Air Fryer Apple Slices with Cinnamon and Brown sugar, Oil-Free

Indulge in guilt-free sweetness with our Oil-Free Air Fryer Apple Slices. Perfectly tender and aromatic, these apple slices are generously coated with a harmonious blend of cinnamon and brown sugar. Each bite is a warm, comforting embrace of fall flavors, without the added oils. A delectable treat awaits!

You’ll love these cinnamon-sweet air fryer apple slices. You can make them as healthy or as decadently delicious as you’d like. I love to eat my baked apple wedges without any extra toppings or dips. They are delicious the way they are.

BUT, you can go extra! Dip your air fryer cinnamon apple slices in sweetened coconut yogurt, homemade salted caramel sauce, or your favorite frosting. Today I made a quick vegan cream cheese frosting and added a little extra plant milk to thin it out. Buttery cinnamon brown sugar glaze would also be amazing and so would browned butter donut glaze. Take your pick – you can’t go wrong!

Apple season is my favortie time of the year! There are so many delicious recipes that we can try. Start out with homemade apple cider made with real apples in the Instant Pot. While you have your pressure cooker on the counter, make some yummy (super easy) apple dumplings. And if you are a fan of pastries, you don't want to miss rustic caramel apple tart. For the sweet/savory side, you have to try this autumn spinach salad with roasted pumpkin, apples, and cranberrys. So delicious!

Ingredients needed to make air fryer apple slices

• Apples (of course!)- Use any sweet crispy apple for this recipe. Today I used gala apples. Honey crisp is a good choice as is yellow delicious. I usually recommend granny smith apples in my baked goods but for this recipe, I like to keep the apples a little more sweet.
• Cornstarch
• Lemon Juice – Use fresh lemon juice or bottled lemon juice. It doesn’t really matter for this recipe.
• Brown Sugar – You are using only one-fourth of a cup for the whole recipe. I have not made this with any of the sugar substitutes so I don’t know if it would work or not. Please let me know if you do.
• ground Cinnamon and a pinch of salt
• cooking spray – Optional but recommended to spritz your air fryer if you don’t use a liner.
• an air fryer (of course) and a basket liner. Make sure to use the correct shape and size of basket liner for your air fryer. It is not a one-size-fits-all.

How to make cinnamon apples in the air fryer

The exact ingredients with measurements can be found in the recipe card below along with more concise abbreviated instructions. Read on for more details, tips, and tricks so that you will feel confident making this recipe.

Steps 1 and 2: the apples

Peel each apple and slice it into 15-20 thin wedges/slices. Make sure that you don’t get any of the apple core area into your slices. If you accidently do, simply remove any core pieces with a small paring knife before you proceed.

Put the apples into a medium-sized bowl with a lid OR you can put them into a zip lock bag. The important thing is that whatever container you choose needs to be closed well without leaking.

Now sprinkle the cornstarch on top of the sliced apple wedges. Put the lid on the bowl (or zip up the bag) and shake it around a little bit until the cornstarch has covered the apple slices.

Step 3: The other ingredients

Add the lemon juice, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and pinch of salt to the bowl or bag. Close the lid and once again, shake until the apples are evenly coated.

Step 4: Preheat the airfryer

I wait to start preheating the air fryer until the apples are ready to go. The apples aren’t going anywhere and some airfryers preheat super fast. It’s best to have everything ready to put in once the air fryer is heated.

Follow your manufacturer’s directions for preheating the air fryer to 375°F. If you are using a basket liner then wait to add the liner until after the air fryer is preheated. You could also use cooking spray to keep things from sticking. Again, follow your manufacturer’s directions. Not all air fryer finishes do well will cooking spray.

Steps 5 and 6: Air fry the apple slices

Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook this recipe in batches. It’s best to cook the apple wedges in a (mostly) single layer.

Place the apples in a mostly single layer in the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes. Flip the apples with tongs every 5 minutes.

The apples are done when they are caramelized on the edges and firm and dry on the outside. The air fried apples are not meant to be crispy like french fries, but a more tender/crisp texture on the outside and juicy on the inside.

If you need to air fry the apples in batches then repeat with the remaining apples.

Step 7: Cooling and serving

Cool slightly before eating. These air fried apple slices are best consumed shortly after they’ve been made. They wil have a different (more mushy) texture if saved for later.

If I’m feeling extra healthy, I’ll serve these cinnomony apples with sweetened coconut yogurt. But if I’m feeling extra indulgent, there’s nothing like fresh warm caramel sauce, vegan canoli dip, or cream cheese frosting to enjoy these yummy cinnamon apple treats.

The printable recipe card: