Quick and Easy Spiced Stewed Apples

By
Kevin D. Weeks.
Kevin D. Weeks.
Kevin D. Weeks is a personal chef, cooking instructor, and food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/7/21
Tested by
Tracy Wilk
Photo of Tracy Wilk
Tested by Tracy Wilk
Tracy Wilk is a professional pastry chef, recipe developer and chef instructor, and, most importantly, a firm believer in sprinkles.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Quick and Easy Spiced Stewed Apples recipe

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 1 cup
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
167 Calories
6g Fat
27g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 167
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 8%
Saturated Fat 4g 18%
Cholesterol 15mg 5%
Sodium 39mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 27g 10%
Dietary Fiber 4g 13%
Total Sugars 22g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 6mg 32%
Calcium 36mg 3%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 307mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Stewed apples is an incredibly easy apple dish to prepare and can be as simple or as flavorful (as in this recipe) as you like. The apples are peeled, cored, and diced and then cooked in liquor or water along with molasses, butter, and warm spices until tender. 

Serve them hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, wrapped in buckwheat crepes with a dollop of mascarpone cheese, or on their own as a healthy dessert, letting their simple goodness shine through. Stewed apples are also a great filling for apple pie or apple cobbler.  

This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled if needed and also can be frozen to thaw out and enjoy later. 

"Next time you have extra apples, this is going to be your new favorite recipe. Easier than making a whole pie, you can serve this warm with vanilla ice cream or right on top of pancakes. And the best part is your whole home will smell like a fall candle!" —Tracy Wilk

Spiced Stewed Apples Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons rum (or apple brandy, or water)

  • 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced

  • 2 tablespoons molasses

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (6 to 8 grates)

  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice

  • 1 pinch salt

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for making spicy stewed apples

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. Add enough rum, apple brandy, or water in a small saucepan to just cover the bottom.

    Rum in a small saucepan

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. Add the apples, molasses, butter, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and salt, and stir to blend.

    Diced apples, butter, and spices in a saucepan

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. Place over low heat, partially covered, and simmer gently until the apples are tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Serve warm.

    Quick and easy spiced stewed apples in a pot

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Tips

Freeze your stewed apples simply by first letting them cool down. Then, place the amount you'd like for later use (whether for a pie or single serving) in a freezer bag. Try to remove as much air as possible by hand, or you can use a vacuum sealer for this process. Place in the freezer.

Which apple is best for stewed apples?

The many apple varieties you find in a vast array in the grocery store or at farmers markets may leave you wondering which are the best for eating and which for cooking. Each variety's texture and level of juiciness will determine which preparation is best. Braeburn, Winesap, and McIntosh are top choices for stewed apples and go-to apples for applesauce. Other good cooking apples are Jonathan, Jonagold, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith.

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