Discover 25+ easy apple dessert recipes, from classic pies and crisps to cakes, breads, bars, and pastries. Simple, delicious apple treats perfect for fall and year-round baking.
The Sweet Magic of Apple Desserts
When it comes to cozy, comforting desserts, nothing beats baking with apples. From classic pies and crisps to cakes, breads, and creative twists, apples bring natural sweetness and warm spice to every recipe.
In this roundup, you’ll find more than 25 easy apple dessert recipes that are simple enough for beginners yet delicious enough to share at holidays, potlucks, or family dinners. Whether you’ve got a basket of fresh apples from the orchard or just a craving for something sweet, there’s a recipe here for every occasion.
But first, let's talk about apples.
What are Apples, Anyway?
Did you guys realized that apples are part of the rose (Rosaceae) family? I was startled to read this!
Apples are one of the most popular fruits world-wide, cultivated in hundreds of countries and cultures. They come in a variety of colors and flavors - everything from super sweet to tart.
You can eat them whole, of course, (sans the seeds) but they're also perfect for baking! I've used them in cakes, breads, pies, and a host of other desserts, all of which I'll cover in this round-up.
Great Reasons to Bake with Apples
Here are some great reasons you might consider baking with apples:
- They are naturally sweet: When you add apples to your baked goods you can limit the amount of sugar you'll need to add because the apples, themselves, are so sweet and delicious. That sweetness spread throughout the dish. I discovered this first-hand with my Apple Spice (Applesauce) cake. Yum!
- Apples are Versatile! This is one fruit that turns up in every kind of recipe--cakes, cupcakes, muffins, breads, pies, tarts, scones. . .and even savory dishes!
- Apples are Great in Autumn: There's something about fall dishes that just make you feel cozy. You'll find apples in a variety of autumn-inspired desserts, often merged with cinnamon. (Yum!) My Apple Pie Bread Pudding is a great example.
- They're healthy! Apples are loaded with fiber and antioxidants. They're so good for you. You can safely add them to your foods without worrying about negative health problems.
- Apples are Juicy!: Apples add moisture to your baked goods, which is perfect for cakes, muffins, and so on.
- Apples are Comfortable: C'mon now. Your grandma baked with apples. So did her mama. And her mama before her. These gals were on to something. Talk about a nostalgic flavor!
Which Apples Should I Use?
I often reach for a can of apple pie filling when I'm ready to bake but you can start with fresh apples, too. I went on a search for the ten most popular "types" of apples and here's what I found. Most of these are known and loved, not just for their flavor and texture, but their availability.
- Honeycrisp: These apples are sweet and crispy. They're also super juicy which makes them ideal for both baking and snacking.
- Granny Smith: These were my Mama's favorite! They're firm and tart and firm, which makes them terrific for pies and savory dishes.
- Fuji: These are high on my list. I'm crazy about Fuji apples. They're both sweet and crunchy. I love them raw, in salads (even tuna and chicken salad). So good!
- Gala: Super popular and easy to find in most stores.
- Golden Delicious: These are sweet and mellow.
- Red Delicious: The apple of our childhood, these are known for for their deep red skin color and sweetness.
- McIntosh: These apples are soft and tart. If you're making applesauce, McIntosh apples are perfect!
- Pink Lady: Ding, ding, ding! A personal favorite. I like these tart apples for their super crispy texture. (Yum!)
- Braeburn: Braeburn's are beautifully balanced--just the right mergence of sweet and tart!
- Cortland: I haven't tried Cortland's but apparently they're both tart and sweet.
Let's be honest: It's all a matter of preference. Choose your favorite for baking. And speaking of baking, let's dive in to some recipes!
Baking with Apples
Enjoy these easy apple dessert recipes, from classic pies and crisps to cakes, breads, bars, and pastries. Simple, delicious apple treats perfect for fall and year-round baking.
Classic Apple Desserts
These timeless apple desserts are the ones bakers return to year after year. From flaky homemade pies to warm crisps and cobblers, these recipes highlight the natural sweetness of apples with cozy spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Perfect for fall gatherings, holidays, or whenever you’re craving an old-fashioned treat.
