Black Folks Baked Apple Slices
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Not sure what to do with all of your fresh apples in the fall?
No worries! These Black folks seasoned baked apple slices are a quick and easy, one-dish side dish or apple dessert.
It’s perfect when you’re looking for variety in your meal planning or don’t feel like cooking anything complicated.
You’ll need 10 minutes to slice, peel, and prep. And 15 more minutes in your Instant Pot to cook this delicious fall side dish, which will cook up soft enough to break apart with a fork!
Add these delicious, no-fuss baked apple slices to your soul food dinner menu to guarantee a tasty autumn meal.
What are Black folks baked apples?
What makes this dish a Black folks soul food specialty?
It’s gotta be the spices.
Aromatic spices and flavors from cinnamon, brown sugar, nutmeg, and vanilla. Combine with sliced apples, pressure-cooked to create a warm spice flavor reminiscent of your favorite pie!
How do you make Black folks baked apple slices?
Start by picking the best apples and grabbing butter, cinnamon, sugar, and a few more savory spices. Next, peel the apples. Then I like to use an apple slicer to quickly quarter and core.
Mix the spices with butter and cornstarch to create a sticky syrup to pour over the apple slices in the Instant Pot for a quick pressure cook.
Black folks easy baked apples
Kitchen equipment for Black folks baked apple slices
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
- apple slicer
Shop my kitchenware!
Instant Pot Duo Nova | Target apple slicer | The Pioneer Woman Instant Pot | Target dish towel | Hearth And Hand dessert bowl | Kate Aspen heart-shaped measuring spoons | Pyrex glass measuring bowl | Amazon small rubber spatula |
Ingredients for the Black folks baked apples
- 2 cups of cold water, divided
- 5-6 large apples
- 4 tablespoons of butter (or vegan butter)
- 1 cup of light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
Instructions for Black folks easy baked apple slices in the Instant Pot
- Peel the apples and remove the seeds and core.
- Slice them into thick slices (a thick apple slice is best, so the apples don’t get mushy).
- Open the Instant Pot lid and pour in 1 cup of water, the apples, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix the remaining cold water with the cornstarch until it’s free of lumps.
- Pour the water mixture into the Instant Pot.
- Add the vanilla extract and stir to combine the ingredients.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 8 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 4 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Serve Black folks baked apple slices warm, and enjoy!
What do you serve with Black folks baked apples?
You can serve Black folks baked apple slices with these favorite soul food recipes:
Black folks Southern turkey recipe
Black folks smoked turkey legs
Black folks chicken and dressing
Black folks fresh cranberry sauce
What can you put on baked apple slices?
Most people are aware that baked apple slices can be eaten plain. But there are other things you can do with them, too!
If you’re in the mood for dessert, whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or caramel sauce will be the perfect topping for sliced baked apples.
You could also use coconut whipped cream, coconut sugar, maple syrup, or arrowroot starch for this fresh apples recipe to keep the calorie count from increasing. Especially if you plan to add toppings too!
If you want to add more cinnamon flavor to your apple slices after they bake – then sprinkle more on ’em!
Baked apples can also be used as a healthy alternative topping for an oatmeal breakfast bowl. Speaking of breakfast, you can also enhance these baked apple slices by pouring yogurt over them for a perfect morning kick-start snack.
They’re also fantastic with a glass of apple juice, warm apple cider, or an apple cider hot toddy!
Black folks baked apple slices FAQs
How are baked apples and apple pie different?
Apple pie is a pastry with a crisp crust on top, while baked apples are not contained in a pie shell and are served outside of a crust.
Which apples are best for baked apples?
There are a variety of apples available out there, but some are better for baking than others.
When you’re buying apples for baking, make sure to choose the right pick, so your recipes turn out delicious every time!
Below is a list of some popular apples that are considered suitable for baking:
- Granny Smith apple
- Golden delicious
- Fuji apples
- Honey crisp
These four types make great choices when making baked cinnamon apples. They all have firm textures after cooking down into an applesauce consistency, making them ideal for baking because they retain plenty of moisture even after long cooking times.
What apple variety is best for cooking?
Pro Tips:
- Always look for firm textured apples when choosing apples for baking. A firm textured apple will hold itself when cooked at high temperatures in liquid or water.
- You can use sweet or tart apples for this simple baked apple recipe. Or a mix of both!
Should you peel the apples?
Peeling an apple before baking can be a tricky question! Some people think it’s essential to remove the skin, and some don’t. This Black folks baked apple slices recipe calls for the apples to be peeled. But the truth is, it doesn’t matter too much!
In my opinion, peeling or not peeling an apple before baking is entirely a matter of personal choice. I often use the leftover apples from my homemade apple cider brine recipe to make cinnamon-baked apples.
I’ve used both peeled and unpeeled apples for this recipe of cinnamon-sugar-baked sliced apples. Both ways turned out perfect.
Can you make Black folks baked apple slices ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can make baked apples ahead of time which will help you get them ready faster when company comes over, and they will still taste great.
Do the apples turn mushy?
Apples turn mushy while baking because the high heat causes them to release water. The high levels of sugar and cornstarch also help keep the apples from turning too soft! To prevent your apples from getting mushy, you should always use thick apple slices.
Why did your apples turn out mushy like apple sauce?
Make sure you’re using firm apples and not overly-ripe, soft apples. Also, ensure that you only pressure cook for the required time in the recipe instructions.
How much time will it take to prepare baked apple slices?
Baked apple slices are a delicious dish perfect for any season. Preparing these sweet treats is quick and easy with Instant Pot. No need to spend hours cooking!
You’ll need just 8 minutes of cooking time in the Instant Pot before you’re ready to dig into these sweet treats!
What is the best way to core an apple without using an apple corer?
Slice the apples in half vertically and then cut them again, this time at an angle. Set each piece on your cutting board so that you can remove their cores without any trouble.
Do you need to coat the apples with lemon juice?
Lemon juice is an excellent natural additive to slow down the browning of sliced apples. However, it’s unnecessary for this recipe since the apples will be pressure-cooked soon after being sliced.
Can you freeze them once baked or pressure cooked?
You may have leftovers from your cooked apple adventures, and they’re waiting in the fridge for you!
Place baked apple slices in an airtight container to freeze for up to 3 months.
What do you think about this Black folks’ baked apple slices recipe?
Black folks baked apple slices are so quick and easy to make! All you need are apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, water, a few spice favorites, and your Instant Pot!
Leave a 5-star rating and a comment below, and share your finished recipe pictures HERE in the Facebook group!
Equipment
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
- Apple slicer
Ingredients
- 2 cups water cold water, divided
- 5-6 apples large
- 4 tablespoons butter unsalted or vegan butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon ground
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Peel the apples and remove the seeds and core.
- Slice them into thick slices (a thick apple slice is best, so the apples don’t get mushy).
- Open the Instant Pot lid and pour in 1 cup of water, the apples, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix the remaining cold water with the cornstarch until it’s free of lumps.
- Pour the water mixture into the Instant Pot.
- Add the vanilla extract and stir to combine the ingredients.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 8 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 4 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Serve Black folks baked apple slices warm, and enjoy!
Notes
What apple variety is best for cooking?
Pro Tips:- Always look for firm textured apples when choosing apples for baking. A firm textured apple will hold itself when cooked at high temperatures in liquid or water.
- You can use sweet or tart apples for this simple baked apple recipe. Or a mix of both!
Nutrition
This recipe is easy. Can Fuji Apple good for this?
Yes, absolutely! Choose whichever apple variety is your favorite.