30 Days of Apples: Our Favorite Recipes for Everything from Homemade Applesauce to All Kinds of Pies

By Frances Kim
Dana Gallagher
It's apple season! Celebrate this favorite fall fruit by going apple picking, packing an apple in your kids' lunches, and, perhaps most importantly, by using apples in these recipes.
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Dana Gallagher

Fall means apple season is here. Whether you get apples from a grand picking expedition, a jaunt to the farmers' market, or a visit to the store, be sure to explore the unusual types of apples available as well as enjoying your time-honored favorites.

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. Apple-picking season begins in late August or early September and lasts through November. Because apples keep well in cold storage, however, the most popular apples are available year-round.

Some varieties are best for eating, some suited to baked apples, some make the most delicious applesauce, while others are versatile all rounders.

When shopping for (or picking), choose apples that are heavy for their size and feel firm when pressed gently, and always try to avoid bruised fruit. For the longest shelf life, store apples in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator and use within three weeks (though with all the recipes ahead, we doubt that will be a problem).

Whether you're looking for a new go-to apple pie recipe, are ready to make an apple tart, or fancy some fritters, we've got the recipes you need. You'll find more than just sweet options ahead—there are plenty of savory apple recipes, too, like crisp salads and apple-based beverages. To ensure there's something for everyone, we're sharing a mix of the classics and some new twists to try, including a sweet apple version of classic pot pie and recipes for homemade applesauce and jelly. Remember all the years you said you were going to make your own applesauce? Now's the time!

Whether you get your apple haul from the orchard or the supermarket, be sure to explore all the apple-icious possibilities with these 30 amazing apple recipes.

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Apple-Bourbon Potpies

Kate Mathis
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Pot pies aren't just for chicken! Take them for a sweet spin by using apples cooked with allspice and bourbon for the filling.

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Caramel Apples

Con Poulos
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A guaranteed crowd-pleaser: Whether you serve traditional caramel apples or up the ante by dipping them in sea salt, white chocolate, or cashews, you can't go wrong!

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Apple-Buckwheat Pancakes

Armando Rafael
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Earthy buckwheat flour gives these buttermilk pancakes a healthy boost. The batter is crowned with thinly sliced apples, which get nicely caramelized in the skillet. Serve with Greek yogurt and maple syrup.

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Apple Fritters

David Malosh
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There's nothing like warm fritters fresh out of the fryer. These are studded with sweet, tender apples and finished with plenty of powdered sugar.

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Martha's Pink Applesauce

Marcus Nilsson
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Making your own applesauce is totally worth it because you get to call all the shots—the type of apples, the level of sweetness, and even the color! Martha uses a mix of McIntosh apples and deep-red Empire to achieve this bewitching pink hue.

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Spiced Apple Cake

Anna Williams
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We love how tender the apples atop this spice cake get in the oven. Brushing them with apricot jam while they're still warm gives the fruit an irresistible sheen.

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Apple-Stuffed Pork Wellington

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A different kind of apple pie! Yes, there's fruit under that crust, but it's stuffed into a pork loin first. Garnish with small apples, crabapples, and fresh bay leaves for a striking presentation.

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Apple-Cardamom Brown-Butter Dutch Baby

Stephen Kent Johnson
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A Dutch baby is ideal for brunch entertaining because you can make one big pancake in the oven instead of laboring over flapjacks on the stove. Here, it's spiced with aromatic cardamom and studded with wedges of tart Granny Smith.

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Double-Apple Bran Muffins

Lennart Weibull
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A muffin that tastes good and makes us feel good? Yes, please! Two types of apple go into the batter of these wholesome muffins: unsweetened applesauce and diced Granny Smith.

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Apple Strudel

Chris Court
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Baking-friendly Granny Smiths are amped up with fresh lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, dried apricots, and breadcrumbs for the filling of this layered pastry.

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Cauliflower-and-Apple Salad

Romulo Yanes
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It's all about the crunch in this five-ingredient salad. Thinly sliced Gala apples, raw cauliflower, and fresh mint are tossed in a simple cider vinaigrette. Serve alongside roasted meats of all stripes.

