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Celebrate apple season with this collection of 45 Best Apple Recipes! You’ll find recipes for apple crisp, homemade apple cider, applesauce and apple salads, along with the various types of apples, how to use them, nutrition information and so much more!
Fall is my absolute favorite season, and this year I’ve never been more ready for it. The weather is cooling off nicely after a very hot summer, which means I can enjoy comfort food and baking even more now.
Apples are one of my favorite varieties of produce to use all season long because they’re so versatile. They’re phenomenal in baking recipes like apple crisp and apple oatmeal muffins, and they’re also amazing in kale apple salad and cooked with pork tenderloin.
This collection of 45 Best Apple Recipes includes a variety of ways to use apples raw, in baking recipes, and in your cooking.
You’ll also find a list of the most common types of apples, which includes which varieties are best to eat raw, and which ones are suitable for baking and cooking.
Apples are round, edible fruits that are widely recognized for their nutritious value and varied uses. They are extremely versatile, and are often consumed raw or used in a variety of ways such as pies and sauces, and beverages like cider and juices. Apple fruits grow on apple trees, and the apple botanical name is Malus domestica.
Where did apples originate?
The origin of apples is traced to Central Asia, particularly the wild apple forests of Kazakhstan, where they grew in abundance. These wild apples, known as Malus sieversii, are thought to be the ancestors of most of the apples we consume today.
The apple tree was brought to the North American continent by colonists in the 17th century with seeds from Europe. While the apples that initially grew were mainly used for making cider, it was the discovery of the McIntosh apple in the early 19th century that led to vast apple orchards and commercial cultivation.
When are apples in season?
Apples are typically in season during the late summer through fall, specifically, from late August until early November.
This can vary, however, based on the specifics of the region and the type of apple being grown. Some apple varieties may ripen earlier or later in the year.
What are the various types of apples?
Apples come in many different varieties, each with its own taste, texture and nutrient profile. Many varieties are great in both raw and cooked applications, while some should only be enjoyed raw as they don’t hold their shape once they’re cooked.
There are roughly 2,500 types of apples in the United States alone, and possibly 30,000 varieties around the world.
Below are some of the most common varieties of apples:
Honeycrisp: A favorite variety, Honeycrisp apples are crisp, juicy, sweet and fragrant. They’re the perfect snack or addition to salads, and they’re wonderful in baking and sauces as well.
Granny Smith: Known for their extreme tartness, Granny Smith apples are one of the most popular green apple varieties. They are a classic baking apple as their firm flesh holds up well in pies, tarts, and crumbles.
Gala: With a delicate sweetness, floral notes and satisfying crunch, Gala apples are ideal for snacking and salads. They’re also great for baking and applesauce.
Fuji: Known for their juicy crunch and super sweet flavor, Fuji apples make a delicious snack, and they also hold up well in baking.
Golden Delicious: As the name suggests, these apples have a golden mellow hue. They’re sweet with the mild flavor of honey. They’re great enjoyed raw, and are also excellent for pies, sauces, and baking.
McIntosh: McIntosh apples are round and crisp with a tart, tangy flavor and hint of sweetness. They’re ideal raw, or in cider or juice, or cooked in applesauce and apple butter.
Red Delicious: These apples are deep red with elongated shape. They’re crisp and sweet, and are best eaten fresh as a snack or in salads.
Pink Lady: Also known as Cripps Pink, these apples are crisp and juicy, super sweet with a mild tartness, and are perfect raw, cooked or baked.
Braeburn: With a sweet-tart flavor with pear and spice undertones, Braeburn apples are very versatile and can be used for baking, cooking or snacking.
Jonagold: Jonagold apples are a delicious blend of tart, sweet flavor with honey undertones. These apples are excellent for baking, cooking, and eating fresh.
Empire: Empire apples are crisp and juicy, and are a wonderful blend of tartness and sweetness. They’re a great all purpose apple that’s great eaten raw, cooked in sauces or baked in pies and crisps.
What are the nutrition benefits of apples?
Apple fruit is synonymous with health and wellness, often associated with the phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Apples offer a wealth of health benefits that make them a smart choice for almost any diet.
The crunchy, juicy fruit is packed with fiber, a nutrient vital for maintaining a healthy digestive system. Just a single apple can provide you with up to 20% of your daily fiber requirement.
Apples are also a rich source of vitamin C, which is known for its immune-boosting properties. This vitamin can help ward off common illnesses and strengthen your body’s natural defenses.
While there are a number of health benefits, one medium apple contains 24 grams of carbohydrates and 19 grams of sugar. If you’re following a low carb diet, be sure to talk to your doctor to be sure that apples are right for you.
