Air Fryer Baked Apples

How to Make Air Fryer Baked Apples

1. 1

   Step 1: Prep the apples

   Wash and dry the apples, then slice a thin piece off the bottom so they sit flat. Use an apple corer or small knife to remove the core from the top down, leaving about 1/2 inch of apple at the bottom to hold filling; brush the cavity and apple surface lightly with lemon juice to prevent browning.

   For this step

   • 4 mediumMedium apples (firm varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala)
   • 1 tablespoonFresh lemon juice
   
2. 2

   Step 2: Make the oat-pecan streusel

   Combine brown sugar, rolled oats, flour, ground cinnamon, and chopped pecans in a bowl. Cut cold unsalted butter into small pieces and rub with your fingertips into the dry mix until crumbly and chunky; the mixture should hold together when pressed but remain coarse.

   For this step

   • 1/3 cupLightly packed brown sugar
   • 3/4 cupRolled oats
   • 3 tablespoonsAll-purpose flour
   • 6 tablespoonsUnsalted butter
   • 1 teaspoonGround cinnamon
   • 1/3 cupChopped pecans (or walnuts)
   
3. 3

   Step 3: Stuff the apples

   Spoon the oat streusel firmly into each apple cavity, packing it slightly so it won’t fall out during cooking. Place the filled apples in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between them for air circulation.
   
4. 4

   Step 4: Air fry until tender and crisp

   Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) if your model requires preheating. Cook the apples for 15–18 minutes, rotating the basket once halfway through; apples are done when the flesh is tender to a paring knife and the streusel is golden and crisp.
   
5. 5

   Step 5: Make the quick caramel

   While the apples cook or just after removing them, melt 2 tablespoons of the unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stir in 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and the heavy cream. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook 1–2 minutes until slightly thickened, then remove from heat and whisk until smooth.

   For this step

   • 1/4 cupHeavy cream (for quick caramel)
   
6. 6

   Step 6: Finish and serve

   Drizzle the warm caramel over the baked apples and sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt if desired. Serve immediately on plates with optional vanilla ice cream or yogurt alongside for contrast.
   

1. Wash and dry the apples, then slice a thin piece off the bottom so they sit flat. Use an apple corer or small knife to remove the core from the top down, leaving about 1/2 inch of apple at the bottom to hold filling; brush the cavity and apple surface lightly with lemon juice to prevent browning.
2. Combine brown sugar, rolled oats, flour, ground cinnamon, and chopped pecans in a bowl. Cut cold unsalted butter into small pieces and rub with your fingertips into the dry mix until crumbly and chunky; the mixture should hold together when pressed but remain coarse.
3. Spoon the oat streusel firmly into each apple cavity, packing it slightly so it won’t fall out during cooking. Place the filled apples in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between them for air circulation.
4. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) if your model requires preheating. Cook the apples for 15–18 minutes, rotating the basket once halfway through; apples are done when the flesh is tender to a paring knife and the streusel is golden and crisp.
5. While the apples cook or just after removing them, melt 2 tablespoons of the unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stir in 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and the heavy cream. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook 1–2 minutes until slightly thickened, then remove from heat and whisk until smooth.
6. Drizzle the warm caramel over the baked apples and sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt if desired. Serve immediately on plates with optional vanilla ice cream or yogurt alongside for contrast.