83 Apple Recipes That'll More Than Take Care Of Your Apple-Picking Haul (2024)

83 Apple Recipes That'll More Than Take Care Of Your Apple-Picking Haul (1)

It's basically a crime not to eat an apple a day during the fall, don't you think? But when you're sitting on a ton of gorgeous fruit, it can sometimes be hard to start. Luckily, we've got 83 incredibly delicious sweet and savory uses for all those apples in your stash. Between apple cakes, apple pies, baked apple oatmeal for breakfast, and even apple-filled dinners, there's something here for everyone. An apple cobbler a day keeps the doctor away, right?

Whether you're grabbing a pile while apple picking from a U-Pick farm, a farmer's market, or just from your local grocery store, apples are THE fruit to turn into everything from desserts to condiments, and we've got recipes for them all here. To start, check our guide on how to use all the different apple types you can find (hint: they're not all created equal!).

Whenever we have tons of apples on hand, we immediately dream about making plenty of apple jam, apple butter, and apple cider. With these recipes on hand, you'll use up your apple stash in no time (and they double as an amazing homemade gift to give to friends too!).

Apple pie is the most classic apple dessert, but it doesn't stop there. Looking for something even more spectacular? Try our apple pie cheesecake, our apple butter pie, our tarte tatin, or our apple cider whoopie pies. Need something even easier? Check out our French apple tart, our apple galette, our apple pie bars, or our air fryer apple pie baked apples. They've got all the flavor you love, without that finicky pie dough.

Apples also add tons of flavor to some of our favorite savory dishes, from Japanese curry to Mulligatawny soup. Pork chops and apples are BFFs too, but if you need further proof, just try our . Apples also add crunch and sweetness in unexpectedly delicious ways, like in our crunch salad, our chicken salad sandwich, and our ssamjang (a Korean BBQ sauce that makes an incredible dip).

Need even more ideas for what to make with apples? Try our easy apple desserts and delicious recipes with apple cider! Really feeling all the fall flavors? Check out our favorite pumpkin and pear recipes too.

1

Crescent Apple Dumplings

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Looking for a shortcut to apple pie? This is the recipe for you. We use two special store-bought ingredients in this recipe—lemon-lime soda (trust!) and refrigerated biscuit dough—to create this one-of-a-kind dessert that brings the fall vibes to any gathering.

Get the Crescent Apple Dumplings recipe.

2

Homemade Apple Cider

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Homemade apple cider is extremely easy to make and the perfect way to use up all of those extra apples you thought would turn into apple pie after going apple picking. It's warm, full of spice, and the best part: It will fill your home with all of your favorite fall scents.

Get the Homemade Apple Cider recipe.

3

Creamy Apple Bourbon Chicken Skillet

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Chicken is a blank canvas for the simplest as well as the most complex dinner situations. In this version, the smokey warm bourbon, zingy mustard, sharp cheddar, and heavy cream allow the apples and chicken to really pop off.

Get the Creamy Apple Bourbon Chicken Skillet recipe.

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4

Apple Galette

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Galettes have all the delicious elements of apple pie: flaky, buttery crust, and tender baked fruit. What they don't have is fussy technique: no crimping, no lattice work, and absolutely no blind baking. Sometimes, it's okay to take the easy road.

Get the Apple Galette recipe.

5

Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad

We don’t believe in boring salads at Delish, and crunchy apples and tart cranberries bring a lot of life to this one. The slightly sweet and lemony dressing is easy to make, so do yourself a favor and make extra to pour over everything.

Get the Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad recipe.

6

Apple Pie Stuffed Cupcakes

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Nothing says Thanksgiving like a warm apple pie. Unfortunately, we don't always have time to make and chill pie dough. These cupcakes are the perfect solution!

Get the Apple Pie Stuffed Cupcakes recipe.

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7

Apple Coffee Cake

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Apples work wonders in this easy coffee cake. They add extra sweetness as well as making the cake extra moist and tender. We love it with Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples, but your favorite baking apple will do the trick.

Get the Apple Coffee Cake recipe.

