If you’re looking for a fall-inspired treat that’s both simple and seriously indulgent, I’ve got you covered with this fan-freaking-tastic Bloomin’ Apples Recipe. I absolutely love how it combines warm, tender apples with gooey caramel and cinnamon-scented butter—it’s like a cozy hug on a plate! Whether you’re baking or using an air fryer, this recipe is easy to master and will make your kitchen smell amazing. Keep reading, and I’ll share exactly how to make these beauties come to life perfectly every time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Deceptively Easy: You’d think something this impressive is complicated, but it’s actually super straightforward.
- Perfect Comfort Food: Warm apples with caramel and cinnamon? Instant cozy vibes any night of the year.
- Versatile Cooking: Whether you have an oven or an air fryer, you can make this recipe work for you.
- Crowd Pleaser: My family goes crazy for this—perfect for holiday dinners or casual get-togethers.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The key ingredients in this Bloomin’ Apples Recipe come together to create the perfect balance of sweet, buttery, and cinnamon-spiced flavors. When I shop, I like to pick apples that are firm and slightly tart for the best texture and flavor contrast with the caramel.
- Cooking spray: To grease your baking dish or air fryer basket so apples don’t stick.
- Melted butter: Adds richness and helps caramelize the apple tops beautifully.
- Brown sugar: Brings deep caramel-like sweetness that complements the apples.
- Granulated sugar: Balances the brown sugar and adds a touch of extra sweetness.
- Ground cinnamon: The warm spice that gives the apples their cozy autumn vibe.
- Apples: Choose firmer varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji for the best results.
- Chewy caramel squares: These melt perfectly inside the apples to create pockets of gooey caramel goodness.
- Vanilla ice cream: My favorite accompaniment—adds cool creaminess and boosts the comfort factor.
- Caramel sauce (for drizzling): A little extra drizzle makes everything feel just indulgent enough.
Variations
What’s great about the Bloomin’ Apples Recipe is how easy it is to tweak based on what you love or what you have on hand. I often try swapping out caramel for chocolate chips or tossing in some chopped nuts for crunch. Feel free to make it your own!
- Apple variety swap: I’ve had great luck using Pink Lady apples when I want something a bit sweeter and less tart.
- Spice it up: Adding a pinch of nutmeg or allspice with the cinnamon can bring a cozy holiday twist I adore.
- Nutty twist: Sprinkling chopped pecans or walnuts on top just before baking adds a lovely texture contrast.
- Dairy-free option: Use coconut oil instead of butter and a dairy-free ice cream to make it vegan-friendly without compromising flavor.
How to Make Bloomin’ Apples Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Apples Like a Pro
First things first—preheat your oven to 375°F or get your air fryer ready at 350°F. Spray a baking dish or your air fryer basket lightly with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Slice the tops off your apples and carefully core them. I use an apple corer to save time, but I always double-check with a small spoon to scoop out any stubborn bits of core. To create the signature “bloomin’” effect, use a sharp paring knife to make two circular cuts around each apple, then place them cut-side down and slice crosswise without slicing all the way through. This step can feel a little tricky at first, but once you get the hang of slicing just deep enough, you’ll have perfectly “bloomed” apples ready to stuff!
Step 2: Mix Up Your Butter, Sugar & Cinnamon Mixture
In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter with brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon until smooth. This blend brings that irresistible balance of sweet, buttery, and warmly spiced flavors that’ll soak into the apple edges while baking.
Step 3: Stuff, Brush, and Bake
Place your prepared apples in the baking dish or air fryer basket. Fill each apple cavity with two chewy caramel squares—these melt beautifully to create gooey pockets of caramel inside. Then generously brush the butter-sugar-cinnamon mixture over the apples and into the crevices. Bake in your preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or air fry at 350°F for roughly 20 minutes. You’re looking for tender apples that hold their shape and a golden glaze on top. Pro tip: if you use an air fryer, check around 18 minutes to avoid overcooking.
Step 4: Serve Warm with Ice Cream and Caramel Drizzle
The magic moment! Serve these warm, straight from the oven or air fryer, topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. The contrast between hot and cold, soft and creamy, is absolutely divine. My family gobbles this up faster than I can plate it.
Pro Tips for Making Bloomin’ Apples Recipe
- Choose the Right Apples: I swear by firmer apples like Granny Smith because they hold their shape and balance the sweetness beautifully.
- Don’t Over-Slice: When making those circular cuts, be careful not to slice through the core—this keeps the apple intact while blooming open.
- Caramel Timing: Adding caramel squares before baking lets them melt perfectly inside, so don’t skip this step!
- Watch Your Bake Time: Overcooked apples can get mushy; check doneness by poking gently with a fork for tender but still intact apples.
