Easy Baked Apples Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long do apples need to bake in the oven? ›

In an oven preheated to 350 degrees F, the apples should be perfectly baked after 40-45 minutes (20 minutes covered with foil, 20-25 minutes uncovered).

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

Choose the Right Apples

Some varieties turn to mush so fast they explode out of their skins, while some stay weirdly firm. Either way they're edible, but not ideal—a baked apple should stay intact but be soft enough to eat with a spoon.

Most apple cultivars should be stored at 30 to 32°F for optimum storage. However, McIntosh apples should be kept around 36°F. If possible, the storage temperature should remain constant.

Cooking apples are generally larger, and can be tarter than dessert varieties. Some varieties have a firm flesh that does not break down much when cooked. Culinary varieties with a high acid content produce froth when cooked, which is desirable for some recipes.

This is caused by an enzyme (polyphenol oxidase and catechol oxidase are two common examples) that reacts with oxygen in the air and an iron or copper cofactor in the fruit. A cofactor is a component that is necessary for a certain enzymatic reactions to happen.

Baked apples, being a cooked product, don't have a very long shelf life. They typically last between 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. However, if you wish to extend their shelf life, you can freeze them for up to 6 months. Once they are thawed, consume them within 3 days to ensure they do not spoil.

a tablespoon of cornstarch sprinkled over the fruit (blueberry, cherry, apple etc). As the fruit cooks it get watery and mixes with the cornstarch to thicken the filling.

What's the best baking apple? ›

Look for crisp, crunchy apples, which have a lower water content and are less likely to turn to mush. While you may like Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious, and McIntosh apples for snacking, these mealy apples run a higher risk of disintegrating in the oven.

Honeycrisp. One of the sweetest apples around, this Midwestern favorite is good for anything—including baking. It boasts a distinctive juicy crispness and is firm enough that it won't cook down much. It complements just about any other apple variety to make a stellar pie.

Cooked apples can be whole, chopped, or sliced. You'll need an oven set to 375°F. Sliced apples take about 25-30 minutes to get soft and tender in the oven.

Once your apples are cooked, they need to cool completely. Portion them up in small plastic containers, or individual freezer bags, then place them in your freezer. This way, they'll keep for up to 6 months. Fancy that crumble?

If the crust is golden, and the filling is bubbling around the edges, the apple pie is done. If you want to be precise, the internal temperature of the filling taken with an instant read thermometer should be around 200°F (93°C) when done. Cool the pie: The longer you let apple pie cool, the more the filling will set.