes or yoghurt
- A great base for desserts like apple crumble or pie
🥘 Ingredients
A full ingredients list along with Metric and US Customary measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Cooking Apples - firm Bramley apples are ideal and the most popular choice for stewing thanks to their sharp flavour and soft texture once cooked. Wash, peel, core and quarter the apples so they cook evenly. Granny Smith or Braeburn apples also work well.
Lemon Juice - a squeeze of fresh lemon juice helps prevent the apples from oxidising and turning brown while you prepare them, and adds a gentle balance to the sweetness.
Brown Sugar - light brown sugar gives the stewed apples a subtle caramel flavour. You can adjust the quantity to taste or swap it for honey or maple syrup for a naturally sweetened version. Caster Sugar (Superfine Sugar) also works well.
Cinnamon Stick - adds a delicate warmth and aroma as the apples simmer. For extra flavour, try adding a pinch of ground nutmeg, mixed spice or ground ginger.
Water - just a splash of water helps the apples soften gently as they cook, preventing them from sticking and creating tender, perfectly stewed apples.
Need to substitute an ingredient?
Have an allergy or dietary preference? Let AI customise the recipe for you.
📖 Variations
- Healthier: omit sugar and sweeten with honey.
- Maple syrup: replace brown sugar for natural sweetness.
- Ground cinnamon: use 1 teaspoon instead of a stick.
- Vanilla: swap cinnamon for a vanilla pod or paste.
- Pears: use pears instead of apples.
- Rum & raisin: add rum-soaked raisins for dessert topping.
- Extra spice: add nutmeg, mixed spice, or ginger.
🔪 Instructions
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Wash, peel and core the cooking apples, then chop them into 3-4 cm chunks for even cooking.
Two: Measure out the brown sugar, cut the lemon in half, and fetch a cinnamon stick from your spice cupboard.
Three: Place the chopped apples in a saucepan. Squeeze over the juice of half a lemon, then stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon stick, and 20 ml of water.
Four: Simmer gently over low-medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring regularly, until the apples are soft but still hold their shape.
Five: Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Taste and add extra sugar or a drizzle of honey if needed. Serve warm, cold, or store in portions for later.
🍴 Serving suggestions
There are so many ways to use stewed apples. Here are a few ideas to try:
- Apple pies or apple pie bars.
- Crumbles - cinnamon apple crumble, plum and apple crumble or apple and mincemeat crumble (which is a big hit at Christmas).
- Muffins - cinnamon apple muffins, or replace the mincemeat in my spiced mincemeat muffins with stewed apples.
- Served on scotch pancakes.
- Red cabbage.
- Cakes - like this Bramley apple loaf cake.
- Chutney.
- Stuffing.
- Sausage rolls.
- Apple sauce.
- Apple turnovers - my apple and blackberry turnovers are a delicious after-school snack.
Top Tips for Perfect Stewed Apples with Cinnamon
- Use the right apples - firm cooking apples like Bramley work best for stewing, as they soften without turning to mush. Or, a mix of tart and sweet apples adds extra flavour.
- Cut apples evenly - chopping into similar-sized pieces ensures all the apples cook at the same rate, giving a consistent texture.
- Cook gently and stir often - simmer on low heat and stir regularly to prevent sticking and to create tender, evenly cooked stewed apples.
- Adjust sweetness and spice - taste after cooking and add a little brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup if needed. For extra warmth, sprinkle in a pinch of nutmeg, ginger, or mixed spice.
- Freeze for later use - portion and freeze once cooled, so you can enjoy stewed apples as a quick topping or dessert anytime.
Storage
Store - keep stewed apples in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freeze - portion into freezer-safe containers or bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or gently reheat before serving.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Any apples can be stewed in this way, but if you're using eating apples you will need to reduce the amount of sugar you add to them.
To make the stewed apples healthier, replace the brown sugar with a reduced amount of honey.
It's always best to peel apples for stewing. Some apple skins, particularly on Cooking apples, can be thick and tough.
Yes, you can add various spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, or ginger to your stewed apples to enhance their flavour. Experiment with different combinations to find your favourite.
Absolutely! Stewed apples can be a versatile addition to savoury dishes. They pair well with pork, chicken, and game meats, adding a touch of sweetness and acidity to balance the flavours.
Troubleshooting Guide
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Apples are too mushy | Reduce cooking time slightly or use firmer apples like Braeburn or Granny Smith. |
| Apples are bland or not sweet enough | Add a little more brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup to taste once cooked. |
| Stewed apples are too watery | Simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes to allow excess liquid to evaporate. |
😋Related recipes
More delicious Bramley apple recipes:
- Cinnamon Apple Crumble
- Apple Pie Bars
- Apple Flapjacks
- Apple Muffins
- Apple and Blackberry Turnovers
- Apple and Blackberry Crumble
- Apple Crumble Bars
Tried it? Let me know what you think and rate it ⭐️ below. Tag me @effortlessf00d-I'd love to see! Don't forget to subscribe for more recipes.
Recipe
Easy Stewed Apples With Cinnamon
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Equipment
- Knife
- Large Non Stick Pan
Ingredients
- 1 kg Cooking Apples
- 1 Lemon juice only
- 110 g Light Brown Sugar
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 20 ml Water
Instructions
- Peel, core, and chop the cooking apples (3 - 4cm chunks/1.5 inches) and place in a pan. Squeeze over the lemon juice.1 kg Cooking Apples, 1 Lemon
- Stir in the light brown sugar, cinnamon stick and water.110 g Light Brown Sugar, 1 Cinnamon Stick, 20 ml Water
- Simmer on a medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring often to prevent the apples sticking to the bottom of the pan. If you find the apples are a bit watery, spoon any excess water out.
- Allow to cool and test sweetness. If you want the apples to be a bit sweeter add more sugar or honey.
Notes
- Use firm cooking apples such as Bramley for the best texture - they soften without becoming mushy.
- Adjust sweetness after cooking: taste once cooled and add a little extra sugar, honey, or maple syrup if needed.
- Simmer gently and stir often to prevent the apples sticking and to ensure even cooking.
- This recipe freezes well - portion and freeze once cooled for easy use later.
Beth says
My husband is going to love this recipe! Can't wait to give this a try!
Maria San Juan says
This definitely looks like it could also use a scoop of Vanilla ice cream. Very awesome and easy recipe ^_^ Thank you for sharing it.
Alison says
We went apple picking this weekend and have a ton of apples to use! I've been looking for some simple recipes, and this one is perfect! I have all the ingredients already, and this recipe is so easy and delicious!
Jen says
Thanks for giving freezing directions. I think I'll put them in single serving size pouches to grab easily. So perfect for Fall!
Dannii says
I adore cinnamon apple and these look amazing. Lots of ways to use them too.
Priya Lakshminarayan says
That just sounds so comforting! Loving the flavors here
Cate says
Oh these look just perfect for fall! I bet they make your home smell amazing while baking too, saving!
Jersey Girl Cooks says
Yum! I always need a batch of these is my fridge!
Lisalia says
Yummy! Cinnamon and apple is one of my favorite fall flavor combos. These were delicious!
Chichi says
Apple and cinnamon are a great combination and perfect for fall. This stewed Apple must be delicious. Can’t wait to try it.