Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples | Pressure Cooker Apples Recipe

If you love warm apple desserts, cozy cinnamon flavors, and easy pressure cooker recipes, this is the one for you! Learn how to make the easiest Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples with tender apple slices, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and vanilla for a warm and comforting dish that is ready in minutes.

Why You'll Love This Easy Apple Recipe

• Fast. These cinnamon apples cook in just a few minutes under pressure.
• Easy. Slice the apples, add the ingredients to the Instant Pot, pressure cook, and stir.
• Versatile. Serve them for breakfast, dessert, or as a sweet side dish.
• Delicious. Tender apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and vanilla create classic apple pie flavor without the work of baking a pie.

With the convenience of the Instant Pot, you can make warm cinnamon apples without standing over the stove and stirring a skillet.

This Instant Pot apples recipe is especially useful during fall apple season, but it is simple enough to make any time of year when you are craving something warm, sweet, and comforting.

What Are Cinnamon Apples?

Cinnamon apples are sliced or chopped apples cooked with sugar, cinnamon, butter, and sometimes additional warm spices. They are similar to apple pie filling, although they can be served in many more ways.

Some versions are cooked in a skillet, baked in the oven, or simmered in a slow cooker. Using the Instant Pot dramatically shortens the cooking time.

For these pressure cooker cinnamon apples, a small amount of liquid helps the Instant Pot come to pressure while brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and butter create the sweet sauce.

What Are The Best Apples For Cinnamon Apples?

The best apples for Instant Pot cinnamon apples are varieties that soften without completely losing their shape.

• Granny Smith Apples- These tart apples balance the sweetness of the brown sugar beautifully and tend to hold up well during cooking.
• Honeycrisp Apples- Honeycrisp apples are naturally sweet, juicy, and crisp. They create a sweeter finished dish with great apple flavor.
• Pink Lady Apples- These have a pleasant balance of sweetness and acidity and maintain their texture well.
• Fuji Apples- Fuji apples are very sweet and work well if you prefer dessert-style cinnamon apples.
• Braeburn Apples- These firm apples have a sweet and slightly tart flavor that makes them excellent for cooked apple recipes.

For the best flavor, try combining one tart apple variety with one sweeter variety.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Apples- The star of the recipe. Choose firm apples that can withstand pressure cooking without immediately turning to mush.
• Brown Sugar- Adds sweetness and a rich caramel-like flavor that pairs naturally with apples and cinnamon.
• Ground Cinnamon- Provides the warm spice flavor that defines cinnamon apples.
• Ground Nutmeg- Adds depth and makes the apples taste even more like classic apple pie filling.
• Unsalted Butter- Adds richness and gives the sauce a silky texture.
• Vanilla Extract- Adds warmth and enhances the cinnamon and apple flavors.
• Apple Juice- Provides the liquid needed for pressure cooking while reinforcing the apple flavor. Water can be substituted if needed.
• Lemon Juice- Adds acidity, balances the sweetness, and helps brighten the apple flavor.
• Cornstarch- Used after pressure cooking to thicken the liquid into a glossy cinnamon sauce.
• Water- Mixed with cornstarch to create a smooth slurry.
• Salt- A small pinch helps balance the sweetness and intensify the other flavors.

How To Make Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples

Prepare The Apples. Peel the apples if desired. Core them, then slice them into wedges approximately 1/2 inch thick. Try to keep the slices relatively uniform so they cook at the same rate.

Add The Liquid. Pour the apple juice and lemon juice into the Instant Pot. Adding the liquid first helps provide enough moisture for the pot to come to pressure.

Add The Apples And Seasonings. Add the apple slices to the pot. Sprinkle the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt over the apples. Add the butter on top. Avoid aggressively stirring everything together before cooking.

Pressure Cook. Secure the lid and set the valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 0 minutes. Yes, zero minutes. The apples cook while the Instant Pot comes to pressure. When the timer beeps, immediately perform a quick pressure release. If your Instant Pot model does not allow a 0-minute setting, cook for 1 minute on High Pressure and release the pressure as soon as the cooking cycle ends.

Add The Vanilla. Carefully open the lid. Stir in the vanilla extract. At this point, the apples should be tender but still holding their shape.

Thicken The Sauce. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté. Whisk the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl until completely smooth. Pour the slurry into the pot and gently stir. Cook for approximately 1 to 2 minutes, or until the cinnamon sauce thickens.

Serve. Turn off the Instant Pot and let the apples cool for several minutes. Serve warm with plenty of the cinnamon sauce spooned over the top.

Tips And Tricks

Making pressure cooker cinnamon apples is incredibly easy, but these tips will help you get the best texture:

• Use Firm Apples. Soft apples can break down quickly under pressure. Choose varieties designed to hold their shape when cooked.
• Slice Evenly. Similar-sized apple pieces cook more consistently.
• Quick Release Immediately. Letting the pressure release naturally can turn sliced apples into applesauce.
• Thicken After Cooking. Cornstarch should be added as a slurry after pressure cooking to prevent it from settling on the bottom of the pot.
• Stir Gently. Cooked apples are delicate. Stir carefully so the slices remain intact.

Variations

If you're a fan of these Instant Pot cinnamon apples, try one of these easy variations:

• Maple- Replace some of the brown sugar with pure maple syrup for a warm maple flavor.
• Pumpkin- Replace the cinnamon and nutmeg with pumpkin pie spice.
• Raisin Cinnamon Apples- Add raisins after pressure cooking and let them soften in the warm sauce.
• Low Sugar- Reduce the brown sugar or use your preferred sugar substitute.

What To Serve With Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples

These sweet apples are incredibly versatile and work for breakfast or dessert:

• Vanilla Ice Cream- Warm cinnamon apples spooned over cold vanilla ice cream make an easy apple pie-inspired dessert.
• Pancakes- Use the apples as a warm topping instead of syrup.
• French Toast- Cinnamon apples transform simple French toast into a fall-inspired breakfast.
• Oatmeal- Spoon them over hot oatmeal for extra sweetness and texture.
• Yogurt- Pair cooled cinnamon apples with Greek yogurt and granola.
• Waffles- Top waffles with warm apples and a little whipped cream.
• Pork Chops- For a savory pairing, serve cinnamon apples alongside pork chops for a sweet contrast.

How Long Do Cinnamon Apples Last?

Store leftover Instant Pot cinnamon apples in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The apples will continue softening slightly as they sit in the sauce.

Reheat individual portions in the microwave in 30-second intervals until warm. You can also place them in a saucepan over low heat and stir gently until heated through.

Can You Freeze Them?

Yes. Cinnamon apples can be frozen, although their texture will become softer after thawing.

Allow the apples to cool completely before transferring them to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently.

Frozen and thawed cinnamon apples work especially well as toppings for oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, or ice cream where a slightly softer texture is not a problem.

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