Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples (Printer-friendly)
Tender apple slices with warm cinnamon and sweet maple glaze, cooked quickly for a versatile treat.
# What You'll Need:
→ Produce
01 - 6 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/2-inch wedges
→ Sweeteners
02 - 1/3 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
03 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey (optional)
→ Liquids
04 - 1/4 cup water or apple juice
→ Spices
05 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
→ Other
07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
09 - Pinch of salt
# How To Make It:
01 - Peel, core, and slice the apples into uniform 1/2-inch wedges for even cooking.
02 - Place apple slices in the Instant Pot. Sprinkle brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg (if using), and salt evenly over the top.
03 - Drizzle with maple syrup or honey if desired, then add the water or apple juice.
04 - Distribute the small pieces of butter evenly across the apple mixture.
05 - Close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to sealing. Cook on high pressure for 2 minutes.
06 - When the cooking cycle completes, allow natural pressure release for 3 minutes, then carefully quick-release any remaining pressure.
07 - Open the lid and gently stir in the vanilla extract. For a thicker syrup, select 'Sauté' and simmer for a few minutes while stirring gently. Serve warm as-is, or over oatmeal, pancakes, or ice cream.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Its faster than debating whether to bake a whole pie but delivers that same warm apple comfort
- The natural apple juices concentrate into this incredible syrup that makes everything taste magical
02 -
- Overcooking turns these into applesauce fast, so respect that 2-minute cook time like its the law
- Natural pressure release for those 3 minutes is non-negotiable for texture that still has some integrity
03 -
- Mix different apple varieties for more complex flavor, like one tart for every two sweet apples
- Start with less sweetener and add more after cooking, since some apples are naturally sweeter than others