This is one simple, no fuss, nothing fancy, little “recipe” to put your apples to good use, whatever variety you have on hand. It’s one of those go-to-snacks that can satisfy that sweet-tooth craving but with no added sugar….NONE! The apples will release the necessary moisture on their own and create their own sweet cinnamon & clove condensed juice! They keep their full flavor that way and there is no need to add that sugar–simple, really!
Depending on what type(s) of apple you choose, feel free to mix them up, you can make it more or less chunky. Just refer to this chart if you need help deciding or just experiment!
This “Simply Cinnamon Apples” recipe is wonderful in my Apple Cinnamon Smoothie, Apple Almond Cobbler and Apple Honey Panini or on top of my Whole White Wheat Pancakes, Simply Oatmeal, Simply Porridge, plain Greek yogurt or even…just plain! So you can bet I have them in my fridge ready to go at all times!
I show you how to make both this sweet snack and a savory snack in my own kitchen, here!
- 2 apples, rinsed, with skin on
- 2½ Tbsp water
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 2 cloves
- Cut the apples with an apple corer/divider.
- Place the sliced apples, water and cloves in a medium sauce pan (just big enough so that the apples are "snuggled" together to keep their moisture)
- Sprinkle with cinnamon and simmer covered, for 12-15 minutes. Do NOT stir!
- Turn off the heat, keep covered and forget about them until ready to eat!
Bonnie says
September 19, 2018 at 8:33 pmThis recipe was so very good and went wonderfully with Apple Cheddar Sausages! I will make these often.
Bonnie says
September 19, 2018 at 8:32 pmSo simple and so delicious! Thank you for sharing!!!
Francine says
September 16, 2018 at 7:19 pmHow can somthing so simple be so delicious. This was perfect!!!!
Catherine Katz says
September 18, 2018 at 3:58 pmThank you so much Francine!!! I love that you love it as much I do!! 🙂
Ruby says
January 22, 2018 at 5:37 pmSo delicious ?. Thank you for all your help with healthy eating!
Catherine Katz says
January 22, 2018 at 5:52 pmYou are so welcome, Ruby !!! 🙂
Sibylle says
November 4, 2017 at 11:33 amDear Catherine,
Yummy as always. As a new second mom I appreciate easy fast and wholesome 🙂 especially since I seem now to gain weight after giving birth while fully nursing one and goodnight nursing a toddler…
Anyway I often throw the apples in the microwave for 2 minutes instead of the saucepan. Even faster and still delicious…
unfortunately in our area we had late spring frost, significantly reducing fruit harvests. So my favorite apple variety has already run out. Fortunately this recipe is also yummy with other varieties !
Catherine Katz says
November 4, 2017 at 4:11 pmI love it Sybille! hang in there Mama, as you know the weight will come down in time, slowly but surely! 🙂
Iris Rivas-Nieves says
October 26, 2017 at 4:29 pmI have made this recipes three times in a week. Every time that I finished a bowl, I start another batch. I have it for breakfast and snack. Whenever I feel like something sweet, I go for the apples. I can’t believe that it is so sweet and satisfying. Thanks for the recipe. I am now going to try the apple harvest cake.
Catherine Katz says
October 26, 2017 at 6:35 pmI love that you love this simple little recipe as much as I do!!! Thank you for your sweet and thoughtful comments, this is the second one from you today….and I needed it!! 🙂
Donna Saliter says
October 22, 2017 at 12:34 pmI’ve made these apples several times now and I just can’t believe I haven’t rated your recipe yet! Am making them again today with some delish Macouns I bought. Yummy what a wonderful Fall dessert for us! My dad used to love these. Five stars :). Thanks Catherine!
Catherine Katz says
October 26, 2017 at 6:38 pmAW Thank you Donna, I know how much you loved your dad and how you took care of him with so much tenderness and this makes me so happy to hear! 🙂
JoAnn Mar says
October 15, 2016 at 9:16 amI love to can applesauce .. so easy to grab anytime .. but the following comments can also be used when you don’t can.
I use several varieties of apples: some soft, some tart, a couple of Delicious or Galas for flavor, or if making fresh I use whatever is in the house. Peel, core, and cut into chunks .. place in large pan .. add a little water, cover and simmer until apples are tender. I like chunky applesauce so I can/use as they remain after cooking. If you like a smoother applesauce, you can use your handy potato masher to beak up the chunks. The softer apples make it more saucy .. the chunks are tender but add a little firmness. NO sugar is needed .. the variety of apples provide enough sweetness.
