Healthy Stewed Apples is a quick stovetop apple dessert. Learn how to make stewed apples silky and glossy with potato starch. Made with maple syrup, kids love it too.
Healthy Stewed Apples - A Stovetop Apple Dessert
We love this Healthy Stewed Apples for a quick stovetop dessert. When the kids are still a bit hungry after dinner, this is one of our go-to quick apple desserts. It takes just about 10 minutes to make.
The best stewed apples are lightly spiced and just sweet enough with a glossy and silky coating. I use pumpkin pie spice because its well rounded with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice.
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Stewed Apples Ingredients
- Apples
- Maple syrup
- Coconut oil
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Salt
- Potato starch
- Water
Ingredient Notes and Tips
Here are a few helpful tips about the ingredients.
What kind of apples are best for stewing?
The best apples for stewing are firm and crisp. Both sweet and tart apples will work for stewed apples. Our favorite varieties to use are Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji.
Generally we use the sweet varieties I listed above because that's what we have on hand and it allows me to cut down on the amount of maple syrup needed in the recipe.
However, if you prefer tart apples, Granny Smith would also work well. Just keep in mind you might need to adjust the maple syrup accordingly.
Stay away from mushy apples, such as Red Delicious, McIntosh, Gala.
Do you have to peel apples?
As you can see in the photos, I don't peel the apples for this healthy stewed apples recipe.
The peel contains fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. A medium unpeeled apple has twice the fiber and 40% more vitamin A, compared to a peeled apple. We like to keep all that in our diet.
Even more, I like the subtle texture the peel gives to the stewed apples. It makes the entire stewed apple dish more complex and interesting. Also, because the apples pieces are cut into bite sized pieces, even the little kid isn't bothered by the peel.
Potato starch as a thickener for this stovetop apple dessert
Potato starch is my favorite thickener for stewed apples for several reasons. Thickening with potato starch gives the dish a glossier appearance, making this a gorgeous dessert.
In addition, I prefer using potato starch in desserts because it gives the dish a silkier taste.
If you refrigerate stewed apples, I find that potato starch also holds up and tastes better cold too. The potato starch doesn't form a cold watery layer and 'weep' like cornstarch sometimes does in the fridge. Also the stewed apples stay translucent and don't get as clumpy. We love this stewed apple cold at breakfast, so using potato starch is a must for us.
In a pinch, you can substitute in cornstarch instead. However, I find potato starch much better than cornstarch in most all dishes and almost exclusively use it now.
How to Make Stewed Apples
The full recipe and directions are below.
Here is a quick summary:
- Core and cut the apples into about ½-inch bite sized pieces.
- Add the apples, maple syrup, coconut oil, water, pumpkin pie spices and salt into a small saucepan.
- Cook for about 7-10 minutes, until the apples are tender.
- In the meantime, mix the potato starch and water together to make a slurry.
- When the apples are tender, stir in the potato starch slurry. Cook for a few more minutes until the liquid thickens into a glossy syrup.
- Serve and enjoy!
As you can see, you can get this healthy stovetop apple dessert on the table in about 10 minutes.
Helpful Tips and Notes
Since we've made this healthy stewed apples for the kids too many times to count, I'll share our most helpful tips.
How long do stewed apples last?
Stewed apples can be stored in the refrigerator for several days, though I doubt it will actually last that long!
Can I eat this stovetop apple dessert cold?
Absolutely! I often like to double the recipe so we have enough for breakfast and the next day. This healthy stewed apple is delicious warm and cold. It'll tempt you to simply sneak a few pieces straight from the container out of the fridge.
Can I freeze stewed apples?
Yep, stewed apples can be frozen. Allow it to cool, portion it up, and freeze them in individual freezer bags.
To eat, simply defrost in the fridge, or in a bowl of cold water. You can also heat the apples again on the stove.
Is stewed apples good for babies and toddlers?
Of course! I've been making stewed apples for my kids since the eldest started weaning. That means, I've been making this stovetop apple dessert for nearly 8 years now. He loved it then, he still loves it now.
If you are making this healthy stewed apples for little babies, here are a few tweaks I suggest:
- Start with less maple syrup. You can even omit it completely if you prefer.
- Peel the apples if you have a young child to make it easier on the gums
- Cut the apples into smaller pieces so they break down quicker on the stovetop. Alternatively, you can thinly slice the apples. Use your best judgement for your child and their age.
- Cook the apples for longer to help them soften even more.
Baby tip: As a baby and toddler, my son loved these stewed apples cold, especially when teething.
What to Serve with Healthy Stewed Apples
This stovetop apple dessert is delicious on its own. It requires nothing but a fork.
We most frequently enjoy this recipe simply warm and in a bowl. Though we usually sprinkle on a bit of granola.
However, stewed apples can be eaten in so many ways. Here are are a few of our favorite ways:
- Topped with a sprinkle of granola (here's my kids favorite granola recipe (nut free, refined sugar free) and my preferred granola recipe (includes nuts))
- As a topping for bircher muesli
- As a topping for vanilla ice cream
- Over thin pancakes
Stovetop Apple Dessert
I hope you really enjoy this quick stovetop apple dessert. It's an easy apple dessert that we enjoy year round. Kids love it, and adults too!
Any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below.
Healthy Stewed Apples
Equipment
- 1 medium saucepan
Ingredients
- 2 large apples (about 3 cups when chopped into ½-inch pieces)
- 3-4 tablespoons water
- 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 pinch salt
Glaze
- ½ teaspoon potato starch
- 2 teaspoons water
Instructions
- Core and cut the apples into about ½-inch pieces.
- In a small saucepan, mix together the apples, water, maple syrup, coconut oil, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Heat the saucepan on medium-high heat, until a gentle boil, stirring frequently.
- Turn the heat down, and stew the apples for about 7-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the apples are tender. Add more water if necessary. The amount of water to add will depend on the variety of apples you use.
- In the meantime, in a small bowl or cup, mix together the potato starch and water until a slurry forms.
- When the apples are tender, turn the heat to a low simmer. While stirring the apples, slowly drizzle in the potato starch slurry, and give everything a quick mix. Simmer for another 1-2 minutes, until the liquid thickens into a glossy syrup. Remove from heat.
- Serve and enjoy!
Sophia says
Good tip to use potato starch! Thank you.