8

Candy Apples

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While you’ve likely had them at orchards, state fairs, and the like, candy apples are a treat you can easily make at home. You only need a handful of ingredients, 30 minutes, and a candy thermometer to make these festive fall treats for every fall party.

Get the Candy Apples recipe.

9

Cider Glazed Chicken Thighs

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Don't let chicken breasts have all the fun! Chicken thighs are super flavorful, easy to cook, and SO delicious with sweet potatoes and apples. Try it for dinner tonight, you won't regret it.

Get the Cider Glazed Chicken Thighs recipe.

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10

Apple Jam

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Got a lot of apples and don't know what to do with them? If homemade apple pie seems like too much of an undertaking, this jam is just the thing to prolong that delicious fall fruit.

Get the Apple Jam recipe.

11

Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples

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You may have seen crisp, anise-y fennel bulbs dotting the famers' market stands, nuzzling up alongside sweet delicata squash and tart apples. The three find their way into this healthy side dish that's perfect for elegant dinner party menus, simple weeknight meals, or paired with richer, holiday spreads.

Get the .

12

Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Cake

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Featuring three layers of tender, lightly spiced apple cidercake sandwiched with apple pie filling, buttery crumble, and salted caramel, this apple crumble cake recipe will delight and impress anyone who’s lucky enough to snag a piece.

Get the Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Cake recipe.

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13

Japanese Curry

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No judgment from us if you skip making your own roux for this Japanese curry, but there are a few ingredients you shouldn't swap out. Caramelizing onions and grating apple might seem extra, but trust us—they help offset the spice level of the recipe, and add an unexpected sweetness you’ll love.

Get the Japanese Curry recipe.

14

Apple Tart

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In the classic version of this French recipe, an apple compote goes on top of the crust and under the spiral of apples. To make things easier here, we simply macerated the slices in brown sugar and lemon juice to guarantee they get nice and jammy in the oven, with less work!

Get the Apple Tart recipe.

15

Crispy Cheddar Pork Chops With Brussels Sprouts & Apples

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It’s time for some next-level shake and bake with these crispy, cheddary pork chops served with an easy Brussels sprouts and apple side. Both the panko and the cheddar crisp up to form a tasty crust that keeps the pork super-juicy and tender.

Get the .

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16

Apple Butter Pie

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This pie, a cross between a pumpkin and a Dutch apple pie, is adorned with an irresistible crunchy crumble. Use store-bought or homemade apple butter–either works!

Get the Apple Butter Pie recipe.

17

Air Fryer Cinnamon Apple Chips

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Making your own apple chips is extremely easy—even without a fancy dehydrator. All you need is your trusty air fryer and some crispy apples, like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Pink Lady.

Get the Air Fryer Cinnamon Apple Chips recipe.

18

Caramel Apple Tart

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No one needs to know how ridiculously simple this four-ingredient dessert really is—all you need is puff pastry, cinnamon, caramel sauce, and apples to make this impressive and delicious stunner.

Get the Caramel Apple Tart recipe.

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19

Apple Cookies

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These cookies are begging to be served with pumpkin spice lattes in front of a blazing fire with red and orange leaves waving outside in the crisp air. (Or double down on the apple vibes with a mug of steaming homemade apple cider.)

Get the Apple Cookies recipe.

20

Mulligatawny Soup

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With roots in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and England, there are endless iterations of Mulligatawny soup, a brightly colored blended lentil soup. This one is vegetarian, with the perfect balance of spicy, creamy, and sour, with just a hint of sweetness (thanks apples!).

Get the Mulligatawny Soup recipe.

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Mackenzie Filson

Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine. If wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.

83 Apple Recipes That'll More Than Take Care Of Your Apple-Picking Haul (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with excess apples? ›

You could also make applesauce, apple butter or apple jelly. You could put them in muffins, crumbles and cakes. You could layer them in sandwiches.

What to do with cooking apples from tree? ›

I use some of our apples to make preserves like apple jam and apple butter. We enjoy eating a sweet and tart apple jam made with the more acidic cooking apples, as well as mixed fruit jams, such as apple cooked with blackberry. I also make a sticky spiced apple butter in an electric slow cooker.

