I'd say I'm more of a vegetable than fruit girl. And since I have to pretty much force myself to eat fruit, I often end up with a lot of distressed fruit in my house. Next to bananas (that is another story entirely), among the distressed are most commonly apples. Therefore, I'm always looking for yummy things to do with overripe apples. If you're the same, then this Apple Cinnamon Topping recipe is for you!
This apple topping recipe is unbelievably delicious and I have made it Weight Watchers friendly and cut the points to 4 WW points. It makes a great apple dessert or topping for pancakes, waffles, and much more. It's very popular during apple season, but great any time of the year!
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There are some things you can only get in the States, and IHOP food used to be one of them. We always used to hit an IHOP on our summer vacations, and that's where I fell in love with this apple topping. Sadly, although we now have IHOP in Canada, the Canadian IHOP doesn't have any apple topping on its menu.
This recipe was inspired by the Apple Cinnamon Topping for Pancakes that I had at IHOP in the United States years ago. But I wanted to reduce the calorie count and make a Weight Watchers friendlier version. And this topping is amazing with my Weight Watchers friendly IHOP copycat Harvest Grain & Nut Pancakes!
That's how I originally tried it and it's a match made in heaven.... So if you're looking for pancake toppings, and want to make boring old pancakes into apple cinnamon pancakes, you'll love this recipe!
Looking for more WW friendly apple recipes? Try my ww apple crisp and my 2 ingredient dough apple cinnamon rolls!
🥘 Ingredient Notes
But I need to be clear about something....this isn't some boring old apple compote recipe, which is, in essence, just chunky apple sauce with cinnamon anyway. This apple cinnamon sauce has much more depth of flavor; it's rich and buttery with maple undertones.
For this recipe you'll need the following simple ingredients:
- Apples. I recommend Cosmic Crisp, Ambrosia, Honey crisp or Pink lady apples because that's what we generally buy, but any variety of apples works (such as Fuji, Golden Delicious or Granny Smith Apples)! I use whatever apple I have on hand and I mix different varieties together - it doens't matter.
- Unsweetened apple sauce. This helps thicken the sauce.
- Brown sugar. Adds a rich, sweet, and nutty flavor.
- Maple syrup (low sugar). Adds depth and sweetness.
- Cinnamon. Cinnamon is the other star of the show in this apple topping!
- Butter extract. Gives a buttery flavor boost without the fat and calories. You can buy this online and at some grocery or craft/cake decorating supply stores (Michaels in Canada) - see variations and substitutions below).
- Maple extract. Boosts the maple flavor in this topping.
- Unsalted butter. A little bit of butter gives it a rich butter flavor, but won't make you overdrawn at the calorie bank!
- Lemon juice. Balances the sweetness.
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Butter - you could use salted butter instead.
- Butter extract - you could skip the extract, double the butter, but use light butter instead. If you use regular butter, be sure to calculate the additional ww points.
- Maple Extract - you could use vanilla extract instead.
- Brown sugar - you could use a sugar substitute like monk fruit (but you only need ½ the amount).
- Maple Syrup - you could use real maple syrup instead, but it will be more calories or use sugar-free
🔪How to Make Apple Cinnamon Topping
Prep: Peel Core and dice apples. Make sure you dice them small (as in photos)- they will cook faster. (See this video for How to dice apples)
- Step 1: Add all ingredients to a medium saucepan.
- Step 2: Stir over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, then turn heat down to medium- low until apples are very tender.
This is also the perfect topping for:
- French toast
- waffles (shown below)
- cheesecake
- nice cream
- Greek yogurt
- oatmeal or overnight oats
- frozen yogurt (shown below)
- vanilla ice cream
🍎What to do with overripe apples
Apples don't seem to last very long and I'm always trying to find things to do with them (along with my other distressed fruit) so they don't go to waste. I love this recipe because it's healthy, quick, and easy to make. It's a good thing that's the case because it only lasts about an hour in my house!
Here are some other ways to use overripe apples:
👪 Serving Size
This easy cinnamon apples recipe makes 10 servings. However, you can half, double or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust. You'll just need a larger saucepan if you double or triple the recipe.
🌡️Storing
You can store this apple cinnamon topping in an airtight container for up to 3 days and it can be reheated just prior to serving (in microwave or saucepan on stovetop).
It can also be frozen in a sealed container for up to 3 months.
I'm urging you, before it's too late, save your distressed apples and make this amazing Weight Watchers Apple Cinnamon Topping!
❔Recipe FAQ's
You can use any type of apple you have on hand but I recommend ambrosia, honey crisp, pink lady or gala apples.
Yes, apples are nutritious and this is a light and healthy cinnamon apple topping. However, keep in mind, it has sugar in it and it's not straight apples.
And if you're looking for and apple pie filling, be sure to check out my Stovetop Apple Pie Filling!
🍎 More Apple Recipes
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📋 Apple Cinnamon Topping Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4-6 fresh apples (peeled, cored and diced) * You will only need 4 apples if they are large, but if the apples are small or medium sized, use 5-6
- 4 tablespoon unsweetened apple sauce
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 5 tbsp sugar free or low sugar maple syrup * I use low sugar (E.D. Smith)
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon butter extract
- ½ tsp maple extract
- 1 tsp lemon juice, from concentrate
- 2 teaspoon unsalted butter
Instructions
- Prep: Peel, core and dice apples (See this video for How to dice apples)
- Add all ingredients to a medium saucepan.
- Stir over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, then turn heat down to medium- low until apples are very tender.
- Serve apple topping over warm pancakes, waffles, yogurt, ice cream or frozen yogurt.
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
I want to make a batch of pancakes or waffles right now just so I can try this apple cinnamon topping! Love that it's on the healthier side, and who doesn't love apple cinnamon as a breakfast or dessert topping!?
Terri Gilson
Haha... thanks Leanne! I hope you enjoy it - it really is awesome on all those things, but especially Chapman's vanilla frozen yogurt!
Denise@urbnspice
We are apple crazy around our place (we are surrounded by farmer's markets and orchards), so apples do not get a chance to become distressed - my problem is we buy too many - I can't help myself! So, I have to create ways to use some of them. :). I love the idea of your Cinnamon Apple Topping - it looks so comforting and delicious, especially on those waffles! Thanks so much for coming up with a way to make the topping even more appealing with the WW friendly re-engineering Cheers!.
Terri Gilson
Now you don't have to feel guilty about buying too many, Denise!
Colleen
We love fresh apples at our house, so they don't ever get a chance to get old, but this delicious topping looks like a great reason to save some to make this recipe. The maple along with the cinnamon sounds so good, and I love that it's not too sugary.
Terri Gilson
I'm so impressed that you're that much of an apple eater, Colleen! I hope you do end up with some distressed ones, so you'll at least get a chance to try this! 🙂
diversivore
It's funny - I love fruits and vegetables, but I definitely prefer to transform most of them into something rather than eating them as-is, apples included. I kind of push myself to eat them on my own, but I just love to chow down on something that's been transformed into a recipe. Of course that means that I have a bad habit of letting things get a bit too old in the crisper too. I love the idea of this simple, versatile, easy to go to recipe. Also, I straight-up had no idea that there was low-sugar maple syrup. How about that. Cheers!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Sean! Yes, my fave low sugar maple syrup is E.D. Smith!
Loreto and Nicoletta Nardelli
Ah ah, I love the apple begging to be saved! This is a great recipe and one that we will surely find a good use for 🙂 . Loving the flavors, not boring at all!
Terri Gilson
Thanks Loreto!
Jenn
Great idea for pancake topping! I like. Some syrup but it’s nice to have fine thing different!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Jenn!
Jackie
Hi I want to can this recipe? Can I?
Jackie
Terri Gilson
I don't see why you couldn't. I have never done it, but when I research canning apple pie filling (this is just a lighter version of that) you are able to can apple pie filling, as long as you follow proper sterilization and techniques. Enjoy!
Terri
Jackie
Thank you!
Terri Gilson
No problem - enjoy! I'd love to know how it turned out - I'd like to try it myself eventually 🙂
Lin
The low sugar syrup has sucralose in it 🙁
Terri Gilson
Hi Lin,
There are some brands that use natural sweeteners like Xylitol - it is a natural sugar alcohol found in plants, including many fruits and vegetable. Nature's Hollow is one brand.