When the air fills with the scent of baked apples, cinnamon, and butter, you know Christmas is close. These warm apple desserts bring that cozy holiday feeling straight to your kitchen. From gooey pies to spiced cakes, each recipe is pure comfort — perfect for sharing with loved ones or enjoying by the fireplace.
1. Classic Apple Crisp
This timeless dessert brings together juicy baked apples and a buttery oat topping that’s crisp and fragrant.
Ingredients
- 6 cups sliced apples
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Arrange apples in a greased baking dish.
- Mix oats, sugar, flour, butter, and cinnamon.
- Sprinkle mixture over apples.
- Bake 40–45 minutes until golden and bubbly.
How to Serve It
Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for the ultimate comfort treat.
2. Caramel Apple Bread Pudding
Sweet caramel sauce soaks into every bite of this apple-filled bread pudding — soft inside, crisp on top.
Ingredients
- 4 cups cubed day-old bread
- 2 cups chopped apples
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- Caramel sauce for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon.
- Add bread and apples; toss gently.
- Pour into a greased 8×8-inch pan.
- Bake 40 minutes or until set.
How to Serve It
Serve warm with a generous drizzle of caramel sauce.
3. Spiced Apple Bundt Cake
This moist, spiced cake bursts with chunks of apples and cozy cinnamon flavors.
Ingredients
- 2½ cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¾ cup butter
- 1½ cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups diced apples
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and flour a bundt pan.
- Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs and sour cream.
- Stir in dry ingredients and fold in apples.
- Bake 50–55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
How to Serve It
Dust with powdered sugar and serve with hot coffee.
4. Apple Cinnamon Rolls
These fluffy rolls combine buttery dough with spiced apples for a comforting holiday breakfast.
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1 packet yeast
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 1 egg
- 2 cups diced apples
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Activate yeast in warm milk and sugar.
- Mix in butter, egg, and flour to form dough. Let rise 1 hour.
- Roll out, spread apples, sugar, and cinnamon.
- Roll up, slice, and place in pan.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25 minutes.
How to Serve It
Drizzle with vanilla glaze while warm.
5. Apple Pie with Cinnamon Crust
A Christmas favorite — buttery crust and sweet-spiced apples baked to perfection.
Ingredients
- 2 pie crusts
- 6 cups sliced apples
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Mix apples, sugar, flour, and spices.
- Place one crust in pan, fill with mixture, dot with butter.
- Add top crust, seal edges, cut slits.
- Bake 50–55 minutes.
How to Serve It
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
6. Baked Apple Dumplings
Whole apples wrapped in pastry and baked until tender — a cozy, nostalgic dessert.
Ingredients
- 4 apples, peeled and cored
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 4 tsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cut pastry into 4 squares.
- Place an apple on each, fill center with sugar and butter.
- Fold pastry over apple.
- Bake 35–40 minutes.
How to Serve It
Drizzle with warm caramel or serve with vanilla ice cream.
7. Apple Fritters
Crispy outside, soft inside, and bursting with sweet apple chunks — these fritters are a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup milk
- 2 apples, diced
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Heat oil in a deep pan to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet in another.
- Combine both and fold in apples.
- Drop spoonfuls into hot oil and fry until golden.
- Drain and dust with powdered sugar.
How to Serve It
Serve warm with a drizzle of honey or glaze.
8. Apple Coffee Cake
Soft, buttery cake layered with apples and cinnamon streusel — perfect for brunch or dessert.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1½ cups chopped apples
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and sour cream.
- Stir in flour and baking soda.
- Layer batter, apples, and cinnamon sugar in a pan.
- Bake 40 minutes.
How to Serve It
Add a light glaze or sprinkle extra cinnamon sugar before serving.
9. Apple Hand Pies
Handheld, flaky, and filled with cinnamon-spiced apples — a perfect grab-and-go treat.
Ingredients
- 2 pie crusts
- 2 cups diced apples
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 egg, beaten
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Mix apples, sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch.
- Cut crust into circles, spoon filling, and fold over.
- Seal edges and brush with egg wash.
- Bake 18–20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Serve with a caramel dipping sauce.
10. Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Creamy cheesecake meets spiced apples and buttery crust for a decadent dessert.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 16 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups diced apples
- Caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix crumbs and butter, press into pan.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
- Pour over crust, top with apples.
- Bake 35 minutes, then cool and drizzle with caramel.
How to Serve It
Chill before slicing for neat squares.
11. Apple Turnovers
Flaky pastry pockets filled with gooey, cinnamon-scented apples — irresistible straight from the oven.
Ingredients
- 1 puff pastry sheet
- 2 cups diced apples
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 egg, beaten
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cook apples, sugar, and cornstarch in a pan for 5 minutes.
- Spoon filling onto pastry squares, fold, and seal.
- Brush with egg wash and bake 20–22 minutes.
How to Serve It
Add a light glaze or dust with sugar before serving.
