Apples are rather forgiving to bake with, though some varieties are better for certain uses than others. You can read more in my previous coverage about which apples to use when and which are the best for baking, but when you’re perusing the options at the grocery store or farmers market, try to keep in mind texture and flavor. Crisp apples will hold their shape better when baked. Tarter varieties can keep already-sweet desserts from getting cloying, though this is somewhat a matter of personal taste. Or mix and match a few varieties for your own custom blend.
To help you get in the fall spirit, here’s just a small sampling of our many baking recipes with apples. Want more? Check out our robust archives.
Cinnamon Apple Bread
Packed with loads of apples and nuts held together by a minimal amount of batter, this one-bowl recipe gets simply stirred together by hand. Get the recipe.
Apple and Pear Cake With Citrus and Nuts
Here’s another family-friendly cake recipe — pulled from my grandparents’ archives — you mix completely by hand. It’s moist, tender and dairy-free. Get the recipe.
Baked Apples With Honey, Nuts and Tahini
For a lighter dessert starring apples, try this company-worthy dish with lots of crunch from walnuts and sesame seeds. Top with an elegant drizzle of tahini-honey sauce. Get the recipe.
Apple Crumble Tassies
If you’re intimidated by the prospect of a large apple pie, these bite-size treats are an approachable, fun alternative. Get the recipe.
Double-Crust Apple Pie
Cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger lend warmth and spice to a classic apple pie. Get the recipe.
Dorie Greenspan’s Custardy Apple Squares
Readers nominated this almost-all-apples dessert for our top 30 recipes of all time, and we can see why. It packs a ton of fruit into a relatively small package, looks great and takes well to a variety of flavor tweaks. Get the recipe.
Cranberry Apple Crisp
Tart cranberries help counter the sweet tendencies of apple desserts. As long as the oats are certified gluten-free, this is a nice option for those who need to avoid wheat. Get the recipe.
Apple Cheddar Muffins
When you’re in need of a change of pace, savory muffins offer a great on-the-go breakfast. Get the recipe.
Apple Tarte Tatin
This four-ingredient dessert is baked upside-down, with the apples on bottom and pie dough on top, and then inverted for serving. Get the recipe.
Apple Sharlotka
This Russian family recipe is easy to whip up at a moment’s notice. As long as you use oil or vegan butter to grease the pan, it’s another dairy-free option. Get the recipe.
