If you love baked apples but don’t want to heat up the kitchen, this air fryer version is quicker, easier, and surprisingly satisfying.
These vegan-friendly air fryer baked apples are a cozy, wholesome dessert made for real life. Tender apples are filled with a crunchy oat topping and cooked right in the air fryer in under 20 minutes. Super easy with no oven, no pie crust, and no long prep. It’s a small-batch recipe for anyone who wants the comfort of baked apples without going to all the hassle of making a full apple crisp. These air fryer baked apples are perfect for a yummy little treat you share with your bestie, or a lighter, feel-good dessert after dinner.
Before we jump in, I have to admit: the air fryer and I did not become friends right away. I bought it because everyone else was buying one, then it sat in the cupboard until curiosity (and two sweet potatoes on my counter I wan’t sure what to do with) finally won. My first successes (after the sweet potato cubes) were tiny (crispy chickpeas and roasted veggies) but then the fun started.
Air fryer corn on the cob took something pretty boring and made it surprisingly good with a better (crisp) texture, less effort, no fuss. Then these cute little mini bean tacos started trending on social media, and the air fryer made them ridiculously easy to pull off at home. Even my air fryer maple glazed Brussels sprouts became a hit with the fam, which I honestly didn’t see coming, especially when the kids started asking for seconds.
At this point, they’re all family favorites. These air fryer baked apples joined the rotation just as fast because they’re simple, warm, and feel like a treat without the work of making a pie.
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Baked Apples
These apples hit that sweet spot between dessert and snack. They’re warm and comforting, but not heavy or overly sweet.
- They are made entirely in the air fryer. No oven needed!
- The topping gets crisp without drying out the apples
- They are vegan-friendly because you use vegan butter.
- It’s a small-batch dessert that doesn’t leave leftovers hanging around.
- Prep is simple and cleanup is minimal.
- It tastes like a mini apple crisp without making a whole pan.
Ingredients Needed for Air Fryer Baked Apples
The full measurements are in the recipe card, but here’s what you’ll need:
- Apples. See below for the best apple suggestions.
- Vegan butter. Use “stick” butter, not the soft tub type. If you are not vegan, you can easily substitute dairy butter in its place.
- Brown sugar. I used light brown sugar.
- Rolled oats. For the best texture, use rolled oats – not quick oats for this recipe.
- All-purpose flour
- Maple syrup – Use real maple syrup, not the fake pancake syrup.
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt
- Of course you also need an air fryer!
A Little About Choosing the best Apples for air-frying
Different apples behave differently when heated, which is why choosing the right variety makes such a big difference. Honeycrisp apples are my favorite for air fryer baked apples because they stay firm enough to hold their shape but still soften into a tender, spoonable texture. They are naturally sweet, hold moisture well, and don’t collapse like softer apples can.
Other great choices include Pink Lady, Fuji, Braeburn, and Jonagold apples. All are sturdy apples with balanced sweetness and a pleasant bite. If you want to read more about apple varieties and their baking uses, this guide from The Kitchn is a great resource for the best apples for baking; and that includes when baked in the air fryer.
Important note: Avoid soft apples like McIntosh or Red Delicious, which turn mushy too fast.
How to Make Vegan Air Fryer Baked Apples
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.
Step one: The Preparation steps:
Do a few quick steps ahead of time to make the rest of the recipe flow smoothly:
- Chop the nuts
- Melt the vegan butter
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°
Step two: Prep the Apples
Wash and core the apples, leaving the bottom intact so the filling doesn’t leak out. If an apple won’t stand up straight, shave off the tiniest bit of the bottom. This is one of those small steps that feels unnecessary until you skip it once…(Me, it’s me…)
Step Three: Make the Crunchy topping
Mix the melted vegan butter, oats, brown sugar, flour, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until crumbly. The texture should feel moist but not wet. If it looks sandy, add a few extra drops of maple syrup.
