Get ready to make one of our favorite side dishes with this spiced apple rings recipe!
These homemade, old-fashioned apple rings are made with firm tart apples, Red Hots candy, and some spice. Perfect for adding a vibrant, sweet, and tangy twist to any meal, especially during the holidays.
Keep reading to find out why this easy recipe is a must-have for your holiday table!
Table of Contents
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
🗝️ Key takeaways
- Quick & easy. These spiced apple rings are a colorful addition to any meal, offering a nostalgic taste of sweet apples and cinnamon. They're quick to make and sure to impress!
- Pretty. Perfect as a side dish for holiday dinners, cozy family meals, or any special occasion where you want to add a pop of color and flavor.
- Lemon juice. Using lemon juice helps keep the cut apples bright and beautiful.
There are a lot of ways to make cinnamon apples but I think mine is the easiest.
It just takes a few minutes and once you've made them you can keep them in a jar in the refrigerator for up to a week, or in a freezer container for several months.
You can even save the syrup and use it again in a new batch!
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
The guijillo chile is totally optional but give it a try. It adds a little extra spicy flavor.
📖 Variations
- Leave out the chile for less spicy heat.
- If you don't have the bright red color after 12 hours you can stir in a few drops of red food coloring.
- You can make these with pears, too.
- Like it super spicy? Add a pinch of cayenne. It will amp up the cinnamon flavor and tingle even more.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Peel and core your apples. I use a melon baller spoon to take the cores out. So easy that way!
- Slice them and drop them into lemon juice and water in a large bowl to keep them from turning brown.
- In a heavy saucepan melt the candy in the water.
- Add the prepared apples and spices and simmer briefly. Remove from heat and let the apples soak in the syrup for as long as possible.
🤫 Cook's secrets -
CAUTION: I wouldn't try to can this particular recipe. There isn't enough acid to do it safely. Freeze for longer storage
🍎 Best apples to use
The best apples to use for spiced apple rings and similar recipes are apples that hold their shape when cooked or baked. For this reason MacIntosh apples are not a good choice. Choose from the following:
| Apple Type | Flavor | Texture | Hold shape? |
| HoneyCrisp | sweet | crisp & juicy | yes |
| Braeburn | balanced sweet & tart | firm & crisp | yes |
| Winesap | sweet; slight spicy flavor | crisp & juicy | yes |
| Jonathon | sweet & tangy | crisp | yes |
| Jazz | sweet, tart, tangy, slight spice | crisp & juicy | yes |
| Granny Smith | very tart | crisp | yes |
🍴 Equipment
- apple corer
- large bowl
- saucepan
- paring knife
- storage container - preferably glass.
🥫 How to store leftovers
Store any leftover spiced apple rings in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week. They make a great snack or addition to salads.
Marye's Tip o' the day
If you happen to overcook the fruit don't worry about it - process it in the food processor for apple (or pear) sauce.
💭 Things to know
- Use firm-fleshed, tart apples like MacIntosh, Honey Crisp, or Granny Smith. You can use pears, too!
- Watch the candies carefully as you melt them down. You don't want them to stick and burn.
- The longer the apples (or pears) sit in the red syrup the more flavorful they will be.
- Keep them in glass storage containers - they will dye plastic and I think it gives it a weird taste.
- Use toothpicks to stick the apple rings to a ham when you are cooking it and use the syrup in the glaze.
This is such an easy recipe - it's the perfect side dish for French Onion Chicken or Oven Roasted Quail!
👩🍳 FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
After you peel and core the apple turn it on its side. Cut it in half through the middle of the fruit horizontally. Now cut in even sized rings.
There could be a lot of reasons. (1)Different apples have different densities - I used honeycrisp. (2)Letting them cook a little longer helps them to soften enough to soak up more color. (3) Most of all, make them 2 days before serving and just let them sit in the fridge and soak up all the red syrup possible. If they do not turn as red as you'd like add a little red food color.
Lemon juice will help cut apples to maintain their original color. In this candied apple rings recipe the lemon juice is mixed with water and you just dip the rings in the lemon water for a few minutes.
The nice thing about this recipe is because the apples are red from the cinnamon candy it doesn't show if they turn a little brown.
You can use them as a side dish, which is especially good with pork chops or ham, or you can use them as a salad course by serving them on lettuce leaves with other fruit. My mom used to put a scoop of cottage cheese or cream cheese in the center and I like them that way, too. I also like them in ham sandwiches.
📚 Related recipes
🍽️ Repurpose leftovers
- Apple Ring Pancakes: Add apple rings to pancake batter for a delicious breakfast.
- Apple Ring Salad: Mix with greens, nuts, and diced cubes of white Cheddar cheese for a refreshing salad.
- Apple Bread: Chop and use in this Amish Apple Fritter Bread.
📞 The last word
If you're looking for a special side dish (or relish) to go on the table this vintage recipe is for you!
Cinnamon apple rings were usually just fished out of the syrup and placed in a relish dish to be passed as an accompaniment to turkey or pork when I was growing up
I'd often sneak into the refrigerator and grab a slice out of the jar - not realizing that the rosy syrup left a telltale stain on my fingertips.
Ooops.
Try leftovers in this recipe for Ham Sliders. Incredible!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Spiced Apple Rings
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- ¼ cup lemon juice, keeps apples from darkening
- 2 pounds apples, MacIntosh - Granny Smith - Honey Crisp - any firm fleshed apple that holds its shape when cooked
- 3 cups water, divided use -more if needed
- 2 cups cinnamon candy, Red Hots or Cinnamon Imperials - any hard cinnamon candy
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 guijillo chile, optional - adds a little heat
Instructions
- Add the lemon juice to 2 cups of water.
- Peel and core apples - slice into ½ inch thick rings.
