In Season: Apple-picking season begins in late August or early September and lasts through November. Because apples keep well in cold storage, they are available year-round.

 

What to Look For: There are thousands of apple varieties, with a range of colors including red, russet, yellow, and green. Textures and flavors vary from tart and crisp to soft and sweet. In general, choose apples that are heavy for their size and feel firm when pressed gently. Avoid bruised fruit.

How to Store: For the longest shelf life, store apples in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. Use within three weeks.

 

Maine pomologist John Bunker has dedicated his life to apples, and this is his go-to pie recipe. It’s lightly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, but the flavor of Gravensteins, Galas, and Golden Delicious really shines through.

Chewy, yeasty pizza dough serves as the crust for these single-serving apple tarts.

One of the definitive desserts of fall, apple crisp is easy and economical. Empire, Gala, or Braeburn apples are especially good in this recipe.

Concord grapes lend their distinct, perfumed sweetness to this salad of julienned apples and toasted walnuts. If Concord grapes are not available, substitute 1/4 cup Concord grape juice combined with 1/2 cup red grapes.

Enhanced by the warm flavors of cinnamon and ginger, moist apple cake is spread with a super-fluffy buttercream icing. This cake can also be baked in a 9-by-13-inch pan.

Cheddar cheese is a popular complement to apples. Here, the cheese is part of the flaky crust, which surrounds pleasingly tart Granny Smith apple wedges.

This sticky-sweet cake stars apples in three forms: Applesauce and fresh apples are baked into the cake and an apple cider glaze finishes off the fruity fall dessert.

Store-bought puff pastry forms the light, buttery base of this beautiful apple tart. Once assembled, the tart can be frozen for up to three days. Simply bake it straight from the freezer as instructed.

Large Rome Beauty apples, peeled in a spiral, are ideal for filling with sugary oats and spices for an easy dessert. These are a nutritious, kid-pleasing finish to a meal.

Tart apples, sweet raisins, and a crumb topping make for a blue-ribbon dessert. Pack the apples in tightly to minimize gaps between filling and crust once the pie is baked.

Pork tenderloin, sweet red onion, and tart Granny Smith apples are a winning combination. The unlikely trio of apricot jam, cider vinegar, and tomato paste creates a sumptuous barbecue sauce for these kebabs.

To make this rustic version of tarte Tatin, you simmer apple wedges, butter, and sugar in a skillet, and then top with pastry and finish in the oven. Short on time? Use store-bought pie crust for this dessert.

Spiced apples, raisins, and prunes are folded into layers of flaky store-bought phyllo for a tempting dessert. Honey, which softly sweetens the filling, is balanced by a dash of brandy.

This golden soup blends tangy, sweet apples with mellow butternut squash; cumin, coriander, ginger, and cayenne add vibrant flavors. Garnish with sliced jalapeno peppers and sour cream for a unique finishing touch.

The mellow sweetness of apples and the tart tang of fresh cranberries are perfect partners in this easy dessert. Make extra batches of crisp topping and store it in the freezer for super-quick desserts any night of the week.

Steamed pudding is an old-fashioned dessert that's due for a comeback. Similar to a dense, moist apple-spice cake, this pudding is coated with rich chunks of caramel apples.

This prizewinning pie begins with a unique crust containing whole-wheat flour, brandy, and egg. The apple filling is spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cloves, and allspice, plus a little more brandy for good measure.

Shredded apples are cooked in an apple cider-caramel sauce before being mixed in to the batter of this sour cream spice cake. Smooth brown-sugar buttercream and marzipan pumpkins, acorns, and leaves make for showstopping presentation.

Caramelized apples and onions are a mouthwatering combination, especially when wrapped in a rosemary and manchego cheese crust. Serve these savory tarts with a simple salad for lunch or dinner.

Pork tenderloin and apples are a classic pairing. Here, they find their way into a delectable stew with cabbage, potatoes, Dijon mustard, and caraway seeds.

Just can't get enough apple pie? This super-deep-dish dessert uses eight pounds of Granny Smith apples, which are piled into an ovenproof bowl with cinnamon, cardamom, and Calvados, then crowned with a sheet of buttery pastry.

Like a cross between a pie and a cobbler, squares of pastry dough are laid over spiced apple filling in a patchwork pattern. Partway through baking, the crust is pushed into the filling so it gets coated in sweet, spice-scented juices and becomes caramelized.

Fresh fall apples are dressed up with a glossy red candy coating. With a simple ingredient list of sugar, water, corn syrup, and red food coloring, this gorgeous treat is budget-friendly too.

Intense apple flavor abounds in this spread made from apples simmered in apple cider and perked up with a little lemon juice and cinnamon. Apple butter is fabulous on toast, spice cake, or in just about any place you would use jam.