What can I do with soft apples? ›

Add it to your baked goods

The best example is a classic apple pie or tart. Apart from this, you can also use leftover mushy apples to prepare pancakes, cookies, or bread. As the winter season is in full swing, these apple-based desserts are a great way to enjoy the weather.

Do apples last longer in the fridge or out on the counter? ›

"They can last six to eight weeks stored in a refrigerator," says Wortz. Scheck notes that if your room temperature is on the warm side, the refrigerator is ideal for storing apples for any amount of time. The countertop is an option for shorter storage; apples can last one to two weeks there.

Do apples last better in the fridge? ›

Apples are safe at room temperature, but their higher ethylene content contributes to faster ripening. Apples stored in the refrigerator can last for several weeks. Cut produce is more susceptible to pathogens, so storing in the refrigerator can limit pathogen growth.

What is the best way to freeze apples? ›

Line a baking sheet with a piece of baking parchment, then arrange the apple pieces or slices on the parchment so they're not touching each other. Put your freezer on to its highest setting. This will freeze the fruit faster, meaning the ice crystals are smaller and the fruit retains more of its nutritional benefits.

Can you freeze leftover apples? ›

Sweeter apples such as Fujis or Galas are more likely to hold their flavor than tart varieties, but any apple will do fine in the freezer for six to nine months. Perhaps more important to keep in mind, though, is that freezing an apple does alter the texture, leaving the flesh spongier than that of a fresh apple.

How long do apples last in the fridge? ›

In the refrigerator: 4–6 weeks. Once cut: 3–5 days in the fridge, 8 months in the freezer. Made into applesauce: 7–10 days in the fridge, 2 months in the freezer.

Can you eat cooking apples straight from the tree? ›

It was one of the most popular early cookers during the Victorian era, and was grown extensively for market right up until the 1930s. It can be picked from late August through September for use as a cooking apple, or can be eaten straight from the tree in late September as a juicy and refreshing eater.

How do you store cooking apples after picking? ›

How to store fruit
  1. cool, with an even temperature of 2.8-7°C (37-45°F) for apples and even cooler for pears, if possible (pears can even be stored in the salad compartment of a fridge)
  2. frost free.
  3. well-ventilated.
  4. dark.
  5. slightly humid.
  6. free from mice.

Why are my cooking apples rotting on the tree? ›

Brown rot is a fungal disease of apples, pears, plums, cherries and some other fruit and ornamental trees, causing a brown, spreading rot in fruit. It is caused by the same fungi that cause blossom wilt of the flowers and fruit spurs.

What apples don't get mushy when cooked? ›

Braeburn. This superbly crisp apple has a concentrated taste and bakes up juicy but not mushy. They'll do well under heaps of streusel in this yeasted apple coffee cake, using an intense flavor to stand up to a boatload of cinnamon.

Is it OK to eat a mushy apple? ›

Signs of an apple gone bad are wrinkled skin, soft spots, bruising, discoloration, and tasteless flesh. If you find any of these signs, or if you see mold or the apple smells funky, then it's best to throw your apples out.

Why are my apples so mushy? ›

Unripe or overripe apples may have a soft or mealy texture. When an apple is mature, its cells are fully developed and filled with moisture, contributing to its crisp texture. This ideal moisture level is best achieved with refrigeration to extend the apple's crunchy texture.

How do I preserve apples? ›

Pack apples into containers and press fruit down, leaving ½ inch (13 mm) of headspace. Seal and freeze. Dry pack: Follow directions for sugar pack, omitting sugar. Treated apple slices can also be frozen first on a tray and then packed into containers as soon as they are frozen.

How do you can apples for later use? ›

Peel, core, and slice apples. Pack the sliced apples into hot canning jars, leaving a 1/2 inch of headspace. Fill jars with hot syrup, and gently remove air bubbles with a knife. Put lids on and process in a water bath canner for 20 minutes.

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