These cinnamon apples for toddlers are soft, naturally sweet, and made with just 4 simple ingredients! Diced apples are cooked with butter, cinnamon, and vanilla until perfectly tender for an easy toddler breakfast, snack, or side.
If you're looking for an easy way to serve apples to your toddler, this is one of my favorites. Cooking apples makes them softer and easier for little ones to eat, while cinnamon and vanilla bring out their natural sweetness with no added sugar needed!
As a pediatric dietitian and mom, I especially love recipes like this because they're simple enough to make during a busy week but can be used in so many different ways. Add these cinnamon apples to overnight oats, oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, waffles, or simply serve them on their own.
Why You'll Love These Cinnamon Apples
- Only 4 main ingredients: apples, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla!
- No added sugar: the apples become naturally sweeter as they cook
- Toddler-friendly: cooking the apples until soft makes them easier for little ones to eat
- Ready in about 10 minutes: perfect when you need a quick breakfast or snack
- Easy to meal prep: make a batch ahead of time and use it throughout the week
- So versatile: serve with oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, cottage cheese, toast, or alongside a meal
These easy cinnamon apples on the stove pair SO well with my overnight oats and french toast waffle sticks!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love These Cinnamon Apples
- Ingredients You'll Need
- How to Make Cinnamon Apples for Toddlers
- Hint for the Best Cinnamon Apples for Toddlers
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Equipment
- Storing Your Cinnamon Apples for Toddlers
- Ways to Serve Cinnamon Apples
- Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal for Toddlers
- Toddler Dietitian Tiff's Tip
- FAQ
- Easy Cinnamon Apples for Toddlers
- Related
- Pairing
- Cinnamon Apples for Toddlers
Ingredients You'll Need
Here's what you'll need to make these easy cinnamon apples for toddlers:
- Apples - You'll need about 2 cups of diced apples, or approximately 2 medium apples. Most varieties work well, but naturally sweet apples like Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp are especially delicious.
- Butter - Helps soften the apples and gives them a little extra richness. You can use unsalted butter, especially when making these for younger toddlers.
- Cinnamon - Adds plenty of cozy apple flavor without needing added sugar.
- Vanilla - Just a little vanilla helps enhance the natural sweetness of the apples, can omit if desired!
- Water - A small splash helps the apples steam and soften without sticking to the pan.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Cinnamon Apples for Toddlers
- Step 1: Peel the apples if desired, then cut them into small, toddler-friendly pieces.
- Step 2: Add the butter to a small skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat and allow it to melt.
- Step 3: Add the diced apples and cinnamon and stir until the apples are coated. Add 2 tablespoons of water and vanilla (if using). Cover and cook for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are nice and tender. If the pan starts to look dry before the apples are soft, add another splash of water.
- Step 4: Remove the apples from the heat. That's it! Let them cool to a safe temperature before serving to your little one.
Hint for the Best Cinnamon Apples for Toddlers
Dice the apples into small, evenly sized pieces so they cook at the same rate. Keep the heat on medium-low and cook them covered to help them soften without burning. For extra-soft apples for toddlers, add another splash of water and cook for a few extra minutes until they easily squish with a fork.
Substitutions
These sautéed cinnamon apples are already gluten-free, egg-free, and nut-free! Just sub out the butter with coconut oil to make them dairy-free.
- Dairy-free: Replace the butter with a dairy-free butter or coconut oil
- Vanilla: You can leave out the vanilla if you don't have any. The apples will still be naturally sweet and flavorful!
- Cinnamon: Leave it out if needed, or substitute another mild warming spice your family enjoys
Variations
Even though the basic recipe is delicious as-is, you can easily switch it up.
- Apple + pear: Replace half of the apples with diced pear
- Apple pie apples: Add a tiny pinch of nutmeg along with the cinnamon
- Mashed cinnamon apples: Mash the finished apples with a fork for a softer consistency
- Cinnamon apple yogurt: Stir the cooled apples into plain Greek yogurt
- Cinnamon apple oatmeal: Add them to warm oatmeal with a spoonful of nut or seed butter
Equipment
All you need to make these sautéed cinnamon apples is a cutting board and sharp knife for dicing the apples, a small skillet or saucepan with a lid for cooking, and a wooden spoon or spatula for stirring. A vegetable peeler is also helpful if you prefer to remove the apple skins, especially when serving younger toddlers.
Storing Your Cinnamon Apples for Toddlers
Allow the cinnamon apples to cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container or jar and refrigerate.
They'll keep well in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days, making them an easy option to prep ahead for breakfasts and snacks.
Reheat them briefly in the microwave or on the stovetop, or serve them chilled depending on how your toddler prefers them.
Ways to Serve Cinnamon Apples
One of the best parts about making a batch of these sautéed cinnamon apples is how many ways you can use them!
Try serving them:
- Stirred into oatmeal or overnight oats
- Over Greek yogurt or cottage cheese
- On top of pancakes or waffles
- Alongside French toast
- Spread over toast with nut or seed butter
- Mixed into chia pudding
- Alongside eggs for breakfast
- With yogurt or nut/seed butter for dipping
- As a naturally sweet topping for dessert
Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal for Toddlers
These apples are also perfect for making cinnamon apple oatmeal for toddlers!
Prepare your toddler's oatmeal as usual, then stir in a scoop of the cooked cinnamon apples. You can lightly mash the apples into the oatmeal for younger eaters or leave them diced for toddlers who are comfortable with the texture.
For some extra staying power, add Greek yogurt, nut or seed butter, hemp hearts, chia seeds, or another source of protein and fat.
It's such an easy way to turn basic oatmeal into a cozy breakfast without needing added sugar!
Toddler Dietitian Tiff's Tip
Pairing fruit with a source of protein and/or fat, like yogurt, cottage cheese, nut or seed butter, can make it a more satisfying snack.
FAQ
Yes! You can freeze the cooked apples in a freezer-safe container or individual portions. The texture may be a little softer after thawing, but that works perfectly for stirring into oatmeal or yogurt.
No! Apples already contain natural sugars, and cooking them brings out even more of their natural sweetness. Cinnamon and vanilla also add plenty of flavor without maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar.
Not necessarily. Whether you leave the peel on will depend on your child's age and eating skills. Peeling the apples can create an even softer texture, which may be easier for younger toddlers.
Most apple varieties will work. Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, and Honeycrisp are naturally sweet options, while Granny Smith will give you a more tart flavor.
Cooked apples can be prepared for babies once they're developmentally ready for solids, but the size and texture should be modified for their stage and feeding method. Cook the apples until very soft and serve them in an age-appropriate shape or mash them as needed or thinly slice them.
Yes! You can substitute with coconut oil for a dairy-free option.
Easy Cinnamon Apples for Toddlers
These soft cinnamon apples for toddlers are one of those simple recipes worth keeping in your back pocket. They're quick, naturally sweet, made without added sugar, and easy to pair with foods you probably already serve.
Make a batch at the beginning of the week and you've got an easy fruit option ready to add to oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, snacks, and more!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with these cinnamon apples for toddlers:
Cinnamon Apples for Toddlers
Equipment
- skillet
- knife
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced apples peeled if desired and diced (about 2 medium apples)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter or coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste optional
- 2-3 tablespoon water as needed
Instructions
- Peel the apples if desired and dice them into small, evenly sized pieces.
- Melt the butter in a small skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the diced apples and cinnamon and stir until evenly coated.
- Add 2 tablespoons of water with vanilla (if using) and cover. Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender. Add another splash of water as needed if the pan becomes dry.
- Remove from the heat. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
Leave a Reply