Crisp autumn air and vibrant leaves mean one thing—apple season is here! From sweet to tart, apples are the highlight of the season. They are the showstoppers for countless cozy recipes that bring warmth and comfort to the table. Whether baked, simmered, or spiced, these fall apple creations are simply irresistible.
With the arrival of fall comes the apple season. I alove using apples for my baking and cooking and always go a little overboard at the apple orchard or farmer’s market. It is such a fun, versatile fruit to have fun with. Nothing beats a warm slice of apple crisp with a heaping scoop of ice cream melting in between layers of baked apples.
Today there are hundreds of apple varieties with new breeds being developed every year! But a few varieties like Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, and Honeycrisp are most common in U.S. kitchens because of their flavor and ease of growing and transporting.
The chart below will help you decide which apples are best to use for baking or snacking. It is interesting to see all the different varieties with different flavors and textures!
Our Favorite Apple Recipes
Here in no particular order are some of our most favorite recipes featuring apples of all kinds!
Apple Pie Cake (Milk Bar Style)
Inspired by the famous Milk Bar Apple Pie Cake, you'll fall (pun-intended) head-over-heels for this dreamy confection of a cake layered with apple cider soaked brown butter vanilla cake, homemade apple pie filling, buttery pie crumbs, and liquid cheesecake filling. Don't be intimidated by the various components — it's actually a pretty easy recipe to pull off and assembly is half of the fun!
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Homemade Caramel Apples Recipe
Gourmet Homemade Caramel Apples are so easy and fun to make! When the sweet, buttery caramel gets paired with crisp, tart apples, and then topped with as many crunchy, chewy, nutty or crispy toppings as you want, you will have confection perfection!
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Apple Crisp
Nothing says fall like a warm Apple Crisp made with lots of apples and the best cinnamon oat streusel topping! It's quick and easy to throw together and can even be made in the slow cooker!
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Apple Fritter Bread
This delicious Apple Fritter Bread is the perfect way to enjoy chunks of juicy apples and a cinnamon sugar mixture baked into a soft, moist bread form. Topped with a sweet glaze, it’s the ultimate comforting treat for fall flavors and apple season. Whether for breakfast or dessert, this recipe will have you savoring every slice!
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Dutch Apple Pie (aka Apple Pie with Crumb Topping)
Dutch Apple Pie (aka apple crumble pie, aka perhaps the most perfect pie in existence) is filled with cinnamon-spiced homemade apple pie filling and topped with a glorious buttery streusel crumb topping. It's an utterly blissful experience to eat a slice of slightly warm dutch apple pie with a scoop of ice cream!
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German Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel)
This Apple Strudel recipe (Apfelstrudel in German) is easier than it seems and so much fun to make. And the resulting strudel is a delicious, festive dessert just like the ones you would get in Austria or Germany filled with sweet, spiced apples and raisins in a flaky crust that everyone will love!
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Apple Pie Ice Cream
Apple Pie Ice Cream is loaded with cinnamon and apples for a delicious Fall flavored ice cream! Add broken up cinnamon grahams or pie crust pieces to make it like eating a slice of apple pie in ice cream form!
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Caramel Apple Nachos
Caramel Apple Nachos are a total party on a plate. Fresh apple slices get piled high, drizzled with gooey caramel and sweet peanut butter, then topped with crunchy pretzel pieces, mini chocolate chips, and just enough toffee to keep things exciting. It’s the perfect fall treat for Halloween parties, movie nights, or anytime you’ve got extra apples and a craving for something fun and a little wild.
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Best Apple Cider Donuts Recipe
Apple Cider Donuts are a sweet treat that should be added to your fall bucket list this year! Sweet, apple-scented donuts with a cinnamon-sugar coating on the outside, these donuts are perfect for the fall season.
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Baked Apples
My favorite Baked Apples are a simple, elegant dessert filled with a sweet, crunchy filling made with a secret ingredient and baked in the oven until tender. They are fabulous served with a scoop of ice cream on top or on the side!
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Caramel Apple Eclair Cake
This No Bake Caramel Apple Eclair Cake recipe is deliciously dreamy with layers of creamy vanilla pudding, spiced cinnamon apples, cinnamon grahams, and decadent caramel topping! It's the perfect easy dessert for family gatherings, potlucks, or parties and can be whipped up in just 15 minutes!
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Apple Dumplings
Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings are made with sweet cinnamon-sugar apples wrapped up in an easy, flaky pastry and baked in a homemade cinnamon syrup. We love them served warm with a scoop of ice cream and some caramel syrup to drizzle over the top!
