When I turn my calendar from August to September, picking apples and making apple recipes is the first thing I look forward to. I ditch my tank tops for long sleeves, harvest the last few things from my garden, and click “preheat oven” to start making my favorite apple crisp. Football games play in the background on most weekends and double-coffee mornings are a must. This is fall!
While I most often make this apple crisp first, I also like to use apples to make savory main dishes and side dishes. I find them to be the perfect naturally sweet complement in so many apple-inclusive salads and dinner recipes. That’s why this collection features BOTH sweet and savory apple recipes.
11 Sweet Apple Recipes
When I polled the Real Food Dietitians audience on social media, 84% said they prefer sweet apple recipes over non-sweet ones. And I agree: When I think of best apple recipes, it’s often apple pie, apple crisp, apple cobbler, apple cake or a good ol’ caramel apple that comes to mind first. Related, the majority (65%) said they love to pick their own apples, while 35% said apple picking was an iconic fall activity they have yet to experience. Favorite apples that the social media audience mentioned were Honeycrisp apples, Pink lady, and Braeburn.
Apple Cinnamon Protein Muffins
When fall rolls around, Ana starts craving all things cozy and cinnamon-spiced, and these cinnamon apple protein muffins are the perfect way to bring those warm flavors into a nourishing snack or breakfast. Made with wholesome ingredients like Greek yogurt, applesauce, and fresh diced apples, they’re soft, just sweet enough, and packed with 7 grams of protein per muffin. These cinnamon apple protein muffins are lightly sweetened from just a 1/2 cup of sugar (or coconut sugar).
Dairy Free Option | Gluten Free Option | Nut Free
Apple Pie with Crumb Topping
Ana created a recipe for gluten-free apple pie recipe that couldn’t be easier. She tops this delicious single pie crust apple pie with a crumble-style topping, making it more of a Dutch apple pie. For dairy free, use a vegan butter or coconut oil in place of the butter in the crumble topping. I also love to use the filling from this recipe when I make galettes. I follow Ana’s recipe for her berry galette using apple pie filling instead of berries.
Dairy Free Option | Gluten Free | Nut Free | Vegetarian
Grain-free Apple Crisp
Stacie developed this grain-free version of apple crisp that is so delicious. The crumble topping features nuts, coconut flakes, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a light natural sweetener of maple syrup. This no-oats apple crisp has been a reader favorite for years. You can also assemble, without baking, and freeze for up to 3 months. Then, let the crisp thaw overnight in the refrigerator before finishing in the oven as directed.
Dairy free | Egg free | Gluten free | Grain free | Paleo | Vegan
Peanut Butter Apple Crumble
Is apple crisp the same as apple crumble? This recipe would prove that yes, they are pretty much the same thing. I developed this recipe to showcase a favorite pairing: sliced apple and peanut butter, and it smells so divine as it’s baking in the oven – I’ve even been known to start eating it right out of the baking dish! Top servings with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream topping for the ultimate fall dessert.
Dairy free | Egg free | Gluten free | Paleo | Vegan
Gluten-free Apple Crisp
This apple crisp recipe features a simple crumble topping that’s sweetened with brown sugar and uses gluten-free all-purpose flour and coconut oil, creating an allergy-friendly (gluten-free and dairy-free) apple dessert that always pleases everyone at the table. And it works well with both tart apples (like Granny Smith) and sweet apples (like Honeycrisp), depending on what you like.
Dairy free | Egg free | Gluten free | Vegan
Baked Apples with Crumb Topping
Jess believes in the power of simple, good ingredients, and that is definitely showcased in this baked apple dessert. You get the best of all apple dessert worlds, incorporating the flavors of apple pie and a texture reminiscent of apple crisp. You get oven-roasted apple halves with a crispy old-fashioned oat-pecan topping that’s flavored with maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the most scrumptious way to enjoy a simple baked apple.
Dairy free | Egg free | Gluten free | Vegan
Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
I love baked oatmeal recipes, and this one has become one of my favorite fall breakfasts. It’s somewhat like a mix between apple cake, baked oatmeal bars, and coffee cake. I top it with a dollop of Greek yogurt, fresh apples, and cinnamon to eat with a fork. Or just cut out a serving for a handheld oatmeal cake recipe that doubles as a nutritious grab-and-go breakfast.
Dairy free option | Gluten free | Vegetarian
Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Every fall when I take my kids apple picking, this is the frst easy recipe I love to make. When made in the Instant Pot with a cooking total time of 6 minutes, steel cut oats get infused with the apple flavor of soft and sweet diced cinnamon apples. I like to top a serving with more fresh apples and a drizzle of maple syrup for a perfect start to a cool, crisp fall day.
