Sharing is caring!

These Southern Stuffed Baked Apples are filled with a buttery brown sugar and cinnamon oat mixture, then baked until the apples are tender and the filling is golden and delicious. They have all the flavors of a homemade apple crisp, except everything is baked right inside the apple!

This is one of those simple fall desserts that makes your kitchen smell absolutely amazing. Warm apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, butter, and oats—what's not to love?

Serve them straight from the oven or add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of the buttery cinnamon sauce from the baking dish.

An Easy Old-Fashioned Fall Dessert

When apple season rolls around, I'm always looking for easy ways to use fresh apples. Of course, apple pie is delicious, but sometimes I want those same cozy flavors without making pie crust.

That's where these Southern stuffed baked apples come in.

Instead of slicing the apples, we're keeping them whole, removing the core, and filling the centers with a simple oat crumble.

As they bake, the apples soften and release their juices. The butter and brown sugar melt into the oats and create a gooey cinnamon filling, while all those wonderful juices collect in the bottom of the baking dish.

It's basically a personal-sized apple crisp baked right inside an apple.

Why You'll Love These Southern Stuffed Baked Apples

There are so many reasons to make this recipe during the fall. It's simple enough for an ordinary weeknight but pretty enough to serve after Sunday dinner or for a holiday dessert.

I especially love that everyone gets their own individual apple.

You'll also love that they're:

• Made with simple pantry ingredients
• Filled with a buttery cinnamon oat crumble
• Easy to prepare
• Perfect for apple season
• Delicious served warm
• Great with vanilla ice cream
• An easy alternative to apple pie or apple crisp

And because the apples are the serving vessel, there's no worrying about cutting perfectly even slices of dessert!

What Kind of Apples Are Best for Southern Stuffed Baked Apples?

The most important thing when making whole baked apples is choosing an apple that can withstand the longer baking time.

You want the inside to become tender while the apple itself still holds its shape.

Honeycrisp apples are a great choice because they're naturally sweet and hold up well during baking.

You can also use:

Granny Smith: A little more tart, which is delicious with the sweet brown sugar filling.

Pink Lady: Sweet-tart and firm enough for baking.

Braeburn: Firm with a naturally warm, slightly spicy flavor.

Fuji: A sweeter option if you don't want much tartness.

I would avoid apples that become very soft when cooked because they may collapse before the filling is finished baking.

Ingredients for Southern Stuffed Baked Apples

The filling is similar to what you would use for an apple crisp or crumble.

You'll need:

• Whole apples
• Old-fashioned oats
• Brown sugar
• Ground cinnamon
• Butter
• Chopped pecans or walnuts, if desired
• A pinch of salt
• Water or apple cider for the baking dish

You can also add a small amount of nutmeg or apple pie spice if you want even more warm fall flavor.

Use Old-Fashioned Oats

I recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats rather than instant oats.

Old-fashioned oats give the filling a heartier texture and hold up better while the apples bake.

Quick oats can work in a pinch, but the texture of the filling will be softer.

How to Make Southern Stuffed Baked Apples

Start by preheating the oven to 350°F.

Wash and dry your apples. There's no need to peel them since the peel helps the apples hold their shape during baking.

Core the Apples

Carefully remove the core from the center of each apple.

You can use an apple corer, melon baller, or small paring knife.

The important thing is not to cut all the way through the bottom of the apple.

You want to create a little pocket that will hold all that delicious oat filling. Leaving the bottom intact also helps keep the melted butter and brown sugar inside the apple instead of immediately running into the baking dish.

Once the core is removed, you can scoop out a little extra apple from the center to make room for more filling.

Make the Cinnamon Oat Filling

In a small bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.

If you're adding chopped pecans or walnuts, mix those in as well.

Add softened or melted butter and stir until everything is well combined.

You want the mixture to resemble a chunky crumble topping.

Don't worry if it looks like you have a lot of filling. Pack it down into the center of each apple and mound a little extra over the top.

That's the good stuff!

Stuff and Bake the Apples

Place the cored apples upright in a baking dish.