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Apple Fritters Recipe
Glazed Apple Fritters are a favorite donut shop indulgence! But they are even better made fresh at home with a rich yeast dough, plenty of cinnamon, and chunks of real apple!
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Sauerkraut and Sausages with Apples
Sauerkraut and Sausage with Apples can be made using any German or Polish style sausage like Kielbasa, Bratwurst, or Knockwurst. The apples (along with a little cider and brown sugar) help cut the sourness of the sauerkraut with just the right amount of subtle sweetness that goes perfectly with the rich, juicy sausages. Serve this with some dill mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts for a delicious Oktoberfest dinner!
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Poison Apples
These frightfully fun candy Poison Apples are a wicked way of treating friends and family this Halloween. The real trick is figuring out how to eat them!
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Cranberry Apple Pie Recipe
Cranberry Apple Pie is a sweet-tart and totally refreshing take on a classic apple pie with bright bursts of cranberry flavor! The flaky, buttery crust, sweet apple-cranberry pie filling, and tart bursts of fresh cranberries with just a hint of cinnamon make for a delicious and festive Fall dessert, sure to delight guests and family this holiday season.
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Apple Oatmeal Muffins
Apple Oatmeal Muffins make a great breakfast or quick afternoon snack. Filled with apples, cinnamon, and oatmeal, then topped with an easy oat streusel, these apple muffins are an easy grab and go breakfast.
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Apple Salad with Candied Walnuts and Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
This Apple Salad with Candied Walnuts and Poppy seed Dressing is absolutely mouth-wateringly amazing! Peppery greens are topped with fresh, crisp apples, candied walnuts, cranberries, bacon, avocado, feta, red onion, and finally drizzled with a quick and easy creamy poppy seed dressing. This delicious apple salad recipe is perfect year-round for lunch or as a side dish, and especially for holiday dinners!
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Caramel Apple Pie Recipe
Caramel Apple Pie is a scrumptious twist on a classic dessert with a buttery, flaky crust, sweet caramel sauce (salted if you want!), and cinnamon spiced apples. Perfect for Fall and using up all the amazing apples from u-pick apple orchards!
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Sausage Stuffing
Sausage Stuffing is a savory and surprising twist on the traditional side dish that is so popular on Thanksgiving tables. This version is loaded with chopped apples and dried cranberries for a burst of sweet and tart flavor that really complements the savory herbs and Italian sausage.
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Glazed Apple Hand Pies
These Glazed Apple Hand Pies are like a cross between cookie and a slice of apple pie with a perfectly spiced homemade apple pie filling and buttery, flaky crust coated in a sweet glaze. They are perfect for packing in school lunches for a sweet treat or for sharing with family and friends!
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Creamy Apple Cider Chicken Skillet
This Apple Cider Chicken recipe is the ultimate fall comfort food, packed with savory flavors, tender chicken, and a rich apple cider glaze! With caramelized onions, fresh thyme, and a creamy sauce, it's a perfect dish to warm up chilly nights while delighting the whole family.
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Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
These Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars are the perfect dessert for cozy fall days, special occasions, or any time of year you crave a blend of tart apples, creamy cheesecake, and crumbly streusel with a caramel drizzle! With layers of buttery shortbread, cinnamon-kissed apples, and a creamy cheesecake filling, this dessert is a crowd-pleaser and easy to make!
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Homemade Crockpot Apple Butter
This easy Homemade Crockpot Apple Butter makes a thick, sweet sauce that you will want to spread on all the things from english muffins or pancakes to bowlfuls of vanilla ice cream. And the wonderfully sweet, spicy aroma of cinnamon and apples will fill your home all day long!
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Homemade Apple Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
My Homemade Apple Cinnamon Rolls are made with a soft yeast dough, an easy filling made with fresh, crisp apples, and simple vanilla glaze for the fluffiest, gooey cinnamon cinnamon rolls that are filled with fall flavor. The cinnamon-sugar mixture combined with the juicy diced apples creates an irresistible filling that perfectly complements the soft and fluffy cinnamon roll dough!
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German Apple Pancakes with Cider Syrup
Fluffy German Apple Pancakes with Cider Syrup are perfect for a fall weekend and are a great way to change up the traditional German pancake recipe, also known as a Dutch baby.
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Sour Cream Apple Pie Recipe
Sweet and tart sliced apples are tucked into a simple custard then topped with a crumbly brown sugar streusel in this Sour Cream Apple Pie. It is practically guaranteed to quickly climb to the top of your list of favorite pies.
