Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples (Printer-friendly)
Tender apple slices infused with warm cinnamon and sweetness, ready in 20 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Produce
01 - 6 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/2-inch wedges
→ Sweeteners
02 - 1/3 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
03 - 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey (optional)
→ Liquids
04 - 1/4 cup water or apple juice
→ Spices
05 - 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
→ Other
07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
09 - Pinch of salt
# How to Prepare:
01 - Peel, core, and slice apples into uniform 1/2-inch wedges for even cooking.
02 - Arrange apple slices in the Instant Pot insert. Sprinkle brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg if using, and salt evenly over the top.
03 - Drizzle maple syrup or honey if desired, then pour in water or apple juice around the edges.
04 - Distribute butter pieces evenly across the apple mixture.
05 - Seal the Instant Pot lid and ensure vent is set to sealing position. Cook on high pressure for 2 minutes.
06 - Allow natural pressure release for 3 minutes, then carefully quick-release any remaining pressure.
07 - Open lid and stir in vanilla extract. For a thicker sauce, select Sauté mode and simmer 2-3 minutes, stirring gently until desired consistency.
08 - Serve immediately as a warm dessert, or use as topping for oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, or ice cream.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The Instant Pot does all the work while you sip your morning coffee, and in just twenty minutes you have the most incredible tender cinnamon apples that taste like they simmered all day
- These apples are ridiculously versatile. They are breakfast on oatmeal, dessert over ice cream, or just eaten straight from a bowl with a spoon when nobody is watching
02 -
- Natural release time matters. Those three minutes of natural pressure release continue cooking the apples gently, and skipping this step can leave them slightly underdone
- Not all apples behave the same way. Soft varieties like McIntosh will break down more, while firmer ones like Honeycrisp hold their shape better
03 -
- If your sauce seems too thin after cooking, just hit that Sauté function and let it bubble away for a few minutes. It will thicken up beautifully as the liquid reduces
- Use an apple corer and slicer tool to speed up prep time, especially if you are making a double batch