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Vanilla Spiced Apples

These sweet vanilla spiced apples are perfect served on top of ice cream, pancakes, or French toast. Ready in under 30 minutes and such a great use for all those fall apples. 

Vanilla Spiced Apples spooned over ice cream.

Nothing says autumn more than sweet, soft, vanilla-spiced apples.

Kept in the fridge, you can make a batch of these vanilla spiced apples and have them on hand anytime you need a sweet treat.

They’re my favorite go-to for late-night desserts or an easy way to elevate breakfast in the morning.

Trust me, you’ll love these juicy and sweet vanilla spiced apples. 

Plus, this recipe uses my favorite kitchen ingredient – vanilla bean paste!

Vanilla Spiced Apples in a bowl.

Ingredients for Vanilla Spiced Apples

  • Unsalted butter – This is the fat used for this recipe to help add moisture. 
  • Dark brown sugar – Dark brown sugar adds a deep, sweet molasses flavor, unlike traditional white sugar.
  • Vanilla bean pasteA super-concentrated, thick, vanilla flavoring.
  • Cornstarch – Cornstarch is used to thicken the juices in our vanilla spiced apples.
  • Cold water – This gives us more liquid to help cook and soften the apples.
  • Apples – Apples are juicy and firm, and widely available at any grocery store. 
  • Salt – All desserts need a bit of salt to help balance and bring out the flavors in the dish. 
Vanilla Spiced Apples in a bowl with ice cream.

Uses for vanilla spiced apples

Firstly, you’re only limited by your imagination!

These vanilla spiced apples work well in many different places.

For desserts, you could spoon them over cold, creamy ice cream, or you could even eat them as is, in a bowl, with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

For breakfasts, spoon them on top of a stack of warm French toast or waffles.

Or use them mixed in a bowl of yogurt and granola.

Apple varieties

In most of your local grocery stores, there’s a huge variety of apples to choose from!

So how do you know which ones will be best for vanilla spiced apples?

My favorite type of apple to use for this recipe is Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady. They are crispy, crunchy, sweet, and tangy. 

They also hold their shape and don’t dissolve into applesauce when cooked down.

I would stay away from McIntosh, Gala, fuji, or Red Delicious. These are often mealy apples, and will not hold their shape through the cooking process. 

What is vanilla bean paste?

I’ve used vanilla bean paste here for a couple of reasons.

Vanilla bean paste is a thick, sweet, concentrated vanilla bean product. 

You’re able to see the little specks of vanilla, and the flavor is front and center.

Vanilla bean paste is available online for purchase, or in gourmet food shops. 

If you don’t have access to vanilla bean paste, you can always just use an actual vanilla bean!

To get all of the good pulp out of a vanilla bean, simply cut it down the middle lengthwise.

Vanilla Spiced Apples in a white bowl.

Storage and leftovers 

Lastly, these spiced apples can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

They could be frozen but the apples will soften more with freezing.

Vanilla Spiced Apples spooned over vanilla bean ice cream.

More apple recipes

vanilla spiced apples in a white bowl

Vanilla Spiced Apples

Author: Brandy O’Neill – Nutmeg Nanny
Sweet vanilla spiced apples are perfect served on top of ice cream, pancakes or French toast. They are a sweet way to start or end your day.
4.67 from 6 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 2 cups

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 apples peeled, cored, and sliced into wedges
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • 1-1/2 cups cold water
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  • Add butter to a large skillet and melt over medium heat.
  • Once butter is melted add apple slices and cook for 5 minutes to soften apples.
  • Add brown sugar, vanilla bean paste, kosher salt, and stir to combine.
  • In a mixing glass whisk together the cold water and cornstarch and pour into the apple mixture.
  • Continue to cook over medium heat until apples are soft, about 15 minutes.
  • When apples are soft you can turn up the heat to quickly thicken the syrup.
  • The apples and syrup will be ready once it reaches a maple syrup consistency.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 48mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 41g
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword apple dessert, dessert recipes, fried apples, ice cream topping, spiced apples, vanilla bean apples, vanilla bean fried apples, vanilla bean paste, vanilla fried apples, vanilla spiced apples, warm apples
Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment and 5 star review!
Vanilla Spiced Apples pin for Pinterest.
Brandy

About Brandy!

I am a food lover and recipe developer bringing you delicious recipes that taste great and are easy to make! My food is inspired by travels around the world and my love of flavorful food. A list of things that make me happy: cats, Coke Zero, houseplants, and travel. Read more...

Recipe Rating




Robin platt

Sunday 8th of September 2019

First time I ever heard of vanilla paste. I made these tonight with local crab apples. So tasty. Thank you.

Alyssa | EverydayMaven

Friday 15th of September 2017

I feel like I need to have these in my fridge for EVERYTHING. Drool.

Kim Beaulieu

Thursday 14th of September 2017

This looks SO good. I love spiced apples, especially over ice cream. I'm loving the photos.

Alice lovely

Wednesday 13th of September 2017

Wow!! Such a wonderful combination, this one sounds ah-mazing!!! ….Thanks for the recipe.

Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet

Tuesday 12th of September 2017

Those sound absolutely heavenly!

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