Catherine Katz says
October 15, 2016 at 9:28 amYes JoAnn, I love it! I am not sure if you read my recipe because it’s also exactly what I do, except that I leave the skin on! 🙂
Kathy Harwood says
October 15, 2016 at 6:42 amThis looks so good, I’ll have to try it soon. I really try hard not to eat sugar (and it’s many names) even if it isn’t the first ingredieent, it still will be there!!!!
Corey Hamilton says
December 23, 2014 at 5:11 pmI want triple this recipe. Will that work?
Catherine Katz says
December 27, 2014 at 2:35 pmCorey, I don’t see why not! Let me know if you try it!
Liz says
November 23, 2014 at 11:29 amWonderful! I also raised my children on good food in a stealth manner! We were very poor so I knew what we did have must be the best nutrition for the money. That always meant less meat, cheese, processed foods and so on. But that didn’t keep me from making our favorite foods.
Now my children are grown and I am in a marriage to someone who loves processed foods, and doesn’t enjoy my substitutions, I’ve gained weight, lost health and see we are slowly killing ourselves with food! The past six months he has made a turn around scared of the future. We both decided to fast using Garden of Life Meal Replacement for six weeks. We both lost 30#. Good, yes, but now what?
Our food choices have not changed. I am swimming up stream – by my self.
I was raised on home cooked meals with sweets galore but I was never overweight. Now it’s hard for me to resist the sweets. Very hard.
I applaud your success, not only in your healthy ways, but success in holding the family together in the most beneficial way possible!
Loing food that loves you back! Brilliant!
One last comment: somehow I can’t select five Hearts but I mean to!!
Catherine Katz says
November 23, 2014 at 12:29 pmLiz, GOOD FOR YOU for raising your children healthy, especially on a tight budget! That’s what it’s all about and I applaud you! AS for now, maybe, just maybe your husband will start enjoying the “stealth” recipes that I am suggesting for the kids! Something like the crispy chicken tenders or even the sneaky cheese pizza, right? Who knows! Maybe now you can get back to your stealth ways in your own life and maintain the weight loss and regain the pleasure of more wholesome food?
The bigger question to tackle ultimately with him, is really caring about not just about adding years to life but even more so, about adding life to yours and his with just a few healthy lifestyle changes–small incremental steps, but steps in the right direction nonetheless. I think it is a conversation worth having eventually. Please keep me informed! I love your passion and enthusiasm and determination to get back where you know you want to be! You can do it! Definitely 5 big hearts for you!!!
Liz says
November 23, 2014 at 6:02 pmI take your advice with gladness!
Catherine Katz says
October 7, 2014 at 4:42 pmHaha, Brittney, you are so cute–not naive at all! yes they are whole and I just take them out when ready to serve. They just give a wonderful flavor but not so great to bite into!!
Brittney says
October 7, 2014 at 4:37 pmI’m excited to try this recipe! Please pardon a naive question- are the cloves to go in the sauce pan whole? I’ve only ever used ground cloves. Thank you !
Catherine Katz says
October 6, 2014 at 12:17 pmAh oui ce bon parfum savoureux de clou de girofle et de cannelle, Yum! Et tout a fait, pour simplicity et cuisinicity, au pourrait traduire en Français….Cuisinicité! pourquoi pas?!
martine says
October 6, 2014 at 12:13 pmsuper! merci pour cette belle recette si simple à réaliser , beaucoup de goût, le clou de girofle laisse un subtil parfum dans la bouche , c’est délicieux!! et peu de calories bien sûr!! …en effet , cuisinicity rime bien avec simplicity! bonne journée à vous ! Martine de France
Catherine Katz says
September 29, 2014 at 4:06 pmI know, right? Who needs all that sugar?! These simple apples always turn out so sweet, almost caramelized! I love to have them on hand in my fridge to throw on about…anything!!! I use them for my apple almond cobbler too, I think you’ll love that one as well!
Well done Shirley- and thank you for such a lovely note!
Shirley says
September 29, 2014 at 3:42 pmWho would’ve ever thought that a recipe so simple could simply be delicious! I grew up watching my family make apples that include too much sugar and too much butter. As an adult I questioned why add all that butter and all that sugar. But, not being a cook (as I mentioned in an earlier post I follow recipes, I’m not a cook!) I avoided cooked apples because of the sugar and butter. I avoided them until this recipe! I made the Simply Cinnamon Apples last week. They are delicious and are a healthy version! Thank you so much!