Dairy free | Egg free | Gluten free | Nut free | Vegan
Apple Oat Breakfast Cookies
Fall baking at its finest. Molly loves to make these healthy breakfast cookies for a quick option her husband can grab as he’s heading out the door or as an afterschool snack to take to her kids’ pick-up line. Made with old-fashioned oats, warming spices like ginger and cinnamon, flax, Greek yogurt, diced apples, walnuts, and dried cranberries, these cookies are low in sugar and dish up energy-supplying carbohydrates.
Gluten free | Nut free option | Vegetarian
Apple Cider Sangria
Jess created this best fall cocktail recipe by incorporating apple cider into traditional sangria. It’s just the thing to sip on when apple-picking season is upon us. It features fresh pear and apple slices, dry white wine, homemade or store-bought apple cider, and kombucha or ginger beer. We like to use a sweet apple, such as Honeycrisp, Gala, or Pink Lady, in this drink recipe.
Dairy free | Egg free | Gluten free | Nut free | Vegan
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Applesauce
When you have a lot of apples to use up, this homemade applesauce is just the thing to make. It features a can of pumpkin puree, resulting in an apple sauce that is on the thicker side (though not as thick as apple butter). It tastes great on its own or stirred into a favorite plain yogurt or for a decadent fall dessert it makes a great topping for cheesecake. It also freezes well. This works well with almost any apple variety, except for Granny Smith apples, which are too tart.
Dairy free | Egg free | Gluten free | Grain free | Paleo
12 Savory Apple Recipes
Though savory apple recipes may not be as popular as sweet apple recipes, the dietitians on this team love to create them and serve them at home. We find that apples complement so many proteins, veggies, and spices so well. Sweet apples round out the flavors and also add more important nutrients to lunch and dinner recipes. Here are some of my favorite fall recipes that call for apples.
Apple Slaw
A good slaw is always welcome at my table, but my kids were especially excited to see this fresh apple slaw, which has become my go-to-veggie side dish when crisp apples are at their peak. Fresh, crisp, and tangy, this apple slaw recipe is the perfect addition to these dinner bowls, sandwiches, and salads.
Dairy free | Egg free | Gluten free | Grain free | Nut free | Vegan | Paleo
Butternut Squash and Apple Hash with Sausage
This sautéed breakfast hash is one of Jess’ favorite ways to enjoy apples while getting a protein-rich morning meal. Not only does the recipe call for one apple, but it’s also veggie loaded onion, butternut squash, and hearty greens (you can use kale, chard, or spinach). If you’d like, top yours with a fried egg.
Dairy free | Gluten free | Grain free | Nut free | Paleo
Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash
This sausage stuffed squash recipe is exactly what I crave when the air gets crisp and squash is in season. It’s made with roasted acorn squash halves (an edible bowl), ground pork, vegetables, fresh herbs, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, and shredded Parmesan to encapsulate the flavors of the autumn season.
Egg free | Gluten free | Grain free
Roasted Pork Loin with Apples
An oven-roasted pork loin is just right for fall dinners. This one is made on a sheet pan right alongside chopped apples, red onion, and Brussels sprouts. The result is a super flavorful and nutritionally well-rounded dinner that’s high in protein and fiber and low in saturated fat. Plus, it comes together with just 20 minutes of hands-on prep time.
Dairy free | Egg free | Gluten free | Grain free | Nut free | Paleo
The Best Curry Chicken Salad Recipe
This recipe is an all-time reader-favorite chicken salads, and it never disappoints for a quick and healthy high-protein lunch. Jess adds this recipe to her weekend meal prep sessions often. The addition of diced apple is a wonderful complement to the tender chicken, curry-mayo dressing, red onion, celery, raisins, and cashews.
Dairy free | Gluten free | Grain free | Paleo
Cranberry Chicken Salad
When she has some pre-cooked shredded chicken on hand, Stacie loves to make this easy chicken salad. It features so many flavorful mix-ins, including bacon, apple, celery, red onion, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and rosemary. And when you have the chicken cooked ahead of time, there is zero cook time required.
Dairy free | Gluten free | Grain free | Paleo
Harvest Chicken Salad
Ana and her four hungry boys can’t get enough of this high-protein roasted salad. In fact, she always makes a double batch since it disappears so fast. As a bonus, most of the ingredients, including cubed chicken breast, sweet potato, and red onion, cook on a baking sheet while you whisk together the easy maple dijon dressing. Finish it by tossing the roasted ingredients with fresh spinach, apple, dried cranberries, and walnuts.
