Speedy Cinnamon Walnut Apple Recipe for Sweet Cravings

Warm, golden autumn afternoons inspire delightful desserts like this cinnamon walnut apple delight that promises pure comfort in every bite.

Sweet apples mingle with rich, toasted walnuts, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.

Crisp fall mornings call for something special, something that fills the kitchen with irresistible aromas.

cinnamon weaves its magic through tender apple pieces, promising a dessert that’s both rustic and elegant.

The subtle crunch of nuts provides a delectable contrast to soft, caramelized fruit.

Each forkful delivers a symphony of warmth and sweetness that feels like a gentle embrace.

Dive into this recipe and let the magic of seasonal ingredients transform your dessert experience.

Tips for Toastier Nuts and Juicier Apples

• Ingredient Swap Magic: Replace walnuts with pecans or almonds for a delightful nutty twist that adds unique texture and flavor to your dessert.
• Make-Ahead Brilliance: Prepare the entire dessert up to a day in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. Simply reheat in the oven for 15-20 minutes before serving to restore that fresh-baked warmth.
• Spice Level Adventure: Experiment with additional warm spices like ground ginger or cardamom to create a more complex flavor profile that will surprise and delight your taste buds.
• Dietary Friendly Hacks: For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free spice cake mix and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free. Vegan bakers can substitute butter with coconut oil or vegan butter alternatives.
• Serving Sensation: Elevate this dessert by pairing it with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream, a drizzle of salted caramel, or a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes for an extra layer of indulgence.

Serve Cinnamon Walnut Apple with Whipped Cream

• Cozy Comfort Companion: Pair this warm dessert with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a classic, soul-warming combination that melts perfectly over the hot apple treat.
• Seasonal Celebration Plate: Serve during autumn gatherings with a sprinkle of extra cinnamon and a hot cup of spiced chai tea to enhance the rich, comforting flavors of the dish.
• Sweet Morning Transformation: Enjoy a slice for a decadent breakfast alongside a fresh cup of coffee, turning this dessert into a delightful morning indulgence with minimal effort.
• Elegant Dessert Presentation: Garnish individual servings with a light dusting of powdered sugar and a few whole walnuts for an elevated, restaurant-style presentation that impresses guests.

Save Cinnamon Walnut Apple Treats the Right Way

• Flavor Boost Storage: Wrap leftover servings in airtight containers to maintain delicious taste and texture for 3-4 days. Keep refrigerated to extend enjoyment.
• Smart Cooling Strategy: Let the dessert cool completely before storing to prevent moisture buildup and maintain crispy walnut topping's delightful crunch.
• Freezing Magic: Portion individual servings in freezer-safe containers, lasting up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best taste restoration.
• Serving Refresh Trick: Reheat cold slices in the oven at 325 degrees F for 10-15 minutes to restore that just-baked warmth and reinvigorate the dessert's original golden crispiness.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Calories: 284 kcal

Servings: 13

Cinnamon Walnut Apple Ingredient Guide

• Canned Apple Pie Filling: Provides instant fruity foundation with premixed sweet apples.
• Fresh Apples: Adds crisp texture and natural apple flavor, choose firm and slightly tart varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.

• Spice Cake Mix: Creates a quick, flavorful crunchy layer with pre-blended spices.
• Cinnamon: Delivers warm, aromatic essence that complements apple's natural sweetness.
• Nutmeg: Introduces subtle, earthy depth to the dessert's overall flavor profile.
• Brown Sugar: Adds rich caramel undertones and helps create a crispy topping.

• Walnuts: Brings nutty crunch and healthy protein, select fresh, whole nuts for best texture.
• Cold Butter: Helps create flaky, golden topping by distributing moisture evenly during baking.
• Vanilla Ice Cream: Optional creamy companion that balances warm dessert's temperature.
• Whipped Cream: Light, airy topping that adds delicate sweetness.
• Caramel Sauce: Provides rich, indulgent drizzle enhancing overall dessert complexity.

Tools for Baking Cinnamon Walnut Apple Treats

• 9 x 13-inch baking dish: perfect for layering apples and creating an even dessert base.
• Large mixing bowl: essential for combining dry ingredients and creating the crumbly topping.
• Knife: needed for peeling and slicing fresh apples.
• Measuring cups and spoons: crucial for accurate ingredient proportions.
• Cutting board: helps with chopping walnuts and slicing apples safely.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: great for mixing and spreading ingredients evenly.

Step-by-Step for Apple Walnut Cinnamon Dessert

• Oven Warmup

Crank up the oven to a cozy 350 degrees, creating the perfect warm environment for our delicious dessert to bake.

• Apple Magic

Grab your baking dish and toss in a mix of canned and fresh apples, creating a luscious fruity base that’ll make mouths water.

• Crumbly Topping Creation

Whip together the spice cake mix with a sprinkle of warming spices and brown sugar, crafting a mouthwatering crumbly layer that’ll add serious texture.

• Dessert Assembly

Shower the apple base with your spicy crumb mixture, making sure it’s evenly distributed. Scatter chopped walnuts across the top and dot with cold butter slices for extra richness.

• Baking Bliss

Slide the dish into the heated oven and let it transform for 40-50 minutes. Watch for a golden, crispy top and bubbly edges that signal dessert perfection.

• Sweet Finale

Pull out your masterpiece and let it cool slightly. For ultimate indulgence, crown it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Rustic Cinnamon Walnut Apple Recipe

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4.6 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Cinnamon walnut apple delight mingles sweet apples with aromatic spices for a comforting dessert. Warm flavors and nutty textures invite you to savor each delightful bite of this classic treat.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 6 large McIntosh or Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 21-oz can apple pie filling
• 1 15.25-oz package spice cake mix
• 10 tbsps cold butter, sliced
• 1 ⅓ cups chopped walnuts
• ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• Vanilla ice cream (optional)
• Homemade whipped cream (optional)
• Homemade or store-bought caramel sauce (optional)

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Instructions

1. Prepare Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F, establishing an optimal baking environment for this delightful dessert.
2. Fruit Foundation: Spread apple pie filling and freshly sliced apples evenly across a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, creating a robust fruity base.
3. Crumble Creation: Blend spice cake mix with cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl, generating a textured, aromatic topping that promises rich flavor complexity.
4. Layer Assembly: Carefully distribute the cake mix mixture over the apple landscape, ensuring complete coverage. Strategically sprinkle chopped walnuts and dot with cold butter pieces to enhance taste and texture.
5. Baking Transformation: Slide the prepared dish into the preheated oven, allowing 40-50 minutes of baking until the topping turns a golden-brown and the filling erupts with bubbling intensity.
6. Serving Finale: After removing from oven, let the dessert rest briefly. Elevate the experience by serving alongside vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a luxurious caramel sauce drizzle.

Notes

• Oven Temperature Precision: Maintain exact 350°F for consistent baking and perfect golden-brown topping texture.
• Fruit Layer Strategy: Use high-quality apple pie filling combined with fresh apple slices for robust, multi-dimensional fruit flavor profile.
• Topping Distribution Technique: Spread cake mix crumble evenly without pressing down, ensuring light, crispy texture and preventing dense, soggy layers.
• Cooling Wisdom: Allow dessert to rest 15-20 minutes after baking to set filling and prevent runny consistency, making serving and cutting easier.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 284
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 125 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 37 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg