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Let’s add Hasselback Apples to that prized collection of sneaky recipes that look and feel super-duper special and five-star fancy but are actually a sneaky way to eat more dessert with minimal effort.

Healthy Hasselback Apples with Buttery Cinnamon Streusel. Easy and delicious fall dessert! This simple recipe is perfect for using up extra apples, and beautiful enough to be worthy of a holiday celebration like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Hasselback Apple outward appearance: Glossy magazine cover. Martha Stewart. Grandma’s from-scratch apple pie. Delicious.

Hasselback Apple inner reality: The coffee stain on my glossy magazine cover. Betty Crocker. I was craving apple pie but feeling too lazy to make apple pie. Delicious.

Hasselback-style baked apples with oatmeal streusel. A healthy dessert recipe that’s easy to scale up for parties or make in a small batch for two!

A few weeks ago, I had a crisper drawer full of apples threatening to spoil and a strong hankering for something warm and comforting that I could top with vanilla ice cream. I wanted it to be apple-centric like a pie…without the work of making an actual pie. My sweet solution: Hasselback Apples.

Like an apple crisp, this easy Hasselback Apple recipe is relatively fuss-free, but what I love about it is that it really puts the fruit first. You still get plenty of the streusel goodness—the bits stuffed between the apple slices melt and infuse the apples with butter and cinnamon, while the bits on top turn crisp and golden—but the apples are the star.

Easy Hasselback Apples with Cinnamon Streusel. A healthy fall dessert that families love!

If you are looking for a lighter dessert, these healthy Hasselback Apples are also a stellar option. While the recipe includes enough brown sugar and butter to make them taste indulgent, one serving is a fraction of the calories you’ll find in a standard slice of apple pie.

In fact, if you swap the ice cream for a dollop of Greek yogurt, you might even get away with eating one for breakfast.

Hasselback Apples. Easy and delicious healthy fall dessert.

The Hasselback Apple recipe is also easy to scale and make ahead for a crowd. I included an amount for three apples (six halves), but you can easily reduce it for a smaller group or multiply it for a dinner party.

To make the recipe in advance, a few hours before you’d like to serve, slice the apples, top them with the streusel, then pop the whole pan in the refrigerator. Bake the apples during dinner, and by the time dessert is ready, your whole kitchen will smell like tantalizing, fall-spiced Yankee Candle brought to life.

In the oven, the apples sweeten and soften, while the brown sugar and oats caramelize on top. The thin, tender layers of fruit slice easily with a fork, and you are guaranteed to get just the right amount of streusel in every bite.

Healthy Hasselback Apples. Easy and perfect dessert for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and holidays!

What I love most about these Hasselback Apples, in addition to the fact that they are simple to make and sublime to eat, is their duo appeal. The taste is old fashioned, comforting, and familiar, but the presentation feels modern and fresh.

In other words, your grandmother and your hip foodie friend will both approve. They will both ask for second helpings too!

How to Store Hasselback Apples

  • To Make in Advance. Assemble the apples in the baking dish up to the point of baking. Keep in the refrigerator, covered with foil and unbaked, for up to 4 hours. Bake just before serving.
  • To Store. Hasselback Apples taste best the day they are made but can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave.

Other Favorite Apple Recipes

For a full list, see my healthy apple recipes post.

Recommended Tools to Make This Recipe

Hasselback Apples

4.88 from 8 votes
Thinly sliced apples layered and topped with buttery cinnamon oat streusel and baked until golden. An easy, healthy, delicious dessert!

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 1 hour

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3 large firm crisp-sweet apples such as Pink Lady or Honeycrisp (do not use a soft variety like Cortland or McIntosh—they will not hold their shape)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar divided
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon divided
  • 3 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 2 teaspoons  white whole wheat flour  or all purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Low-fat vanilla ice cream or vanilla frozen yogurt for serving

Instructions
 

  • Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat the inside of a 9×13-inch or similar glass or ceramic baking dish with nonstick spray and set aside.
  • Peel the apples, then cut them in half from top to bottom. With a melon baller or small spoon, remove the core. Turn the apples cut-side down on a cutting board.  Starting at the outermost edges, cut 1/4-inch slices most (but not all) of the way through each apple. Place apple halves, cut sides down, in the prepared baking dish.
  • Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl. Stir in 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Brush the mixture evenly over each apple.
  • Cover the pan with foil. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove the pan from oven, uncover, and let cool 10 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.
  • While the apples cool, make the streusel topping: Melt the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in the same bowl or saucepan used previously. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, oats, flour, and salt. Carefully fan open the apple halves and with a fork or spoon. Work the some streusel between the slices and sprinkle some over the top.
  • Return to the pan to the oven and bake uncovered at 425 degrees F until the apples are tender and the topping is brown, about 10 to 15 additional minutes. Let cool for a few minutes, then serve warm with ice cream.

Notes

  • To make the recipe in advance: Assemble the apples in the baking dish up to the point of baking. Keep in the refrigerator, covered with foil and unbaked, for up to 4 hours. Bake just before serving.
  • Hasselback Apples taste best the day they are made but can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave.
  • Make it gluten free: Swap a 1:1 GF all-purpose baking blend, oat flour, or almond meal for the white whole wheat flour; use certified GF rolled oats.
  • Make it vegan: swap a buttery vegan spread for the unsalted butter.

Nutrition

Serving: 1half apple with 1/3 cup low-fat vanilla frozen yogurtCalories: 225kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 7gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 104mgFiber: 3gSugar: 27g

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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23 Comments

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  1. The title of this post got me intrigued. And then the pictures made me super hungry lol. Looks incredible!

  2. Good lord. I love this. I’m still quite a novice baker, and the thought of making an apple pie that is picture worthy is daunting. The thought of making an apple pie period is daunting! This is such an awesome idea, and the flavors sound so delicious. I mean butter and sugar and apples, how can you go wrong? I’m a full fat ice cream girl myself :-)

    1. Danielle, use what ever ice cream you please! I hope this hits the spot for you! (and anyone, even the most novice of bakers, can handle this :) ).

  3. Have made these twice for my family. They all loved
    them!  Second time I added more streusel topping because we all love streusel!!  Even my 11 yr old grandson who wasn’t interested at first came back for more. Not as time consuming or as many calories as apple pie but looks beautiful!  Also great when warmed up.  Your website is my go-to for recipes!5 stars

  4. This is an old Cooking Light recipe. It’s very good! You can place wooden chopsticks on each side of the halved apples so your slices will be exactly the same depth with each cut.5 stars

  5. Delicious and Easy. Great for when you are in the mood for a baked treat without a lot of effort. You’ve probably got the ingredients on hand…another plus! Since I usually add nutmeg to cooked apples, I added a little. I also scaled down the recipe for 2 servings. Here’s what I used: 1 large Honeycrisp apple, 1 Tbsp butter, 1Tbsp + 1 tsp brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/8-1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1.5 Tbsp rolled oats, 2/3 tsp (heaping 1/2 tsp) flour, and a pinch of salt.
    I have a question for you: Does it matter which direction you cut the apples? I cut from stem to blossom end.
    Thanks for a keeper recipe!!5 stars

    1. I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Maret! The way you cut the apple sounds perfect. Thank you for sharing this kind review!