Easy Apple Pie with Homemade Crust
This classic apple pie is baked in a flaky, buttery homemade crust and filled with tender, cinnamon-spiced apples. A timeless dessert that’s perfect for holidays, family gatherings, or anytime you want a cozy slice of comfort.
Delicious Apple Crisp
A warm and cozy dessert made with tender baked apples topped with a buttery cinnamon-oat crumble. This easy apple crisp is the perfect balance of sweet and crunchy, ideal for fall gatherings or a quick weeknight treat.
Apple Pie Cobbler with Crescent Rolls
This shortcut cobbler combines all the flavors of a classic apple pie with the ease of buttery crescent rolls. Layers of tender spiced apples are baked under a golden, flaky topping for a cozy dessert that’s quick, simple, and absolutely irresistible.
Old-Fashioned Apple Fritters
Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, these homemade apple fritters are packed with chunks of fresh apple and warm cinnamon. Fried to golden perfection and finished with a sweet glaze, they’re a nostalgic treat that tastes just like the ones from your favorite bakery.
Apple Kuchen (Cinnamon Apple Cake)
This traditional German apple cake features layers of tender apples baked into a soft, sweet yeast dough and topped with a buttery cinnamon-sugar crumble. Simple yet elegant, Apple Kuchen is the perfect dessert for showcasing fresh apples with old-world charm.
Apple Spice Skillet Cake
Baked in a cast iron skillet, this spiced apple cake is moist, flavorful, and loaded with chunks of tender apples. With warm notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar, it’s a rustic dessert that feels like fall in every bite.
Apple Cakes and Breads
Apples add incredible moisture and flavor to cakes and quick breads. In this section, you’ll find everything from rich Bundt cakes and spiced carrot-apple loaves to wholesome sourdough breads. Whether you need an easy snack cake or a show-stopping dessert, these recipes make the most of fresh apples.
Apple Cider Cupcakes
These Apple Cider Cupcakes are bursting with cozy fall flavors! Made with a spiced apple juice reduction and topped with cinnamon cider buttercream, they’re the perfect autumn dessert for parties, bake sales, or holiday gatherings.
Apple Pie Coffee Cake
This cozy coffee cake combines the best of two favorites: tender apple pie filling layered inside a soft, buttery cake. Topped with a crunchy cinnamon streusel, it’s the perfect breakfast treat, afternoon snack, or holiday dessert.
Luscious Apple Banana Bread
Moist, tender, and packed with flavor, this banana bread gets a sweet upgrade with chunks of fresh apple and warm spices. It’s the perfect twist on a classic quick bread, making it ideal for breakfast, snacks, or a cozy fall dessert.
Apple Granola Bread
Hearty and wholesome, this apple bread is loaded with crunchy granola, warm cinnamon, and tender bites of apple. Perfect for breakfast or snacking, it’s a delicious way to enjoy a healthier twist on traditional quick bread.
Cinnamon Apple Sourdough
This artisan-style sourdough loaf is studded with sweet apple chunks, tart craisins, and crunchy pecans. Warm cinnamon enhances the flavor, making it the perfect bread for fall mornings, holiday brunch, or anytime you want a rustic loaf with a hint of sweetness.
Apple Spice Cake (Applesauce Cake)
Moist, spiced, and full of apple flavor, this old-fashioned applesauce cake is a simple dessert that never goes out of style. Made with pantry staples and plenty of cinnamon, it’s perfect for holidays, potlucks, or an easy weeknight bake.
Easy Cinnamon Apple Bundt Cake
This moist Bundt cake is packed with chunks of fresh apple and swirls of cinnamon sugar. Baked to golden perfection and topped with a simple glaze, it’s an impressive yet easy dessert that’s perfect for holidays, potlucks, or Sunday dinner.
