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Thank you to Cosmic Bliss for partnering on this post! All opinions are my own. 

These air fryer “baked” apples are the perfect fall treat! Top them off with some dairy-free ice cream and enjoy the gluten and dairy-free dessert.

A bowl of air fryer "baked" apples and dairy-free frozen dessert

Baked apples are a classic fall staple. Whether it be in a pie, a crisp, or by itself, it’s not autumn without a yummy apple dessert. It’s still pretty warm here in Dallas, TX so I decided to try my hand at making an air fryer “baked” apple to both avoid heating up the kitchen, and to make this classic recipe even easier.

This “baked” apple is soft, flavorful, and perfect to pair with dairy-free ice cream!

What I love about this dessert

  • It tastes like fall. Nothing screams fall quite like a warm apple, especially paired with a caramel ice cream.
  • It’s easy to make. You get all of the flavors that you love from something like an apple pie or an apple crisp, but it’s even easier to make.

The Ingredients for the Air Fryer “Baked” apples

  • Apples. I love using big honey crisp apples for this recipe, but smaller apples like gala will also work. You just need to watch the cook time!
  • Coconut sugar and coconut oil (or ghee). This helps to give that caramelized flavor to the apple.
  • Almonds and raisins. If you don’t tolerate almonds, you can also add some shredded coconut instead.
  • Cosmic Bliss plant-based Madagascan Vanilla Bean or Sea Salt Caramel. Cosmic Bliss is my go-to for recipes like this! They have the best plant-based products out there, and they even have grass-fed dairy ice cream now, too, if you tolerate dairy! For this recipe, the Madagascan Vanilla Bean is perfect if you love a vanilla flavor. I also really love the Sea Salt Caramel, as the caramel flavor pairs perfectly with apple. I always buy Cosmic Bliss at Sprouts!

The ingredients for air fryer "baked" apples and ice cream

How to make the Air Fryer “Baked” Apples

  • Step one. Prep the ghee mixture and set aside.
  • Step two. Chop the almonds and coat with ghee, coconut sugar, and cinnamon.

Chopped almonds as part of the recipe

  • Step three. Core and slice the apples.

The apples being prepared for air fryer "baked" apples

  • Step four. Add the apples to the air fryer and top with the ghee mixture.

Air fryer "baked apples" being prepped in the air fryer

  • Step five. Air fry at 350 F for 8-12 minutes.

The apples in the air fryer with toppings

  • Step five. Serve!

A bowl of air fryer "baked" apples with ice cream and toppings.

Can you make this recipe without an air fryer?

Of course! Here’s how…

  • Prep the baked apples as directed and preheat the oven to 350 F. Add to a baking dish and cover. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until soft.

Tips & tricks for air fryer “baked” apples

  • Keep an eye on the cooking time. If you’re using a bigger apple, you’ll have to cook it much longer than if you’re using a small apple. I always recommend going for a shorter cook time to start and then checking to see if it needs to be cooked longer. You’ll be able to tell if your apple needs more time by how soft the outside is when you try to pierce it with a fork. Luckily both the air fryer and oven method are fine for this aprroach.
  • Switch up the ice cream! I know Madagascan Vanilla Bean is a classic to go with desserts, but trust me, grab the Cosmic Bliss Sea Salt Caramel Frozen Dessert too! You won’t regret it.

Can you make this recipe ahead of time?

The apples will stay fresh in the fridge for 2-3 days, but they’ll be best fresh.

A spoonful of air fryer "baked" apples and ice cream

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Air Fryer “Baked” Apples with Dairy Free Ice Cream

  • Author: Michelle
  • Total Time: 22 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
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Description

These air fryer “baked” apples are the perfect fall treat! Top them off with some dairy-free ice cream and enjoy the gluten and dairy-free dessert.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Instructions

  1. Combine the melted ghee (or coconut oil), coconut sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.
  2. Chop the almonds into smaller pieces and top with a spoonful of the ghee mixture. Toss to coat and set aside.
  3. Using an apple corer, core the apples to remove the stem and seeds. Slice in half.
  4. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper and add the apples, skin side down and flesh side up. Brush the flesh of apples with the remainder of the ghee mixture until evenly coated. Top the apples with the nuts.
  5. Air fry at 350 F for 8-12 minutes (the cook time will vary depending on the size of your apples) or until the apples are soft and the nuts are toasted.
  6. Add the apples to a bowl and top with raisins. Serve with 1-2 scoops of Madagascan Vanilla or Sea Salt Caramel frozen dessert.

Notes

  • For to oven method, prep the baked apples as directed and preheat the oven to 350 F. Add to a baking dish and cover. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until soft.
  • If you don’t tolerate almonds, omit the almond and top the apples with shredded coconut after they’re baked.
  • All nutritional information are estimations and will vary. Estimations do not include optional ingredients.
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 12
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Air Fryer

Keywords: air fryer apples