Spiced apple rings are just as gorgeous as they are delicious! Tangy apples are simmered in cinnamon syrup until they are infused with crimson color and spicy cinnamon flavor. The secret is Red Hots candy and some patience. They make an especially enticing side dish for ham or pork.
For this recipe you’ll need: Cinnamon candies, tart apples that hold their shape, whole cloves, guijillo pepper -optional, lemon juice
Old Fashioned Spiced Apples
There are a lot of ways to make a cinnamon apples recipe but I think mine is the easiest. It just takes a few minutes and once you’ve made them you can keep the bright crimson spiced apples in a jar in the refrigerator for up to a week, or in a freezer container for several months.
You can even save the syrup and use it again in a new batch!
CAUTION: I wouldn’t try to can this particular recipe, though. There isn’t enough acid to do it safely.
Every fall when I was growing up my mom would make these old fashioned spiced apple rings. Sometimes she made them with pears depending on what we had more of.
The fruit turned a beautiful crimson color as it simmered and soaked up the spicy-sweet cinnamon candy syrup. The pears were most often cut in half, cored, and simmered that way rather than sliced. Mom would put a little scoop of cottage cheese or cream cheese in the center of each pear and it was SO pretty on our holiday table!
The candied apple rings were usually just fished out of the syrup and placed in a relish dish to be passed as an accompaniment to turkey or pork. I’d often sneak into the refrigerator and grab a slice out of the jar – not realizing that the rosy syrup left a telltale stain on my finger tips.
Cinnamon Apples FAQs
Recipe rated: Easy
How do you make cinnamon apples?
- Peel and core apples; slice into rings
- Drop in lemon juice to keep from darkening
- Melt the candies in the amount of water called for in the recipe
- Add the apples
- Add the spices
- Simmer 15 minutes
- Put in storage container and refrigerate overnight
How do you keep cut apples from turning brown?
Lemon juice will help cut apples to maintain their original color. In this candied apple rings recipe the lemon juice is mixed with water and you just dip the rings in the lemon water for a few minutes.
The nice thing about this recipe is because the apples are red from the cinnamon candy it doesn’t show if they turn a little brown.
How do you use red spiced apple rings?
You can use them as a side dish, which is especially good with pork chops or ham, or you can use them as a salad course by serving them on lettuce leaves with other fruit. My mom used to put a scoop of cottage cheese in the center and I like them that way, too. I also like them in ham sandwiches.
Tips for Making Spiced Apple Rings
These are one of the easiest recipes I know of to make AND get the most “ooohs” and “aaaahs” from. Here are a few things to keep in mind –
- Use firm fleshed, tart apples like MacIntosh, Honey Crisp, or Granny Smith
- Watch the candies carefully as you melt them down. You don’t want them to stick and burn.
- The longer the apples (or pears) sit in the red syrup the more flavorful they will be.
- Keep them in glass storage containers – they will dye plastic and I think it gives it a weird taste.
- Use toothpicks to stick the spiced apple rings to a ham when you are cooking it and use the syrup in the glaze.
- If you happen to overcook the fruit don’t worry about it – process it in the food processor for apple (or pear) sauce.
- Save the red cinnamon syrup in the refrigerator. You can reuse it to make more spiced apple rings OR you can use it in cocktails and sweet sauces. Better yet – try this candy apple pie!
- These are so good with a scoop of cinnamon gelato.
You may need…
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I love glass for food storage! It doesn’t stain, it doesn’t hold odors, and it keeps the food tasting good without allowing the garlic butter to mix with the sugar syrup – if you know what I mean.
More Apple Recipes
There are plenty of apple recipes here on Restless Chipotle – here are a few of my favorites!
- Dutch Apple Pie has tender, buttery apples in a classic, flakey crust and then is topped with sweet, crunchy streusel. It’s a classic that everyone needs a good recipe for. PS – this is a GREAT recipe!
- Baked Brie with Apples and Bacon is probably one of the most popular appetizers in existence – at least in the fall. This recipe is as pretty as it is yummy – get ready to be bombarded with the “how did you make this?” question.
- Bourbon Apple Pandowdy is baked right in an iron skillet which gives it a nice texture and a comforting, welcome-home kind of presentation. It’s absolutely addictive.
- Cinnamon Apple Sangria is crisp, sweet, and deliciously drinkable for all your fall parties! Adjust the sweetness of the sangria by using a sweeter or drier white wine as the base.
- Easy French Apple Cake is not too sweet so I think it makes a better breakfast bread than dessert.
- Apple Fritter Bread has all of the yum of apple fritters but in a sliceable quick bread.
- Grilled Pear Salad isn’t apples but it IS delicious!
If you’re watching your sugar intake you might like this similar apple recipe from Minimalist Baker.
Cinnamon Apples Recipe
Once you see how quick and easy these are you’ll want to keep some on hand all the time! You can even substitute pears if you like.
Try leftovers in this recipe for Ham Sliders. Incredible!
Love this recipe? Give it 5 stars!
Spiced Apple Rings
Print Add to CollectionIngredients
- 1/4 cup lemon juice, keeps apples from darkening
- 2 pounds apples, MacIntosh – Granny Smith – Honey Crisp – any firm fleshed apple that holds its shape when cooked
- 3 cups water, divided use -more if needed
- 2 cups cinnamon candy, Red Hots or Cinnamon Imperials – any hard cinnamon candy
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 guijillo chile, optional – adds a little heat
Instructions
- Add the lemon juice to 2 cups of water.
- Peel and core apples – slice into 1/2 inch thick rings.
- Drop the apple rings in the lemon juice as you finish each one.
- Heat 1/2 cup of the remaining water and the cinnamon candies in a saucepan.
- Stir often until the candy is completely melted, adding water as needed to keep the syrup from getting thick.
- Add the guijillo chile (optional), whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks.
- Drain the apple rings and pat dry.
- Gently stir the apple rings into the syrup.
- Cover and simmer, occasionally stirring gently, for 15 minutes or until apples are tender.
- Add the rings to a storage container and cover with the cooking syrup.
- Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight, or about 8 hours. Remove the cloves and cinnamon sticks before using.
- Store unused apple rings in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Notes
- Use firm fleshed, tart apples like MacIntosh, Honey Crisp, or Granny Smith
- Watch the candies carefully as you melt them down. You don’t want them to stick and burn.
- The longer the apples (or pears) sit in the red syrup the more flavorful they will be.
- Keep them in glass storage containers – they will dye plastic and I think it gives it a weird taste.
- Use toothpicks to stick the spiced apple rings to a ham when you are cooking it and use the syrup in the glaze.
- If you happen to overcook the fruit don’t worry about it – process it in the food processor for apple (or pear) sauce.
- Save the red cinnamon syrup in the refrigerator. You can reuse it to make more spiced apple rings OR you can use it in cocktails and sweet sauces. Better yet – try this candy apple pie!
- These are so good with a scoop of cinnamon gelato.
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