Spiced Air Fryer Apples
A quick and simple dessert with tender apples and warm flavors of cinnamon and maple.
Steps
- 1
Use an apple slicer to core and slice the apple. You can leave the peel on or remove it, as preferred.
- 2
Place the apple slices in a small bowl.
- 3
Add maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract. Mix well to coat the slices evenly.
- 4
Arrange the apple slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them for air circulation.
- 5
Cook at 190°C (375°F) for 8-10 minutes, or until the apple slices are tender.
- 6
Serve plain, or with yogurt or ice cream.
Shopping list
1 red apple, 1 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, 1 tsp vanilla extract
Recipe story
Baked apples with spices are a traditional dessert in many cultures, from English to American cuisine. In Europe, apples stuffed with cinnamon and sugar were popular as early as the Middle Ages. This modern air fryer recipe preserves the essence of those warm flavors, offering a quick and healthy version.
Ingredient Secrets
Cinnamon
In ancient Rome, cinnamon was more precious than gold, used in sacred rituals and royal perfumes. Legends told of fabulous birds called cinnamologus that built their nests from cinnamon sticks on inaccessible cliff tops. The cinnamon trade was long shrouded in mystery, with Arab merchants inventing fantastic stories to protect their sources.
Vanilla
Vanilla, native to Mexico, was discovered by Spanish conquistadors who brought it to Europe in the 16th century. In Aztec culture, vanilla was used to flavor a royal cocoa drink. For centuries, hand-pollination was a closely guarded secret, and it wasn't until 1841 that a 12-year-old slave on Réunion discovered the method that allowed widespread cultivation.
Nutmeg
In the Middle Ages, nutmeg was so precious that a kilogram cost as much as a cow or even a house. Merchants guarded it like gold, and legend says that to keep its origin secret, traders would adulterate it with walnut seeds.
