CaliToday (08/12/2025): While pumpkin spice seems to have a monopoly on the hearts of latte lovers every autumn, true dessert aficionados know that apple is the real reason for the season. Classic apple pies are the epitome of comfort food sweet, warm, fruity, and delicious. However, baking a traditional pie from scratch is often a labor-intensive project involving rolling pins, floury messes, and long baking times.
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| A slice of apple pie with the rest of the pie behind it on a table with green apples nearby. - Dikey Creative Labs Photo/Shutterstock |
If you are craving those cinnamon-sugar notes locked into a tender baked apple but don't have hours to spare, it’s time to ditch the oven. Enter the Air Fryer Baked Apple a "deconstructed" twist that delivers all the satisfaction of a pie in a fraction of the time.
Why The Air Fryer Wins
This method captures all the essential elements of an apple pie but offers a significantly quicker preheat and cook time compared to a traditional oven. It transforms the apple into its own edible vessel, creating individual servings that are perfect for a quick weeknight treat or a dinner party dessert.
How to Make It: Step-by-Step
1. Prepare the Canvas Start by simply washing your apples. Then, carefully hollow out the core to create a cavity, being careful not to cut all the way through the bottom. This hollow space will hold your delicious filling.
2. Create the "Pie" Filling This is where the magic happens. Mix up a classic filling using these pantry staples:
The Base: Chopped apple pieces (you can use the scooped-out flesh).
The Sweet & Spice: Brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
The Crunch: Pecans, walnuts, and oats.
The Chew: Dried cranberries or raisins.
The Binder: Butter and a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness.
Stuff this mixture generously into the hollowed-out apples.
3. The Optional "Pro" Move: Add a Crust To truly mimic the apple pie experience, you can add a pastry top. If you have pre-made pie crust on hand, cut it into small disks sized to fit over the apple's opening.
Get Creative: Use cookie cutters for festive shapes or weave thin strips to create a miniature lattice top.
The Golden Touch: Brush the dough with a little egg wash before cooking to ensure it comes out golden and glossy.
Baking Instructions
Place your prepared apples into the air fryer basket. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C) for 13 to 15 minutes. The result will be beautiful, individual baked apples that are tender on the inside and slightly crisp on top.
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| Close up of baked apple with ice cream with walnuts on a cutting board. - Nadezhda Nesterova/Shutterstock |
Serving and Storage
Once the timer goes off, let the apples cool for about five minutes (the filling will be very hot!). To create the ultimate apple pie experience, serve them with:
A scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A dollop of whipped cream.
A drizzle of honey or caramel sauce.
Leftovers? If you make too many, don't worry. These store surprisingly well. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and keep them in the fridge for up to three days. When the craving strikes again, simply reheat them in the air fryer for one minute or in the microwave using 15- to 30-second intervals.