A sophisticated twist on apple pie, this tart is filled with tart apples and dried apricots and figs spiked with cognac and vanilla bean atop a rich custard base. The whole thing is enclosed in a pate brisee crust and topped with crunchy, buttery almond praline and vanilla ice cream.

Delicate crepes are filled with caramelized apples spiced with ginger and cinnamon. Invite guests into the kitchen for the show as you finish the apples with flaming Calvados.

Apples aren't just for dessert! Sauteed in butter with fresh thyme and lemon zest, they make a festive side dish for roast chicken, turkey, or pork.

Plain ol' applesauce gets a flavor boost from vanilla bean, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and apple cider. Serve this sauce with potato pancakes, pork chops, or simply as a snack.

This luscious, buttery apple tart only takes 15 minutes to put together, thanks to store-bought frozen puff pastry. After baking, the apples are glazed with melted apple jelly or apricot jam for a glossy sheen.

Have fun with this deconstructed apple pie for grown-up palates. Granny Smith apples are caramelized with balsamic vinegar and accompanied by rich cheddar crumbles and cinnamon ice cream.

Made on a 9-by-13-inch baking sheet, this is a big pie for a big crowd. If you can't get ahold of fresh raspberries, it's fine to use frozen.

Similar to an apple crumble, a brown betty boasts cinnamon-spiced apples baked under crisp buttered breadcrumbs. Serve this easy dessert alongside vanilla ice cream sprinkled with cinnamon.

Loaded with fall flavor, apple brownies mix up as quickly as the chocolate version -- just the thing for a school bake sale. Any sweet, firm variety of apple will work in this recipe

This moist quick bread studded with apples tastes similar to a spice cake. Oatmeal-walnut crumble and caramel sauce make it worthy of a dinner party, but the bread is also excellent on its own for breakfast, snacks, or desserts.

This frittata is filled with a simple, flavorful mixture of cheddar cheese and sliced apples. Serve this unique egg dish with sausage and a green salad for brunch or dinner.

Layers of buttery puff pastry, cinnamon-spiced apples, and whipped cream elevate the concept of the apple tart. You can prepare all the elements of this dessert a day ahead and assemble just before serving.

Caramel-coated apples, pecan-oat crumble, cinnamon ice cream, and whipped cream make for a tantalizing riot of flavor and texture. If you don't have an ice cream maker, this dessert is just as good with store-bought ice cream.

Pleasingly crunchy, nutty-tasting quinoa is tossed with fresh apple wedges, toasted almonds, fresh mint, and a honey-curry dressing. Add tofu or beans to turn this into a fabulous vegetarian main dish.

Roasted fruit filling and a glaze of apricot jam add an unexpected twist to ordinary apple pie.

Walnuts and tart dried cherries fill tender baked apples. Just before serving, sour cream is sweetened with the apples' baking juices and spooned over the apples along with crushed gingersnaps.

Budget-friendly turkey thighs are simmered with apples and shallots until tender and moist. Serve with mashed potatoes for a comforting cool-weather dinner.

Apple slices and fresh cranberries are arranged decoratively atop crisp, flaky store-bought phyllo dough. This easy tart is sweetened simply with maple syrup and served with whipped cream.

Sweet, tart, and tangy apple chutney is flavored with cider vinegar, golden raisins, ginger, dry mustard, and pinch of cayenne. Serve immediately with pan-seared pork chops, or make the chutney a few days ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator to let the flavors develop.

Apple pie gets dressed up for a special occasion with this simple but impressive decorating technique. All you need is a fluted round cutter to make the pastry circles.

Apples, ginger, and curry powder are a winning combination in this flavorful pureed soup. It freezes beautifully, so make extra to keep on hand for quick weekday meals.

Sweet apples and rich, crunchy pecans are an excellent complement to the slight bitterness of escarole. The vinaigrette of olive oil, white-wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard is quick and easy to make.

You can make this delicious, dramatic dessert with just six common ingredients: flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, Granny Smith apples, and a little lemon juice. The brown-sugar crumb mixture serves as the crust as well as the topping.

Buttermilk makes these cinnamon-apple muffins extra moist. Serve them for breakfast or as after-school snacks.

Apples add a nice touch of sweetness to this tomato-based chickpea curry. Ginger, cilantro, and yogurt keep things lively.

Apple slices become tender and caramelized as they bake beneath this cake. Before serving, the cake is inverted onto a platter so the apples become the decorative topping.

This sweet puree of parsnips and apples is a unique and fiber-rich alternative to mashed potatoes. It makes an excellent side dish for roasted meats, especially when drizzled with pan juices.

Marshmallows and Mexican chocolate become gooey and luscious when baked in halved apples. (Mexican chocolate is a solid disk of bittersweet chocolate flavored with cinnamon. It's commonly labeled "hot chocolate" or "drink mix" and is available at most major supermarkets.)

Apple butter and shredded apples make these spiced oatmeal cookies exceptionally moist. Thin rings of apple baked on top are a fun and festive finishing touch.