Easy Apple Carrot Cake
his doctored cake mix recipe combines the sweetness of apples with the rich texture of classic carrot cake. Moist, spiced, and topped with creamy frosting, it’s a simple yet decadent dessert that feels homemade with half the effort.
Apple Bars, Squares, and Coffee Cakes
When you need a handheld treat, apple bars and squares are the answer. These recipes combine tender apple filling with buttery crusts, crumbles, and glazes. They’re ideal for bake sales, potlucks, or quick weeknight desserts—and they taste just as good the next day with a cup of coffee.
Apple Snickerdoodle Dump Cake
This simple dump cake layers spiced apple pie filling with a buttery cake mix and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. The result is a warm, gooey dessert that tastes just like a snickerdoodle cookie in cake form—easy enough for weeknights but special enough for gatherings.
Caramel Apple Bars
These gooey dessert bars start with a simple doctored cake mix base and are layered with spiced apples and rich caramel. Soft, chewy, and full of fall flavor, they’re a crowd-pleasing treat for potlucks, bake sales, or family dessert night.
Apple Pie Sopapilla Bars
Layers of flaky crescent dough, sweet spiced apples, and a buttery cinnamon-sugar topping come together in this fun twist on sopapilla cheesecake bars. These apple bars are easy to make, perfectly gooey, and always a hit at parties or holiday gatherings.
Delicious Apple Crumble Bars
These dessert bars feature a buttery shortbread crust layered with tender spiced apples and topped with a golden oat crumble. Easy to slice and serve, they’re perfect for bake sales, potlucks, or pairing with a warm cup of coffee.
Apple Pastries and Creative Twists
Apples shine in pastries and unexpected creations. Think puff pastry pies, rustic galettes, apple focaccia, or even monkey bread packed with apple pie filling. These fun, creative recipes are a little outside the box but still easy enough for home bakers to pull off with delicious results.
Apple Pie Bread Pudding
This cozy dessert combines the comfort of bread pudding with the flavors of classic apple pie. Cubes of bread are baked with spiced apples, cinnamon, and a creamy custard for a warm, comforting treat that’s perfect for fall or holiday gatherings.
Easy Apple Pie Monkey Bread Muffins (using canned biscuits)
Made with canned biscuits, apple pie filling, and a buttery cinnamon-sugar coating, these individual monkey bread muffins are gooey, golden, and bursting with apple flavor. A quick, kid-friendly dessert that’s perfect for breakfast or snacking.
Apple Pie Monkey Bread Casserole
This shareable casserole starts with canned biscuits tossed in cinnamon sugar, layered with apple pie filling, and baked until gooey and golden. It’s a fun, pull-apart dessert that’s easy to make and guaranteed to please a crowd.
Apple Pie Focaccia
This rustic sourdough focaccia gets a sweet twist with layers of tender apples, warm cinnamon, and a drizzle of glaze. Soft, chewy, and lightly crisp on the edges, it’s a creative dessert bread that blends the comfort of apple pie with the texture of homemade focaccia.
Puff Pastry Apple Galettes
These rustic galettes feature flaky puff pastry topped with thinly sliced apples, sugar, and a touch of cinnamon. Baked until golden and caramelized, they’re an elegant yet easy dessert that looks bakery-worthy but comes together in minutes.
Puff Pastry Apple Pies
Flaky puff pastry wraps around a sweet apple-cinnamon filling to create these handheld pies. Golden, buttery, and easy to make, they’re a fun twist on the classic apple pie—perfect for parties, bake sales, or a quick family dessert.
Lighter and Healthier Apple Recipes
For those who want the flavor of apples without all the extra indulgence, these lighter recipes deliver. From gluten-free apple breads to wholesome muffins packed with cinnamon and fruit, these bakes are nourishing, satisfying, and still full of cozy apple goodness.
Healthy Cinnamon Apple Muffins
These muffins are loaded with oats, apples, and pecans. Best of all, no white flour and NO added sugar. They're a lovely substitute for a sugary muffin, guaranteed to please.
That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe.
If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you're at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!
About the Author
Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 165 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.