If you’re a fan of fried apples, then you’ll love this Air Fryer Apples recipe. This recipe is ready in minutes without you having to stir the apples in a skillet! Tossed in brown sugar and cinnamon, these tender apple slices are so sweet and irresistible.
I love anything that involves cinnamon and sugar, so with the combination of apples, cinnamon, and sugar, it was a given that this recipe would be a hit. While fried apples are usually made in a skillet, I decided to see what would happen if I threw them into the air fryer, and 10/10 would recommend the end results!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s easy to make fried apples in the air fryer since you don’t have to babysit them in a skillet on the stove! You only have to shake the air fryer basket a couple of times.
- It’s SO versatile. Serve it as a snack, a dessert, or even as a side dish.
- It’s perfect for those who love how apple pie filling tastes but don’t feel like making pie!
Ingredients You’ll Need

- apples — make sure you use baking apples that will hold up in the air fryer. Some apples, such as Red Delicious can end up becoming mealy and mushy. I use a combination of Gala and Granny Smith apples so there’s a delicious combination of flavors.
- vanilla extract — I recommend real vanilla extract over artificial extract.
- cinnamon — make sure your cinnamon is fresh for the best flavor.
- oil — use a splash to coat the apples before air frying them.
- maple syrup — for added sweetness and to help make the apples a little saucy. Make sure to use real maple syrup and not pancake syrup.
- brown sugar — I love the caramel notes brown sugar gives the fried apples. You can also use white granulated sugar if you prefer.
How to Make Air Fryer Apples

- Place the cut apples into a large mixing bowl and combine the oil, ½ tsp of cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Toss until fully combined.

- Transfer the seasoned apple slices to the air fryer.
- Air fry for 11 minutes at 375F. Shake the basket 2 to 3 times throughout the air frying cycle.

- Add the air fried apples to a large mixing bowl and add the maple syrup, brown sugar, and the remaining cinnamon.
- Toss until well combined. Serve while still warm.

Recipe Tips and Notes
- Instead of maple syrup, you can use unsalted butter.
- Try to cut the apples as uniformly as possible to ensure they cook evenly in the air fryer basket.
- Make sure the apple seeds are fully removed before air frying.
- Don’t wait long after cutting the apples to air fry them as they’ll start browning from oxidation.
Make Ahead Tips
- Meal prep: once cooled, store the fried apples in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
- Reheat: I reheat the fried apples in the air fryer.
- Freezer: once cooled, you can freeze the air fryer apples in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months.
I don’t peel the apples as I don’t mind the texture. If you’re not a fan, peel your apples. It just saves me time to keep them unpeeled!
I cut the apple in half from the stem to the bottom. Then I cut each half into quarters and remove the core and any apple seeds.

Air Fryer Apples
Ingredients
- 4-5 small apples, cut into 8 wedges
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ tsp cinnamon, split into 1 tsp and ½ tsp
- ½ tbsp oil
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
Equipment
Instructions
- Place the cut apples into a large mixing bowl and combine the oil, ½ tsp of cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Toss until fully combined.
- Transfer the seasoned apple slices to the air fryer. Air fry for 11 minutes at 375F. Shake the basket 2 to 3 times throughout the air frying cycle.
- Add the air fried apples to a large mixing bowl and add the maple syrup, brown sugar, and the remaining cinnamon. Toss until well combined. Serve while still warm.
Nutrition Per Serving
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
- Air Fryer Halloumi
- Air Fryer Hash Browns
- Teriyaki Salmon (Air Fryer)
- Air Fryer Gochujang Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
- Air Fryer Dumplings
- Air Fryer Sausage Links
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