• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Restless Chipotle

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Start Here
    • Ingredients Substitutions
    • Tips for Measuring Ingredients Accurately
  • About
  • Shop
  • Your Recipe Box
  • Meal Plans
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
×

Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

Cinnamon Spiced Apple Rings

Published: Sep 9, 2021 Last Updated: Sep 4, 2020 by Marye 1412 words. | About 8 minutes to read this article.

Full of sweet, cinnamon flavor these old fashioned spiced apple rings are the perfect accompaniment to pork and turkey. Let them sit in the syrup at least overnight for the best flavor.
Total time 8 hours 30 minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
A dish of cinnamon apple rings with text overlay for Pinterest.
Red apple rings in a serving dish with text overlay for Pinterest.

This is such an easy recipe - it's the perfect side dish for French Onion Chicken or Oven Roasted Quail!

Bright red spiced apple rings made with Red Hots candy. Title text overlay.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥄 Cook along!
  • 💭 Tips
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 FAQs
  • 🍎 Best apples to use
  • 📖 Related Recipes
  • 📞 The last word
  • Spiced Apple Rings
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

There are a lot of ways to make cinnamon apples but I think mine is the easiest. It just takes a few minutes and once you've made them you can keep them 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!

Next time try grilled pear salad. SO good!

🧾 Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for this recipe.

The guijillo chile is totally optional but give it a try. It adds a little extra spicy flavor.

🔪 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.

Step by step images for making this recipe.
  1. Peel and core your apples. I use a melon baller spoon to take the cores out- so easy that way!
  2. Slice them and drop into lemon juice and water in a large bowl to keep them from turning brown.
  3. In a heavy saucepan melt the candy in the water.
  4. Add the prepared apples and spices and simmer briefly. Remove from heat and let the apples soak in the syrup for as long as possible.

🥄 Cook along!

Easily follow along on your phone.

Cinnamon Spiced Apple Rings

💭 Tips

Expert Tip - CAUTION: I wouldn't try to can this particular recipe. There isn't enough acid to do it safely. Freeze for longer storage

  • Use firm fleshed, tart apples like MacIntosh, Honey Crisp, or Granny Smith. You can use pears, too!
  • 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 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 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.

👩🏻‍🍳 FAQs

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

How do you cut apple rounds?

After you peel and core the apple turn it on its side. Cut it in half through the middle of the fruit horizontally. Now cut in even sized rings.

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 or cream cheese in the center and I like them that way, too. I also like them in ham sandwiches.

🍎 Best apples to use

The best apples to use for spiced apple rings and similar recipes are apples that hold their shape when cooked or baked.

  • Honeycrisp
  • Granny Smith
  • Jonagold
  • Winesap (hard to find but these are my favorite)
  • McIntosh
  • Pink Lady

📖 Related 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.
  • Apple Fritter Bread has all of the yum of apple fritters but in a sliceable quick bread.
  • We love this easy apple cake!
  • Grilled Pear Salad isn't apples but it IS delicious!
closeup of bright red spiced apple rings in a bowl.

📞 The last word

When I was growing up cinnamon 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.

Try leftovers in this recipe for Ham Sliders. Incredible!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Makeeasyspicedappleringsrecipetonight!Soquick!They'reasweet spicyoldfashionedtreat!Sogood!FromRestlessChipotle.com
4.74 from 107 votes

Spiced Apple Rings

Print Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
Prevent your screen from going dark
Full of sweet, cinnamon flavor these old fashioned spiced apple rings are the perfect accompaniment to pork and turkey. Let them sit in the syrup at least overnight for the best flavor.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American - Southern
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Chilling Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
Servings:8 servings
Calories:217
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

  • ¼ 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

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Add the lemon juice to 2 cups of water.
  • Peel and core apples - slice into ½ inch thick rings.
  • Drop the apple rings in the lemon juice as you finish each one.
  • Heat ½ 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

CAUTION: I wouldn't try to can this particular recipe. There isn't enough acid to do it safely. Freeze for longer storage
You can use pears instead of apples - if you use very tangy apples add ¼ cup of sugar to the water with the red hots.
  • 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.
 

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 121mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 5.2mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!

    We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.

    First published October 2017. Last updated September 9, 2021 for readability and more information.

    More Legendary Southern Side Dish Recipes

    • Best Pineapple Fluff Recipe
    • Loaded Green Bean Casserole
    • 23 Southern Easter Side Dishes
    • Mom's Homemade Potato Salad
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Erica

      November 21, 2022 at 8:45 pm

      5 stars
      My family has always eaten spiced apple rings for holiday meals. It seemed like they mysteriously disappeared from the grocery store shelves during COVID, and never returned. I decided to give this recipe a try, and I am so glad I did - they are absolutely DELICIOUS!! Try it - you won’t regret it!!

      Reply
    2. Tara C

      November 21, 2022 at 5:21 pm

      5 stars
      These are amazing and bring back memories of my granny, who made them for me. I followed the recipe but used cider instead of water since I had some. They were perfect! I like mine to still have a tiny bit of crisp to them so I used the shorter end of the cook time. Thank you for bringing the memories of a recipe back into my life that I had not remembered on my own!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Love it? Give it 5 stars!




    Primary Sidebar

    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

    Hey Y'all, I'm Marye.

    NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies.

    More about me →

    🐰 Easter

    • Easy Easter Rolls
    • Nutter Butter Easter Chicks
    • Southern Pineapple Casserole Recipe
    • Banana Pudding Recipe from Scratch

    👑 Reader Favorites

    • Strawberry Pound Cake Recipe
    • Crispy Fried Potatoes
    • English Muffin Bread Recipe
    • No Fail Amish White Bread

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Marye Audet-White
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    MaryeAudet Whiteandherchildren Dec

    Featured in:

    Companies that Marye Audet-White and Restless Chipotle have been affiliated with.

    Contact Marye

    • Contact

    My new blog for bread bakers:

    Love baking bread? Click here to check out my new blog!

    Logo for breadcrumbs in the butter blog.
    Check out my new blog!

    Copyright ©2006 - 2023 Restless Chipotle Media, LLC