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Apple-Honey-Almond Sandwich

Aaron Dyer
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The perfect Rosh Hashanah-friendly snack! Lightly toasted challah is topped with honey, thinly sliced almonds, and toasted walnuts.

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Apple Smoothie

Mike Krautter
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Two supermarket staple fruits are at the heart of this smoothie: apples and bananas. Four more good-for-you ingredients add flavor and texture: orange juice, vanilla, honey, and flaxseed.

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Apple Cobbler

Mike Krautter
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Nutty brown butter and fragrant vanilla bean are the secrets behind the complex flavor of this apple dessert.

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Salted Caramel Apple Pie

Mike Krautter
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Salted caramel does double duty in this spectacular dessert—it's used to flavor the apple filling and drizzled over the vanilla ice cream served with the finished pie.

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Vegan Apple Oat Crisp

Mike Krautter
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Using coconut oil instead of butter makes this rustic dessert vegan (not to mention super flavorful!). Dried cherries add intrigue to the cinnamon-spiced apple filling.

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Apple and Oat Scones with Cinnamon and Nutmeg

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Scones are always the first to disappear at our breakfast table. We love the combination of apples, oats, warming spices, and buttermilk in this hearty version.

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Chai-Spiced Apple Cider

The Ingalls
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Apple cider is a fall staple, plain and simple. Here it's warmed with a blend of earthy spices reminiscent of chai, it might just become your new cool weather drink.

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Roasted Apples with Ice Cream

Ryan Liebe
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The most delicious three-ingredient dessert! Golden Delicious or Gala apples are dotted with butter, roasted, and served warm with vanilla ice cream. Use the freshest apples you can find—they will hold their shape better when cooked.

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Apple-Membrillo Tart

Justin Walker
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Here apple meets its cousin quince in an elegant tart made with Granny Smith apples and the thick quince paste known as membrillo.

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Kohlrabi, Apple, and Mint Slaw

Justin Walker
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Paired with slightly sweet kohlrabi, julienned apple along with mint and cilantro makes for a crisp, light side that's a welcome addition to heartier meals this time of year.

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Sourdough Stuffing with Apples, Acorn Squash, and Hazelnuts

Paola + Murray
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Switch it up by serving this stuffing in place of your tried-and-true stuffing recipe this year. It relies on apples for sweetness to cut through some of the super earthy, savory flavors. We love the texture apples add to soft stuffing, too!

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Quinoa Apple-Pear Crumble

Mikkel Vang
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Adding quinoa flour to the oats and all-purpose flour in the topping adds nutty flavor and fiber to the crunchy crumble for this easy apple and pear. It's fancy enough for company.

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Apple Sundaes with Cider Caramel Sauce

Justin Walker
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Warm apple ice cream sundaes are a delectable treat on a fall day. Toss apple slices with sugar, butter, apple cider vinegar, and spices then bake until bubbly. Let cool slightly before serving to avoid melting the ice cream.

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Stencil Apple Pie

Johnny Miller
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Dress (your apple pie) to impress! This gorgeous crust will be a serious showstopper at Thanksgiving dinner and our handy guide will help you create it.

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Wild-Blueberry-and-Apple Pie

Paola + Murray
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Wild Maine blueberries are an inspired partner for tart Granny Smith apples in this deep-dish pie. The filling is vivid fuchsia that's sure to delight guests.

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Green Apple and Mint Sorbet

Gentl and Hyers
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A refreshing four-ingredient dessert you're sure to want to make again and again.

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Avocado, Cucumber, and Apple Smoothie Bowl

Lennart Weibull
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Apples aren't just for dessert! They star in this green smoothie bowl that's packed with vitamins and healthy fats.

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Kielbasa, Apple, and Cheddar Pretzel Tart

Bryan Gardner
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Did someone say Oktoberfest? This savory tart is not only delicious, it's gorgeous, too. Apples add contrast against the warm-hued kielbasa and pretzel crust.

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Apple Jelly

Christopher Testani
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Sure, you can buy apple jelly from an orchard but there's nothing like the taste of homemade. And after multiple trips to the farm for apple picking, you certainly have an abundance that can be used in this sweet jelly.

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