Dairy free | Gluten free | Grain free | Paleo
Harvest Salad with Quinoa
This salad recipe is a great choice for fall potlucks and dinners with friends. It will impress everyone at your table, as it’s full of flavor, hearty, and every bite comes with a mix of sweet, salty, and savory notes. It also makes a great side dish, but it’s also hearty enough for a main-dish salad (with or without added chicken or another protein). Also great for holiday menus.
Dairy free option | Egg free | Gluten free | Nut free option | Vegan
Apple Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
This easy veggie salad is so simple yet so unique. In fact, it’s one of our first recipes to ever go viral and thousands of people have made it. The base of the salad is broccoli and cauliflower, and the addition of diced apple, celery, red onion, almonds, and feta take it over the top. It all comes together with a creamy vinaigrette made from olive oil, lemon juice, mayo, and honey.
Dairy free option | Gluten free | Grain free| Nut free option | Paleo | Vegetarian
Sweet Potato “Unstuffing”
Stacie created this grain-free recipe to feature all flavors of stuffing, just without the bread. It surprises many people (including diehard fans of traditional stuffing) with how absolutely delicious it is. This plant-based stuffing is loaded with a variety of veggies and flavor boosts from dried cherries, apples, pecans, and fresh herbs.
Dairy free | Egg free | Gluten free | Grain free | Paleo | Vegan
Cinnamon Sweet Potato Apple Bake
This fall side dish has made an appearance on many Thanksgiving and fall menus since it combines two favorite in-season fall foods. The apples and sweet potatoes complement each other so well and require just a little bit of butter and cinnamon to roast to tender perfection in the oven.
Dairy free option | Egg free | Gluten free | Grain free | Paleo | Vegetarian
Turkey Apple Sausage Patties
It’s surprisingly easy to make breakfast sausage patties from scratch. And if the sweet-savory combination appeals, then these turkey patties are a must-make. To make them, mix ground turkey with finely minced apple, and some everyday pantry seasonings. Then, shape the patties into flat rounds and cook them in a skillet. The cooked patties are freezer friendly for up to 3 months.
Dairy free | Egg free | Gluten free | Grain free | Nut free | Paleo
Apple Health Benefits
The saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” may be true! Apples are one of those rare foods (dare I say superfoods) that provides so much good nutrition in one package. Some impressive apple benefits:
- apples contain both soluble and insoluble fiber
- their unique fiber content has also been linked to reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers
- apples are high in potassium, which is important for nerve control, muscle contractions, and blunting the impact of high-sodium diets.
- they are high in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that is linked to skin health and aiding your body’s natural defenses against disease and infection
When I polled 1,000 people from our Instagram audience to ask if any of them truly do eat an apple a day, about one-third said “yes!”. I asked, “How often do you eat an apple?” They responded:
- every day: 33%
- weekly: 35%
- a few times/month: 32%
Frequently Asked Questions
Many different types of apples are great choices for baking. A tart apple (such as a Granny Smith apple, McIntosh, or Pink Lady), can help balance out a very sweet apple pie or apple cake, for example.
On the other hand, in baked recipes that don’t have a lot of added sugar (such as many on this website), it may be better to choose a sweet apple variety (such as Honeycrisp, Opal, or Envy).
The main thing to remember when selecting an apple variety for a baked recipe is that there are only a few apples that are much better for raw snacking than they are for baking, and those are:
– Gala
– Fuji
– Red Delicious
When I asked our social audience which apples they like best for baking, 1,000 people said:
– Braeburn: 7%
– Granny Smith: 32%
– Jonathan: 5%
– Whatever I have on hand: 56%
Quite simply, the best apple for snacking is the variety you like best. The next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up a few different varieties until you discover what you prefer.
Our social audience has a clear favorite for snacking. When we asked 1,000 people which apple variety they like best for snacking, they said:
– Gala: 16%
– Red Delicious: 2%
– Honeycrisp: 66%
– Another kind: 16%
My husband actually falls in the minority here. He is one of the 2% that actually enjoys snacking on the iconic Red Delicious apple the best. Personally, I’m a fan of Gala apples for snacking.
Some recipes that require a lot of apples are homemade applesauce, apple jelly, apple butter, and apple cider.
A cobbler is a type of dessert that has fruit (apple or berries, for example) that is baked into a cake-like batter or topped with a biscuit topping.
A crisp and a crumble are a little harder to distinguish. They are both used to describe a fruit dessert that is covered with a crumble streusel-type topping. Some people debate that a crumble topping contains nuts but no oats. Other people argue the opposite – that a crumble includes oats and nuts, while a crisp topping only includes flour and butter.
Some apple dessert recipes that come together very quickly are:
– Grain-Free Apple Crisp
– Baked Apples
– Peanut Butter Apple Crumble
– Gluten-Free Apple Crisp
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