12. Apple Cobbler
Sweet, syrupy apples baked under a soft biscuit topping — the ultimate comfort dessert.
Ingredients
- 5 cups sliced apples
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 cup flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Layer apples, sugar, and lemon juice in a dish.
- Mix batter from remaining ingredients and pour over.
- Bake 40–45 minutes until golden.
How to Serve It
Top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
13. Rustic Apple Galette
A simple yet stunning open-faced tart that highlights apple flavor beautifully.
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust
- 3 apples, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Roll out crust, arrange apples in the center.
- Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon, dot with butter.
- Fold edges and bake 35 minutes.
How to Serve It
Brush warm jam over the top for shine.
14. Apple Muffins
Soft, moist muffins filled with chunks of apples — perfect for breakfast or gifting.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1½ cups diced apples
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix dry ingredients and wet separately.
- Combine, fold in apples, and spoon into muffin tin.
- Bake 20–22 minutes.
How to Serve It
Sprinkle extra cinnamon sugar while warm.
15. Apple Streusel Cake
This cozy cake has a buttery crumb topping and a moist apple base — sweet and spiced.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups chopped apples
- ½ cup brown sugar (for topping)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix batter, pour into a greased pan.
- Combine topping ingredients and sprinkle over batter.
- Bake 40–45 minutes.
How to Serve It
Best enjoyed with coffee or tea.
16. Apple Pancakes
Light and fluffy pancakes with bits of sweet apples — a breakfast favorite.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 egg
- 1 cup milk
- 1 apple, grated
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Whisk dry ingredients, add wet, then fold in apples.
- Pour batter onto a hot greased griddle.
- Cook 2 minutes per side until golden.
How to Serve It
Top with maple syrup or apple butter.
17. Apple Blondies
Soft, buttery bars with cinnamon and apple pieces for a chewy, festive snack.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, melted
- 1½ cups brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup diced apples
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix wet ingredients, then stir in dry.
- Fold in apples and spread in a lined pan.
- Bake 25–28 minutes.
How to Serve It
Drizzle with caramel for extra sweetness.
18. Baked Apples with Walnuts
Tender apples filled with crunchy nuts, honey, and cinnamon — simple yet elegant.
Ingredients
- 4 apples, cored
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Stuff apples with walnuts and honey.
- Place butter on top and bake 30–35 minutes.
How to Serve It
Serve warm with whipped cream or yogurt.
19. Apple Churros
Crispy fried churros with hints of apple flavor and warm cinnamon sugar.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp apple extract
- Oil for frying
- Cinnamon sugar for coating
Instructions
- Boil water, sugar, and butter.
- Stir in flour, then apple extract.
- Pipe dough into hot oil and fry until golden.
- Roll in cinnamon sugar.
How to Serve It
Serve with caramel sauce for dipping.
20. Apple Trifle
A layered holiday dessert combining spiced apples, cake, and whipped cream.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked apples
- 2 cups sponge cake cubes
- 1½ cups whipped cream
- Caramel sauce
Instructions
- Layer cake, apples, and cream in glasses.
- Repeat layers and finish with caramel drizzle.
- Chill before serving.
How to Serve It
Top with cinnamon or crushed cookies.
21. Apple Tart Tatin
A French-style upside-down tart that’s buttery, caramelized, and deeply flavorful.
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust
- 4 apples, halved
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Melt butter and sugar in skillet, arrange apples.
- Cover with crust and bake 30 minutes.
- Invert onto a plate while warm.
How to Serve It
Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
22. Apple Butter Bars
Rich, spiced apple butter sandwiched between buttery oat layers — pure coziness.
Ingredients
- 2 cups oats
- 1½ cups flour
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup butter
- 1 cup apple butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix oats, flour, sugar, and butter.
- Press half in pan, spread apple butter, and top with remaining mixture.
- Bake 30–35 minutes.
How to Serve It
Cool completely before cutting.
23. Apple Bread with Glaze
Soft and tender quick bread packed with apples and topped with sweet glaze.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1 cup diced apples
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and applesauce.
- Stir in dry ingredients and fold in apples.
- Bake 55–60 minutes.
How to Serve It
Drizzle with simple powdered sugar glaze.
24. Apple Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce
Rich, custardy pudding with apple chunks and a luscious rum-infused sauce.
Ingredients
- 4 cups cubed bread
- 2 cups milk
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 cups chopped apples
- 2 tbsp butter
Rum Sauce:
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp rum
- ¼ cup cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix bread, apples, and custard mixture.
- Pour into dish and bake 40 minutes.
- Heat sauce ingredients in a pan until thickened.
- Pour sauce over warm pudding.
How to Serve It
Add a sprinkle of nutmeg before serving.
Let the Aroma of Apples Fill Your Home
Each of these apple desserts captures the warmth and joy of the holiday season. Whether you’re baking for a family dinner or cozy night in, these recipes promise the comforting scent and taste of Christmas morning. Bookmark your favorites and make them part of your holiday traditions!
Leave a Reply