When I need a low-effort dessert that still feels special enough for a holiday table, baked apples are one of my favorite shortcuts. This 4-ingredient oven baked Fuji apple dessert keeps things wonderfully simple by using whole, unpeeled apples right in the casserole dish, where they soften and turn sweet in the oven with just a few pantry staples. It has that cozy, old-fashioned feel that fits right in at Thanksgiving, but it is easy enough to make on a busy weeknight too.
Serve these warm baked apples with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a spoonful of Greek yogurt if you want something a little lighter. They also pair really well with pound cake, oatmeal cookies, or a slice of sharp cheddar for a sweet-salty contrast. If you are setting them out for a holiday meal, they work beautifully alongside coffee, hot cider, or after-dinner tea.
4-Ingredient Oven Baked Fuji Apple Dessert
Servings: 6
Ingredients
6 whole Fuji apples, unpeeled
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly butter or otherwise grease a medium casserole dish if needed. Arrange the whole unpeeled Fuji apples in the dish so they fit snugly in a single layer.
2. Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon evenly over the apples, then scatter the butter pieces over and around them in the dish.
3. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, until the apples are tender when pierced with a knife and the butter and sugar have melted into a bubbling syrup at the bottom of the dish. If your apples are large, they may need the full hour.
4. Spoon some of the syrup over the apples and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm as-is or with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Variations & Tips
Add nuts: For a little crunch, sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the apples during the last 10 minutes of baking. It gives the dessert a nice holiday feel and adds texture without making the recipe complicated.
Make it richer: A drizzle of heavy cream right before serving makes the syrup taste almost like caramel sauce. This is a great option if you are serving the apples for a holiday dessert instead of a simple weeknight treat.
Use the right apple size: Try to choose Fuji apples that are similar in size so they bake evenly. If some are much larger than others, remove the smaller ones first and let the larger apples keep baking until tender.
Prep-ahead tip: You can assemble the dish a few hours ahead and refrigerate it before baking. I like this trick when the kitchen is crowded on Thanksgiving, because it frees up a little mental space later on.