Choosing and storing apples
Apples should be vibrant, smooth, and free from wrinkles or bruising. They should also feel firm and heavy for their size. If it yields easily under gentle pressure from your thumb, it’s probably overripe. On the contrary, if it’s too hard, it may be underripe and lack the flavor you’re after.
When it comes to storage, apples are best kept cool. The fruit drawer in your refrigerator is an ideal spot since apples tend to ripen faster at room temperature.
45 Fresh Apple Recipes
Below are some of the best fresh apple recipes that will inspire you to use them in an abundance of delicious ways!
Whether you love baking with apples, eating them raw or cooking with apples, you’ll find plenty of ways to use them all season long.
Air Fryer Apples
A handful of basic ingredients transforms plain apples into the best gooey and spiced air fryer apples. Very little butter is needed.
This homemade apple cider recipe is easy to make with 7 ingredients in the slow cooker. Fresh apples, rich fall spices and a touch of sweetness makes the most delicious apple cider you’ll ever taste!
This Apple Cranberry Pie Recipe is complete with a buttery, flaky lattice pie crust and tart sweet apple cranberry filling. It's a festive holiday dessert that can be made entirely in advance!
Easy Apple Crisp Recipe is tender chunks of apples with brown sugar, warm cinnamon and a hearty oatmeal crumble! It's full of fall flavor and includes gluten-free and vegan options!
Apple Crockpot Steel Cut Oats are the easiest meal prep breakfast! They're wholesome and hearty with apples and cinnamon, and they're dairy and gluten-free!
Apple Oatmeal Muffins are delicious whole grain muffins studded with tender chunks of apple, the warm flavor of cinnamon, and they're topped with a crunchy oat streusel!
Classic Apple Tarte Tatin is every bit as delicious as apple pie and it's so much easier! It's a show stopping apple dessert with tender, caramelized apples atop a flaky, buttery pie crust, and it wows the crowd every single time!
You have found THE BEST apple pecan Chicken Salad loaded with celery, apples and buttery pecans, in a light and creamy gluten-free, dairy-free lemon tarragon dressing!
Warm cinnamon apples are easy to make and great topping for anything. Use it as topping for any dish, topped over breakfast waffles or pancakes, to topping for pork chops or fried chicken for dinner, or simply serve it with ice cream for dessert! A dish that is perfect celebration of FALL!
Creamy No Mayo Coleslaw with Apples and Fennel is a crunchy and addictive cabbage slaw with apples and fennel, tossed in a creamy no mayo coleslaw dressing!
This Apple Nachos Recipe is easy to make, use simple ingredients you probably already have at home to create a fun & fresh snack that everyone will enjoy!
This easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe is one of the best ways to celebrate apple season! It's packed with warm cinnamon and a fresh flavor that only homemade has, plus it's ready in about 30 minutes!
Gourmet Homemade Caramel Apples are easy and fun to make! When sweet, buttery caramel is paired with crisp, tart apples you will have confection perfection!
Honey Mustard Chicken Apple Skillet Dinner | Get Inspired Everyday!
This Honey Mustard Chicken Apple Skillet Dinner is super easy to make and packed with flavor. It’s naturally gluten free, dairy free, as well as paleo.
This Kale and Apple Salad will be your new favorite fall salad recipe! It's packed with nutrition, sweet and savory flavor and plenty of texture. It's tossed in a sweet, tangy apple cider vinegar dressing and makes an elegant addition to any holiday meal!
Pork Tenderloin with Apples & Onions – Herbs & Flour
This Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Apples & Onions is a delicious dinner that comes together in one pan! The pork is seared on the stove first, locking in its juices. Then it is finished off in the oven together with apples and onions.
Beet and Apple Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette | Vanilla And Bean
Fall flavors come together in this simple salad Beet and Apple Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette is simple to pull together and with your favorite greens.
Oh my goodness, so many delicious recipes here to choose from. I love apple season; I actually just bought a huge bag of honeycrisp today. Can’t wait to try these!
8 Comments on “45 Best Apple Recipes (+Produce Guide)”
These all look so good! I am also appreciative of the info on each variety of apples. Thanks for including my apple dumpling recipe!
You’re so welcome Sandi! 🙂
I love apples! What a great list, I am bookmarking a few of these to try this fall!
Thanks Lauren and enjoy! 🙂
So many delicious recipes – perfect for our apple picking haul!
Deciding which one to make first is the hardest part!
Oh my goodness, so many delicious recipes here to choose from. I love apple season; I actually just bought a huge bag of honeycrisp today. Can’t wait to try these!
I’m dying to try your stuffing!