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Apple Crumble Cupcakes
Topped with a buttery oat crumble, then a cinnamon and caramel frosting and a decadent drizzle of caramel, these tender spiced cupcakes taste like a cozy fall afternoon.
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Apple Pie Macarons
These Apple Pie Macarons are a wonderful Fall twist on the classic french cookie favorite. A traditional vanilla macaron cookie shell is filled with vanilla buttercream and a dollop of apple pie filling, making this the perfect treat for the season!
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Puff Pastry Apple Roses
These Puff Pastry Apple Roses are as beautiful as they are delicious and a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving dessert table or charcuterie board for special occasions. With only 5 ingredients, this dessert looks so elegant but is super simple to make!
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Classic Apple Pie Recipe
Who doesn't love Homemade Apple Pie? Made with my favorite pie crust recipe and only lightly spiced so the sweet-tart apple flavor can really take center stage, this classic apple pie recipe is the best I've ever tasted!
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Homemade Apple Chips
Homemade Apple Chips are an easy, healthy snack that's ready in minutes! Made with fresh apple slices, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, then air-fried with coconut oil to crisp perfection, they're perfect for after-school snacks or lunch boxes!
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German Apple Cake Recipe (Apfelkuchen)
This German Apple Cake with Streusel Topping [Apfelkuchen mit Streusel] is one of my favorite traditional German desserts that I know you are going to love too! The tender, juicy apple filling is topped with a sweet, crunchy streusel on a buttery shortbread crust.
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Slow Cooker Applesauce Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
Tender, fall-apart chicken with a warm, spiced applesauce barbecue sauce and crispy apple cabbage slaw on soft pretzel buns make these Slow Cooker Applesauce Pulled Chicken Sandwiches THE sandwich for fall!
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Instant Pot Apple & Pear Cider
Instant Pot Apple & Pear Cider is a fun and festive holiday drink that will warm you from the inside out! Plus it makes you house smell divine!
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Irish Apple Cake with Warm Custard Sauce
Irish Apple Cake with Warm Custard Sauce is a lightly sweetened dessert that is perfect for enjoying during cold weather months or celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Studded with chopped apples and topped with the wonderful vanilla sauce, this is an easy, delicious treat!
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Caramel Apple Dip
Creamy Caramel Apple Dip is hard to resist with its creamy texture, sweet caramel flavor, and delicious crunch of toffee bits on top. Serve it with your favorite dessert dipping snacks or freshly chopped apples for a decadent treat!
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Instant Pot Homemade Applesauce
This homemade applesauce recipe is made in the Instant Pot with just 4 simple ingredients and is ready in less than 15 minutes. It makes a great snack, side dish, or healthy dessert!
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Caramel Apple Crescent Rolls
These Caramel Apple Pie Crescent Rolls are a deliciously easy Fall dessert. Gooey caramel and apple pie filling is wrapped up in buttery crescent roll dough then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Only 6 ingredients and they are ready in under 30 minutes. Ready to eat right out of the oven, or add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to take them over the top.
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Slow Cooker Apple Pork Chops
Slow Cooker Apple Pork Chops combine juicy pork chops with tender apples in a perfect blend of savory and sweet! It’s an easy dinner that’s ideal for a busy weeknight or a delicious addition to a fall meal plan. With minimal effort and maximum flavor, you can enjoy tender pork chops without spending hours in the kitchen!
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Wassail Recipe
This traditional Wassail recipe is quick to prepare and incredibly versatile, promising good cheer and good health with every warming sip!
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Morning Glory Muffins
These healthy Morning Glory muffins are the BEST. Jam-packed with carrots, zucchini, apple, pecans, coconut and whole wheat flour, they are great for breakfast or a healthy but oh-so-yummy snack.
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German Red Cabbage (Rotkohl)
This delicious German Red Cabbage (also known as Rotkohl or Blaukraut depending on which part of Germany you are in) is a fantastic sweet and sour recipe that is served with many traditional German dishes.
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Fun Fact:
Apples arrived in North America with the arrival of European settlers. Because settlers planted so many seeds, a wide array of new apple types were constantly being created. But in actuality, a lot of apple trees brought over from Europe did not thrive in the American climate and only the hardiest apple species survived. Many varieties were grown but most were not edible or good for consuming. Most early American apples were grown for hard cider, not for eating fresh. Sour, bitter, or “spitter” apples—the kind you would not want to eat raw—often produced the best-tasting hard cider.