- Drop the apple rings in the lemon juice as you finish each one.
- Heat ½ cup of the remaining water and the cinnamon candies in a saucepan.
- Stir often until the candy is completely melted, adding water as needed to keep the syrup from getting thick.
- Add the guijillo chile (optional), whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks.
- Drain the apple rings and pat dry.
- Gently stir the apple rings into the syrup.
- Cover and simmer, occasionally stirring gently, for 15 minutes or until apples are tender.
- Add the rings to a storage container and cover with the cooking syrup.
- Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight, or about 8 hours. Remove the cloves and cinnamon sticks before using.
- Store unused apple rings in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Notes
- Use firm-fleshed, tart apples like MacIntosh, Honey Crisp, or Granny Smith
- Watch the candies carefully as you melt them down. You don't want them to stick and burn.
- The longer the apples (or pears) sit in the red syrup the more flavorful they will be.
- Keep them in glass storage containers - they will dye plastic and I think it gives it a weird taste.
- If you happen to overcook the fruit don't worry about it - process it in the food processor for apple (or pear) sauce.
- Save the red cinnamon syrup in the refrigerator. You can reuse it to make more spiced apple rings.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published October 2017. Last updated June 19, 2024 to make editorial corrections and for readability.
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Spiced Apples
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Sharon says
My family loves trying new things! I am definitely adding spiced apple rings to our holiday menu this year!
Holly says
It just isn't the holidays without spiced apple rings!
Cynthia Rusincovitch says
My dad loves spiced apple rings. I haven't seen them in years! Sending this to him now!
Brittany says
Thoughts of fall weather means it's time for spiced apple rings ... a beautiful and delicious add on!
Kristen says
Just tried making these spiced apple rings for the first time and they are AMAZING! I love that you can reuse the leftover sauce in your Candy Apple Pie recipe, too!
Marye says
Absolutely! So good!
One Crazy House says
I'm sort of mourning the fact that I never heard of spiced apple rings before! I will have to make it quite a few times this holiday season to make up for all of those lost years! 😉
Marye says
Haha!! That's true!
Brandi says
We went apple picking over the weekend and have about 90 bajillion apples to use up. I had never heard of or tried apple rings before, but these are to.die.for! So delicious and such a fun treat!
Khalaazar King says
I'd like to address the note regarding canning this recipe. Apples themselves contain enough acid for canning in water, or very light, light, or medium syrup. This recipe creates a medium simple syrup after the candies are melted, so it would certainly qualify as a candidate for canning. If you're still concerned, a TB of lemon juice added takes nothing away from the great warm flavors of this recipe.
Marye says
Because of legal ramifications I never ever suggest canning a recipe that is not specifically made for canning. Repectfully, if you you choose to do so that's on you. 🙂
Erica says
My family has always eaten spiced apple rings for holiday meals. It seemed like they mysteriously disappeared from the grocery store shelves during COVID, and never returned. I decided to give this recipe a try, and I am so glad I did - they are absolutely DELICIOUS!! Try it - you won’t regret it!!
Tara C says
These are amazing and bring back memories of my granny, who made them for me. I followed the recipe but used cider instead of water since I had some. They were perfect! I like mine to still have a tiny bit of crisp to them so I used the shorter end of the cook time. Thank you for bringing the memories of a recipe back into my life that I had not remembered on my own!
Cristie says
Is there anything else the can be instead of red hots? We are eliminating red dye due to allergies.
Marye says
Nope. You've got to have the Red Hots. 🙂
peggue says
Any directions for canning theses? I have oodles of apples. peggie
Marye says
I don't suggest canning - but you can freeze them.
Mary Pabelick says
How do you freeze them? I read NOT to use plastic so that eliminates a storage container and I don't freeze glass. The only other option is a disposable aluminum pie tin but I would think that would not work as the apples would only float to the top. Not staying submerged will cause freezer burn I would imagine. Please let me. This looks goo for Thanksgiving and I could make/freeze them now when apples are in and the holiday rush is still a few weeks away. Thanks!
Marye says
I freeze in glass but you can use plastic - just be aware that the plastic will be pink. I don't care for plastic storage.
Hether Johnston says
I just have a quick question, is it necessary to peel the apples? Thank you so much!
Marye says
I prefer them that way but not essential. 🙂
Jeff Wilde says
My wife and I made these for a Christmas dinner for our community, ( 54 residence). They where so good. It brought back memories for many folks. We served roast pork loin and put the apple slice on top. It made for a beautiful presentation. Thank you for a great recipe.
Karen says
We were so focused on finding Red Hots, I totally forgot to get cloves and cinnamon sticks 😞 We wanted to make this because I use some of the liquid from the store bought kind to mix in cream cheese to use as celery spread. SOOOOO good.
But.... now there will be no stuffed celery for Thanksgiving unless someone has an alternative for those 2 ingredients that will still work. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. 😀
Kimberly Softich says
Cinnamon spiced deliciousness! I nearly overcooked them, as I didn't slice them thick enough. Check at 8 minutes of simmering, and then every couple minutes thereafter to make sure they don't get soft. Fantastic recipe. I'll never go back to the commercial made stuff, ever.
Diane says
I make Pears Rose using almost the same recipe (plus Rose Wine) at Christmas time.
Marye says
Sounds delish!
David Thomas says
How long do you let them simmer? You don't say in your blog or in the recipe?
Marye says
#9 in the green recipe card at the bottom "Cover and simmer, occasionally stirring gently, for 15 minutes or until apples are tender."
D megan says
Did you ever think about using apple juice, instead of water, to melt the red hot down? This is the sort of culinary trick that I use to bump up the flavor even another notch!
Marye says
What a great idea! I'll give that a try next time!
Ellen Hanson says
I did. DELICIOUS!!!