Skillet Cinnamon Apple Slices – A Delicious Side Dish Or Treat!

If you are looking for a quick but delicious side dish or dessert topping that is fruity and sweet, then you need to try these warm skillet cinnamon apple slices.

The fall is the perfect time for everything apple-related. Sure some people go crazy over pumpkin spice everything, but in our family, apples are where it’s at!

If you are team Apple or if you are just looking for an alternative to the same old fall treat, these skillet cinnamon apple slices are a great choice. Not only do they taste similar to a warm apple pie filling, but they also make your house smell amazing at the same time!

Cinnamon apple slices on a blue plate with two yellow delicious apples behind them.
Whether you are eating them on their own, on top of a sweet treat or breakfast item, or as a side dish, these warm skillet cinnamon apple slices are the perfect fall treat!

In addition to using them as a sweet side dish next to savory meals like pork chops, pork tenderloin, or even fried chicken, you can also use them to top a ton of different items. Place a big spoonful on top of a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, mix them with your breakfast oatmeal, or top your morning pancakes or waffles with the gooey, sweet concoction.

The best part is that they are super simple to make and they come together in no time at all. Once you make a batch, I’m sure you will be able to come up with tons of different (and delicious!) ways to enjoy them!

Best Apple Varieties To Use For Skillet Cinnamon Apple Slices

While you can certainly use any type of apple variety for this recipe, there are some that work better than others. Some varieties don’t hold up as well when cooked on a stovetop or baked, leaving you with a mushy texture as opposed to slightly firm apple slices like we want.

Steer clear of softer varieties like Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious, or McIntosh apples. They won’t hold their shape as well and you will likely end up with more of a watery mixture if they are cooked for long enough. Keep these type of apples for making homemade apple cider or crockpot apple cider instead.

A blue basket full of different apple varieties.
Not all apple varieties are created equally! Use an apple type that holds up well when cooked, but feel free to play around with the flavor combination of sweet and tart apples.

In addition, the final flavor of your dish will vary slightly depending on whether you choose a sweeter apple variety or one that is more on the tart side.

For this reason, I usually stick with a combination of tart and sweet apple varieties that hold up well when cooked. Some of my favorites are Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Envy, Braeburn, and Cosmic Crisp apples.

However, the last time I made this recipe, I only used Golden Delicious apples since that’s what I had on hand and they turned out great! So feel free to experiment and use a combination of sweet and tart apples to create a whole new flavor profile that suits your family.

How To Make Warm Skillet Cinnamon Apple Slices

*Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see the full recipe, including exact measurements and amounts. You can also print out the instructions. I go into a bit more detail about the recipe here first, just in case you need it.

Cooked down apple slices in a thick brown cinnamon sugar sauce.
The result of this warm skillet cinnamon apple slices recipe is an ooey gooey delicious mixture that has a ton of possibilities!

Ingredients

  • 4 to 5 Large Apples
  • 2 Tbsp Butter
  • 1/2 cup Cold Water
  • 2 tsp Corn Starch
  • 1/2 cup Packed Brown Sugar
  • 3/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon

Instructions

Start by peeling and coring 4 to 5 large apples. If you are using a smaller variety, you might need to use more around 6 to 8 apples depending on their size. Cut the apples into 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch slices and set aside.

I prefer to use my Johnny Apple Peeler because it does the peeling, coring, and slicing all in one go. If you cook with or preserve any decent amount of apples, then I highly suggest purchasing one of these. They are fairly inexpensive and well worth it. (Product Link: Johnny Apple Peeler)

Apples that have been peeled, cored, and sliced using a Johnny Apple Peeler.

You don’t need to worry about the slices browning since they will brown slightly as they cook down. However, if you are concerned about this, just add the slices to a large bowl and mix them with a tablespoon of lemon juice. The lemon juice will add a nice tartness to your apples in the recipe.

Next, in a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter has fully melted, add in the apple slices and stir to coat them in the butter.

Cooking The Apples & The Sauce

Cook the apples, stirring occasionally for about 6 to 8 minutes or until the apples are slightly firm. The time this takes will depend on how thick your apple slices are and the variety of apples you use.

Meanwhile, create a slurry of cornstarch and a few tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Once the cornstarch is dissolved, add the remaining water and stir until well-mixed. Pour over the apples.

Add the brown sugar and cinnamon to the skillet and combine well. Allow the mixture to come to a boil and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.

As you are cooking, the sauce should start to thicken. When the time is up, the consistency will resemble apple pie filling and be nice and thick.

Serve the skillet cinnamon apple slices warm however you wish! Again, we like to serve it with most pork dishes since apples and pork tend to go hand in hand. These are also excellent with rich, heavy foods like fried chicken or even fish dishes.

Alternatively, use the warm apple slices to top the vanilla ice cream. They even work well as a breakfast topping like on waffles, pancakes, and oatmeal. Try them on top of vanilla Greek yogurt for a fun way to sweeten up yogurt. There really are several different ways you can enjoy this sweet treat.

Store any leftover skillet cinnamon apple slices in a covered container in the refrigerator. Consume within a few days. (I actually love to eat the cooled apple slices straight from the fridge as well, so leftover apple slices don’t last long here!)

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!
– Chelsea

*This post may contain affiliate links. These are products I have used personally and highly recommend. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases if you purchase items through my links. These links and the ads on this page help to support my family and our semi homestead, so Thank You!
Cinnamon apple slices on a blue plate with two yellow delicious apples behind them.

Warm Skillet Cinnamon Apple Slices

These warm and delicious skillet cinnamon apple slices are the perfect side dish for your next meal or for topping ice cream, waffles, oatmeal, etc.
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Servings8 1/2 cup

Ingredients

  • 4-5 large apples
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • ยฝ cup cold water divided
  • 2 tsp corn starch
  • ยฝ cup packed brown sugar
  • ยพ tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Peel, core, and slice apples. If desired, mix with 1 Tbsp of lemon juice to help prevent browning. Set aside.
  • Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add apples and stir well. Cook the apples for 6 to 8 minutes or until they are slightly tender.
  • In a small bowl, mix corn starch with a couple of tablespoons of water to create a slurry mixture. Once dissolved, add the remaining water and stir well. Add this mixture to the apple slices and stir.
  • Add in the packed brown sugar and cinnamon and combine well. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for 2 minutes or until the sauce has thickened to desired consistency.
  • Serve warm as a side dish to pork or chicken meals or use as a topping for ice cream, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, etc. Store any leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator and consume within a few days. Can be enjoyed cool as well.

Notes

Use a variety of sweet and tart apples with firm textures for best results.ย 

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