Divide the oat mixture between the apples, pressing it down gently into each center.

Pour a small amount of water or apple cider into the bottom of the baking dish. This creates steam while the apples bake and also gives you a delicious cinnamon-apple sauce in the bottom of the pan.

Bake the apples at 350°F for about 40 to 50 minutes, or until they're tender when pierced with a knife.

The exact baking time will depend on the size and variety of your apples.

You want them soft and tender but not so soft that they completely collapse.

How Do You Know When Baked Apples Are Done?

Insert the tip of a sharp knife into the side of one of the apples.

It should slide in fairly easily, but the apple should still hold its shape.

If the apples are still firm, continue baking them in 5- to 10-minute increments until they reach your desired tenderness.

Larger apples will naturally take longer than smaller ones.

Don't Forget the Sauce in the Pan!

One of my favorite parts of this recipe is what happens in the bottom of the baking dish.

As the apples cook, their juices mix with the melted butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar from the filling.

Whatever you do, don't leave that behind!

Spoon some of those warm cinnamon juices over each apple right before serving.

Add Vanilla Ice Cream

These apples are delicious on their own, but serving them warm with vanilla ice cream takes them to another level.

The cold ice cream starts melting over the warm apple and mixes with the buttery brown sugar filling.

You can also serve them with:

• Whipped cream
• Caramel sauce
• Maple syrup
• Chopped toasted pecans
• A sprinkle of cinnamon
• Greek yogurt for a less-sweet option

For an extra decadent dessert, add vanilla ice cream and then spoon the warm sauce from the baking dish over everything.

Can I Make Southern Stuffed Baked Apples Ahead of Time?

Yes. You can prepare the apples several hours before baking.

Core the apples and prepare the filling, then stuff them and place them in the baking dish. Cover and refrigerate until you're ready to bake.

Because cut apples can start to brown, you can rub a little lemon juice around the exposed flesh before adding the filling.

When you're ready for dessert, simply bake them according to the recipe.

If you're putting the baking dish directly into the oven from the refrigerator, you may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time.

How to Store Leftover Baked Apples

Allow leftover apples to cool and then place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

They should keep well for about 3 to 4 days.

Reheat an individual apple in the microwave until warmed through, or place several apples in a baking dish, cover loosely with foil, and warm them in a 325°F oven.

Be sure to store any leftover sauce from the baking dish with the apples.

Easy Variations

Once you know how to make stuffed baked apples, it's easy to change the filling depending on what you have in the pantry.

Try adding raisins or dried cranberries for a chewy texture.

Add chopped pecans or walnuts for extra crunch.

Replace some of the brown sugar with maple syrup for maple cinnamon apples.

Add a pinch of nutmeg, cloves, or apple pie spice for even more fall flavor.

You could even add a few mini chocolate chips to the oat filling if you're making these for the kids.

What to Serve With Baked Apples

Although I usually think of these as dessert, baked apples are also delicious alongside a big Southern breakfast or brunch.

Serve Southern Stuffed Baked Apples with biscuits, pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausage, or a breakfast casserole.

For dessert, they're perfect after a cozy fall meal, especially when you've made something savory like roasted chicken or pork tenderloin.

They would also make a beautiful addition to a Thanksgiving dessert table when you want something besides another pie.

Recipe Tips

For the best stuffed baked apples, choose apples that are similar in size so they finish baking at roughly the same time.

Don't hollow out the apples too much. You want enough room for plenty of oat filling, but the apple still needs enough flesh to hold its shape.

The Perfect Cozy Apple Dessert

These Southern Stuffed Baked Apples with Oats have everything I love about fall baking without all the work of making a pie.

You get a warm, tender apple filled with buttery oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon, plus all those caramel-like juices collecting around the bottom.

Serve one warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you've got an easy fall dessert that feels special enough for company but is simple enough to make anytime an apple craving hits.

Love Apple Recipes? Check These Out

• Southern Apple Salsa
• Classic Apple Pie
• Apple Puff Pastry Rings