If you’re an apple lover and you’re looking for some great tips, tricks, and recipes, this is the post for you! Keep reading to discover more!
What are Apples?
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.
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 apple-themed recipes from Out of the Box Baking!
Apple Pie Monkey Bread Casserole
If you love the ease of a simple monkey bread but want to add sautéed apples, this is the recipe for you! This one bakes up in a casserole dish. It’s easy to serve and oh, so tasty! Perfect for fall or any time of year!
Delicious Apple Crumble Bars
If you love a yummy streusel, these apple crumble bars are going to make your day. They’re so easy and tasty and come together in minutes!
Apple Pie Bread Pudding
If you love a rich, sweet bread pudding but you’re also a fan of apple pie, have I got a treat for you! This delicious bread pudding is packed full of flavor and it’s super easy to make!
Apple Pie Sopapilla Bars
If you love a luscious cheesecake bar with a yummy crust and you’re also a fan of apple pie, this is the perfect combination for you!
Apple Snickerdoodle Dump Cake
Is it a gooey cobbler, a pie, or a dump cake? Call it what you like, friends, but this Apple Snickerdoodle dessert is easy to make, loaded with cinnamon-apple flavor, and perfect for your next gathering.
Old-Fashioned Apple Fritters
If you love the light, sweet taste of a donut but you’re in the mood for the flavor of apples and cinnamon, this is the recipe for you! These Old Fashioned Apple Fritters are out of this world!
Easy Apple Pie with Homemade Crust
If you love the warm rich flavors of apple and cinnamon and the lovely crisp crunch of a flaky crust, this is the recipe for you! Thanks to the addition of canned apple pie filling this Easy Apple Pie comes together so easily. . .but it tastes like it took hours!
Apple Kuchen (Cinnamon Apple Cake)
If you love the flavors of apple and cinnamon and you’re in the mood for a luscious fall treat, this is the recipe for you! It’s tasty and quick and best of all, it starts with a boxed mix!
Apple Pie Coffee Cake
If you love apple pie but you’re in the mood for a delicious coffee cake, one you would be happy to serve at a breakfast gathering or brunch, have I got a great new recipe for you! This “from scratch” cake is light and luscious and covered in a crisp streusel.
Apple Pie Cobbler with Crescent Rolls
Every now and again you stumble across a recipe that changes everything. This apple pie cobbler is one of those. It’s luscious, gooey, chewy, and perfect for fall! But it’s so easy to make you won’t want to wait until then to make it!
Easy Apple Pie Monkey Bread Muffins (using canned biscuits)
If you love caramel apples, apple pie, or monkey bread… You’re going to absolutely love this new recipe for apple pie monkey bread biscuits. You can whip them together in minutes just like traditional monkey bread but this recipe focuses on individual portion sized muffins that you can share with your friends and family without the mess!
Delicious Apple Crisp
You’ve got a bag full of apples and you’re not sure what to do with them. Bake a pie? Create an apple strudel? Maybe pocket pies? The answer is simple: turn those apples into a Delicious Apple Crisp.
Apple Spice Skillet Cake
Quick, easy, warm, spicy. . .delicious! Enjoy this Apple Spice Cake recipe, y’all!
Healthy Cinnamon Apple Muffins
Rarely do you hear the word “healthy” in the same sentence as the word “muffin” but these yummy Cinnamon Apple Muffins definitely are! They’re packed with oats, real apple, cinnamon, and even a banana. (Hey, basically a fruit salad with some oats thrown in!)
9 Easy Apple Dessert Recipes
Apple desserts are perfect year ’round but they’re especially wonderful in the fall. As soon as Autumn leaves start tumbling we long for those rich warm flavors of cinnamon and spice. That’s exactly why I put together this list of nine of my favorite apple recipes, perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any time of year!
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!
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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.