With a super simple cooking method and the ability to store in the fridge or freezer, these Stewed Apples are a delicious snack for the entire family—babies and toddlers on up. They’re flavorful and a quick way to transform fresh apples.
Stewed Apples
We eat a lot of fresh apples in our house, but sometimes, we just want something a little extra. These stewed apples are super flavorful and so incredibly easy and fast to make.
I love doing this with apple cider for extra flavor, especially during the fall, but there are a few options for the liquid.
And you can add spices such as cinnamon or ground ginger, as well as raisins, if you want to vary the result even more.
These soft apples are a great baby food, as they are easy to pick up and eat, they’re an easy toddler snack, and they are also wonderful on top of oatmeal, yogurt, cottage cheese, pancakes … and really anything else you decide sounds good to you!
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Ingredients You Need
To make this recipe you’ll need:
- Fresh apples: I like to use Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, or Jonathan, but the recipe is flexible. Use an apple that you like the flavor of when eaten fresh, though! (You can also make this recipe with frozen diced apples.)
- Apple cider, apple juice, or water: Any of these liquids work, so go with the one that you prefer.
- Cinnamon, optional
Ingredient Substitutions
- Choose the liquid that you prefer. I like apple cider, but they all work.
- To make this without the natural sugars that juice or cider contain, cook them in water.
- Add one of the spice options if you like.
- This method of cooking fruit also works with pears and peaches.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the basics involved in this recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full info.
- Peel the apples if desired. You can leave the skin on if you prefer—my family prefers them with the skin off. The skin is safe for babies and toddlers to eat.
- Chop into pieces.
- Place into a pot with the liquid of choice.
- Simmer until soft. Stir in any optional spices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes you can freeze stewed apples by letting them cool fully, then placing into freezer-safe storage containers. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Yes, it’s really personal preference as to whether or not to peel the apples.
Yes, to make them without the natural sugars in apple cider or apple juice, use water as your cooking liquid. They will still taste delicious.
How to Use Stewed Apples
You can serve these as a simple snack on their own or over yogurt, cottage cheese, Apple Pancakes, or as a side dish for roasted meats. You could also stir them into oatmeal or use them in Apple Yogurt or Fruit-on-the-Bottom Yogurt.
How to Store
Store apples in storage containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Serve chilled or slightly warmed.
Or, you can freeze stewed apples by letting them cool fully, then placing into freezer-safe storage containers. Freeze for up to 6 months.
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Best Tips for Success
- Peel the fruit if you prefer a smoother final texture. You can totally leave the peel on, it’s safe for kids to eat.
- Use an apple variety like Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, or Jonathan. Choose any you like the flavor of when eating fresh.
- Simmer just until soft when poked with a fork—you don’t want to overcook it and have it turn into applesauce.
- Add an optional spice if desired for more flavor.
- Use water as the liquid to make these without the natural sugars in the apple cider and juice.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback if you try this recipe, so please comment below to share!
Easy Stewed Apples
Ingredients
- 4-6 medium apples (about 6 cups diced)
- 1 cup apple cider (or apple juice or water)
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger (optional)
- 1/4 cup raisins (optional)
Instructions
- Peel the apples if desired. (We prefer to peel them for this recipe, but it's also fine to leave them on.)
- Dice the apples in 1 1/2-Inch pieces. Discard the cores.
- Place into a pot set over high heat. Add the cider, juice, or water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium so the liquid is just at a simmer. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until the apples are just soft when poked with a fork.
- Remove from heat, stir in any optional spices, and let cool at least slightly. Serve warm or store for future use.
Notes
- Apple Cinnamon: Use apple juice and add ½ teaspoon cinnamon.
- Apple Ginger: Use apple cider and add ¼ teaspoon ground ginger.
- Pure Apple: Use water as the liquid and keep things simple.
- Peel the fruit if you prefer a smoother final texture. You can totally leave the peel on, it’s safe for kids to eat.
- Use an apple variety like Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, or Jonathan. Choose one that you like the flavor of when eating it fresh.
- Simmer just until soft when poked with a fork—you don’t want to overcook it and have it turn into applesauce.
- Add an optional spice if desired for more flavor.
- Use water as the liquid to make these without the natural sugars in the apple cider and juice.
Nutrition
This post was first published December 2021.
Do we strain the apples before adding the spices, or after?
I’d add the spices and then you can decide how much liquid you want.