Cinnamon Spiced Stewed Apples

These cinnamon-spiced stewed apples are super easy to make and can be used in so many different ways. Apart from the usual crumbles and pies, they can also be used in muffins, loaf cakes, chutney, and even served as a quick dessert with ice-cream or creamy custard!

Stewing apples from my big old apple tree is one of my favourite things to do during September. The great thing about these apples is that they are so versatile, and best of all freeze really well too!

Jump to:

• ✔️ Why should you try it?
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔪 Instructions
• 🍴 Serving suggestions
• ↔️ Substitutions
• 🥡 Storage
• 🧊 Suitable for freezing?
• ❓ FAQS
• 😋Related recipes
• Recipe

✔️ Why should you try it?

• Easy to make
• Freeze well
• Can be used in so many different bakes and desserts

🥘 Ingredients

Cooking Apples – washed, peeled and quartered. I use Bramley apples, the most popular type of cooking apple.

Lemon Juice – a quick squeeze of lemon juice helps prevent the apples from browning, whilst you’re peeling and chopping.

Brown Sugar – I find that brown sugar gives the apples a lovely caramel undertone.

Cinnamon Stick – provides a subtle warmth to apples without being too overpowering.

Water – a splash of water helps break the cooking apples down during cooking.

🔪 Instructions

One: Wash, peel and chop the cooking apples into 3-4 cm chunks.

Two: Weigh out the sugar, cut the lemon in half and get a cinnamon stick from your spice cupboard.

Three: Put the chopped apples in a pan and squeeze over a little lemon juice (about half a lemon). Stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon stick and 20ml of water.

Four: Simmer on the hob, stirring often, for about 15 minutes. Allow to cool and test the sweetness. Add more sugar or honey if needed.

🍴 Serving suggestions

There are so many ways to use stewed apple. Here are a few idea’s to try;

• Apple pies
• Crumbles – plum and apple crumble or my apple and mincemeat crumble is a big hit at Christmas.
• Muffins – you could try replacing the mincemeat in my spiced mincemeat muffins with stewed apples.
• Red cabbage
• Cakes – my apple crumble loaf cake with custard icing on my Cornish food blog Jam & Clotted Cream, is a huge hit in this house.
• Chutney
• Stuffing
• Pork and apple rolls
• Apple sauce
• Apple turnovers – my apple and blackberry turnovers are a popular after-school snack in this house

↔️ Substitutions

• Make the stewed apple healthier by omitting the sugar and using honey to sweeten the apples instead. It’s best to do this after they have been stewed and cooled.
• Swap the cinnamon stick for 1 tsp of ground cinnamon.
• Flavour the apples with vanilla instead of cinnamon. Use a vanilla pod or 1 tsp of vanilla paste.

🥡 Storage

The stewed apples will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week. I often stir them into porridge or greek yogurt for breakfast, or serve with custard or ice-cream for a quick dessert.

🧊 Suitable for freezing?

Stewed apples freeze really well. Let the apples cool completely and place in a freezer safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Did you know you can also store crumble topping in the freezer too? I never like to be too far away from a homemade apple crumble!

❓ FAQS

What are the best apples for stewing?

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. i personally prefer to use cooking apples.

Are stewed apples healthy?

To make the stewed apples healthier, you could replace the brown sugar with a reduced amount of honey

😋Related recipes

Here are some more recipes using apples;

• Apple and caramel loaf cake
• Apple and blackberry turnovers
• Apple and blackberry crumble
• Apple crumble bars
• Butterscotch apples with rice pudding
• Spiced apple chutney
• Microwave apple sponge pudding

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