Step Four: Fill the Apples
Spoon the topping into the center of each apple and press lightly. You want it packed enough to hold together, but not so tight that it turns dense once cooked.
Sometimes, depending on the size of the apples and how many I use, I might have leftover topping. If that happens then I just freeze the leftover topping for another time.
Step five: Air Fry
Place the apples in the air fryer basket. Make sure to leave a little space between them. Cook at 350°F for 14–18 minutes. Start checking at 14 minutes—air fryers vary, and larger apples need more time.
Step Five: Serve
Let the baked apples cool for a little bit before serving. Add vegan vanilla ice cream, coconut whip, or an extra drizzle of maple syrup for a little more sweetness.
Helpful Tips & FAQs
You can prep the oat filling earlier in the day and store it in the fridge. Or if you make it days before and freeze it, just thaw it first in the fridge. But Core the apples right before cooking so that they don’t start to brown.
Honeycrisp apples are ideal; but Pink Lady, Fuji, and Braeburn apples all work well.
Yes, adjust the timing but leave the temperature the same. Large apples may need an extra 2–4 minutes in the air fryer. If your air fryer basket is small, cook two apples at a time
Refrigerate the baked apples in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Warm the apples in the microwave or air fryer before serving.
Final Thoughts
These air fryer baked apples have quickly become one of my favorite “tiny desserts”. They are warm, comforting, simple, and endlessly adaptable. They’re fast enough for weeknights but cozy enough for holidays. And if you’re a fan of apple crisp, this feels like the quicker, cuter version. Try them once, and I’m guessing you’ll be making them again the next night:)
The printable recipe card
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Air Fryer Baked Apples with Crunchy Oat Topping (Vegan Friendly)
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 3 baking apples I used Honeycrisp
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter melted
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon chopped pecans
- ⅓ cup old fashioned oats
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup More for drizzling
Instructions
- Prep the air fryer: Preheat air fryer to 350℉. Prepare the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Chop the nuts. Melt the butter.
- Prep the apples: Wash and core the apples, leaving the bottom intact so the filling doesn’t leak out. If the apples wobble, slice a tiny bit off the bottom to help them stand upright.3 baking apples
- Make the crumble topping: Stir together melted vegan butter, brown sugar, oats, flour, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until the mixture looks crumbly and slightly sticky. Use extra maple syrup if the mixture is dry like sand.1 tablespoon vegan butter, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon chopped pecans, ⅓ cup old fashioned oats
- Fill the apple: Spoon the oat mixture into the centers of the apples, pressing lightly so the filling is packed but still mounded on top.
- Air fry: Place apples in the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t touch so air can circulate. Air fry at 350°F for 14–18 minutes, or until the apples are tender when pierced and the topping is crisp.
- Serve warm: Let cool for a few minutes. Serve as-is or top with vegan vanilla ice cream, coconut whip, or a drizzle of maple syrup. Other fun (optional) toppings include: granola, dried fruit (like raisins), ice cream, additional melted butter, whipped cream, and/or additional maple syrup.
Notes
- Best apples to use: Honeycrisp is my favorite because it softens without collapsing and holds its shape beautifully in the air fryer. It also has a natural sweetness that pairs perfectly with a warm crumble topping. Other great options: Pink Lady, Fuji, Braeburn, or Jonagold. Avoid very soft apples like McIntosh or Red Delicious — they turn mushy too quickly.
- Air fryer size matters: This recipe assumes three medium apples. If your air fryer is smaller, use two. If it’s larger, you may fit four. Just make sure the apples stand upright and aren’t cramped — proper airflow gives you that crisp, golden topping.
- For extra crunch: Add a tablespoon of chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping mixture.
- Make-ahead tip: Prep the filling ahead of time and store it in the fridge up to 24 hours. Core the apples right before cooking to prevent browning.
- Vegan-friendly: Any store-bought vegan butter works, but choose one with a higher fat content for the crispiest oat topping. Also, make sure you like the taste of the vegan butter because the flavor will show through.