How to Serve Bloomin’ Apples Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping my Bloomin’ Apples with a scoop of high-quality vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of warm caramel sauce—that combo never fails! Sometimes I’ll sprinkle a bit of chopped toasted pecans on top for extra crunch and flavor, and a light dusting of powdered sugar makes it feel extra special without much effort.
Side Dishes
This dessert is perfect as the grand finale to a cozy dinner. I like serving it after a light, cinnamon-spiced pumpkin soup or alongside a turkey or roasted chicken entree for fall gatherings. If you want to keep things simple, a cup of hot tea or coffee pairs wonderfully with the sweet and spiced flavors.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I’ve presented bloomed apples nested on a bed of fresh mint leaves or served in rustic individual ramekins with a dollop of whipped cream. Another fun idea is to drizzle the apples with a salted caramel sauce and scatter a few edible flowers around the plate for an elegant touch.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers (which can be rare!), store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To keep the apples from getting too soggy, I recommend separating the caramel drizzle and ice cream until serving.
Freezing
I haven’t tried freezing fully baked Bloomin’ Apples because the texture of apples can change, but I have frozen prepped apples (cored and sliced) before baking with great success. Just thaw fully before stuffing and baking.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers gently in a warm oven at 300°F for 10-15 minutes or in the air fryer at 320°F for about 8 minutes to bring back that tender warmth without overcooking. Skip the microwave if possible—it can make the apples mushy.
FAQs
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What type of apples work best for the Bloomin’ Apples Recipe?
Firm, slightly tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji work best because they hold their shape during baking and balance the sweetness of the caramel and sugar perfectly. Softer apples may become mushy when cooked.
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Can I make this recipe without an oven?
Absolutely! This recipe works wonderfully in an air fryer too. Just adjust the temperature to 350°F and reduce the cooking time to around 20 minutes. You’ll get the same tender apples and melted caramel inside.
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How do I prevent the apples from falling apart during baking?
Be careful not to slice through the core when making your circular cuts, as that helps keep the apple intact. Also, use firmer apple varieties and avoid overbaking to maintain their structure.
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Can I prepare the Bloomin’ Apples ahead of time?
You can core and slice the apples ahead of time and keep them refrigerated for a few hours, but I recommend stuffing and baking them fresh for the best texture and flavor.
Final Thoughts
When I first tried this Bloomin’ Apples Recipe, I was hooked by its magic simplicity and how everyone in my family instantly loved it. It’s a go-to dessert that feels special but doesn’t require hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re serving it for a cozy weekend treat or a festive dinner, you’re going to enjoy the warmth and sweetness that makes this recipe so memorable. Give it a try—your kitchen and your taste buds will thank you!
Print
Bloomin’ Apples Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins (Oven) or 20 mins (Air Fryer)
- Total Time: 45 mins (Air Fryer) to 45 mins (Oven)
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Bloomin’ Apples are a delightful dessert featuring tender baked apples sliced to resemble a blooming flower, filled with chewy caramel squares, brushed with a buttery cinnamon sugar mixture, and served warm with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle. This easy yet elegant treat can be prepared in the oven or air fryer for a cozy, comforting finish to any meal.
Ingredients
For the Apples and Filling
- 4 apples
- 8 chewy caramel squares
For the Topping
- 4 Tbsp. melted butter
- 1 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- Cooking spray (for greasing baking dish)
To Serve
- Breyers Natural Vanilla ice cream, for serving
- Caramel sauce, for drizzling
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Dish and Butter Mixture: Preheat your oven to 375°F (or set your air fryer to 350°F). Grease a medium baking dish with cooking spray if using the oven. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, packed brown sugar, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon until combined.
- Core and Slice Apples: Slice the top off each apple. Use a corer to remove the core, and if necessary, a small spoon to remove any remaining core pieces. Using a paring knife, make two circular cuts around the apple. Then place the apple cut side down on a cutting board and slice crosswise carefully, making sure not to cut all the way through the core, so the apple remains intact but fanned open like a blooming flower.
- Fill and Brush Apples: Place the prepared apples in your baking dish or air fryer basket. Insert two caramel squares into the center of each apple. Brush the melted butter and sugar mixture generously over the top of each apple to coat.
- Bake or Air Fry: For oven method, bake the apples at 375°F for about 30 minutes until tender. For air fryer method, air fry the apples at 350°F for approximately 20 minutes, or until they are tender and caramel squares are melted.
- Serve Warm: Once cooked, serve the bloomin’ apples warm with a scoop of Breyers Natural Vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce on top for a luscious finishing touch.
Notes
- You can substitute the chewy caramel squares with your favorite caramel candies.
- Choosing a firm apple variety like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji will hold up better during cooking.
- If you don’t have a corer, you can carefully cut out the core with a paring knife.
- The recipe can be made gluten-free and vegetarian as is.
- Adjust baking time depending on your oven or air fryer model, checking apples for tenderness.
- Leftover bloomin’ apples can be stored refrigerated and reheated gently before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
