Our Best Apple Recipes for Fall 

By Antara Sinha
October 13, 2017
Greg DuPree
Apple desserts, from crumbles to crisps, are fall favorites for a reason. With so many versatile varieties in season, we’ve picked our favorite apple recipes—both simple, and those worth the work. For fresh apple recipes such as leafy autumnal salads, use the Fuji or Honeycrisp variety. Tart Granny Smith and Cortland apples work exceptionally in baked apple dishes, while Golden Delicious and crunchy Gala apples can be enjoyed either way.
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Apple Chips with Honey-Lemon Mint Yogurt Dip

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Styling: Blakeslee Giles and Audrey Davis
Apple Chips with Honey-Lemon Mint Yogurt Dip Recipe
If bring home too big a haul from apple picking, these apple chips are a clever way to make delicious use of the surplus. These versatile chips are also customizable—sprinkle on any of your favorite spice blends for a unique twist.
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Caramel Apple Cake

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Caramel Apple Cake Recipe
This apple cake is the one to make when you’re looking to impress. Topped with gorgeous sautéed apples and our Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce, this beautifully decorated cake is sure to be your centerpiece and a head-turner at any gathering.

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Double-Crust Apple Pie

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mindi Shapiro and Amanda Widis
Double-Crust Apple Pie Recipe
With two crusts, you seal in all of the apples’ natural juices and flavor, with the added bonus of twice the perfectly golden piecrust. Our secret: tossing the apples in apple juice to prevent browning and for a double dose of apple flavor.
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Easy Individual Apple Crisps with Oatmeal Crumble

Photo: Jason Wallis; Styling: Cindy Barr
Easy Individual Apple Crisps with Oatmeal Crumble Recipe
These single-serve apple crisps are a fast, easy, and simple dessert that works well for weeknight cravings. Our shortcut: using your favorite oatmeal cookie as the crumble to save time, instead of hand-mixing your own from scratch.

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Fall Greens and Apple Salad

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Claire Spollen
Fall Greens and Apple Salad Recipe
Cooler weather usually brings on an onslaught of warm, indulgent food that can leave you craving anything crisp and fresh. This big, colorful apple salad recipe hits all of the right seasonal notes with a tangy ginger-apple cider dressing.

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Apple Cider Fritters

Time Inc. Video Studio
Apple Cider Fritters Recipe
Perfectly crisp on the outside, deliciously sweet on the inside, apple fritters taste like fall. Make sure to closely monitor the oil temperature for this apple recipe: Going lower than 360 degrees will leave you with greasy fritters, but go over 370 degrees, and you run the risk of over-browning or burning.
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Cinnamon-Apple Sufganiyot

Photo: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Julia Levy; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson
Cinnamon-Apple Sufganiyot Recipe
You decide when to eat these jelly-filled, cinnamon and apple doughnuts—they work for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or as a sweet snack. Our quick fix: using a store-bought hot roll mix (such as Pillsbury) saves a little bit on the labor time.

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Miso Caramel-Apple Pie

Hector Manuel Sanchez
Miso Caramel-Apple Pie Recipe
Miso caramel seems an unlikely combo—but it’s a match made to be. Deep umami miso balances the sticky sweet of caramel and apple, making this decadent caramel apple pie recipe unparalleled in flavor.

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Spiced Apple Chutney

Jennifer Causey
Spiced Apple Chutney Recipe
Tangy and sweet with a spicy kick, this versatile apple chutney can be used in to top any protein of your choice, or as a way to spruce up sandwiches and salads. Mustard seeds add a complex earthiness that let sweet Honeycrisp apples shine.
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Easy Apple Cobbler

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling: Adam Hickman; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Easy Apple Cobbler Recipe
After peeling and slicing the apples, which is the bulk of the workload, this gooey, warm, easy apple cobbler comes together in a snap. Finish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect autumn dessert.

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Fried Apple Pies

Photo: Melina Hammer; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Fried Apple Pies Recipe
Because we know how good these are, this recipe makes enough filling for a second batch that you can freeze for later. These hand pies can easily be made ahead of time and taste delicious either warm or at room temperature.

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Caramel Apples

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Caramel Apples Recipe
An autumn classic, this caramel apple recipe takes a little extra time, but it’s 100% worth the effort. Our homemade gooey caramel sauce makes all the difference in taste and texture and has that authentic fall fair taste.
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Apple Peel-and-Core Jelly

Southern Living
Apple Peel-and-Core Jelly Recipe
If making apple recipes all season has left you with plenty of leftover peels and cores, this clever apple canning recipe is the perfect solution. Cinnamon and clove give this spiced apple jelly recipe a warming fall aroma.

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Easy Apple Butter

Southern Living
Easy Apple Butter Recipe
We recommend sweet apples for this apple butter recipe: Gala, Honeycrisp, and Braeburn are our favorites, but you can use whatever you have on hand. The additions of cinnamon and cloves pack flavor, but also make your kitchen smell amazing as this simmers.

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Apple Streusel Muffins with Maple Drizzle

Photo: Randy Mayor; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen
Apple Streusel Muffins with Maple Drizzle Recipe
Perfect for a lazy Sunday-morning brunch, this apple muffin recipe will become your new go-to favorite. The best part of this indulgent breakfast food is the crumbly oat streusel.
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Cinnamon-Cider Candied Apples

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Rachel Haas
Cinnamon-Cider Candied Apples Recipe
Swapping traditional caramel for cinnamon-flavored candies such as red hots makes for a fun, festive twist on a classic candy apple recipe. Make sure to wash and scrub the apples well to remove any residual waxy coating.

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Apple-Maple Turnovers

Photo: Monica Buck; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps
Apple-Maple Turnovers Recipe
Spin everything you love about apple pie into this delicious (and speedier) apple turnover recipe. The addition of maple syrup adds a more complex, mellow sweetness, and using frozen puff pastry means these come together in a pinch.

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Stuffed Baked Apples with Maple Yogurt Cream

Photo: Travis Rathbone
Stuffed Baked Apples with Maple Yogurt Cream Recipe
These baked apples are stuffed with dried fruit, fall spices, and oats before becoming beautifully tender and plump in the oven. A yogurt-maple syrup drizzle is the perfect finishing touch on this fast-assembly dessert.
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Cabbage and Apple Slaw

Photo: Beatriz Da Costa
Cabbage and Apple Slaw Recipe
This creamy and colorful apple slaw would be a perfect light side at a fall tailgate. Our recipe showcases ruby red Fuji apples, which make a crisp and sweet addition to any salad or slaw.

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Spiced Apple Cider

Photo: Oxmoor House
Spiced Apple Cider Recipe
Apple cider needs no introduction—this steamy, warming drink stands out as a tried-and-true family-favorite when the weather gets chilly. Give this easy apple cider recipe a boozy kick for adults by adding a shot of spiced rum to each serving.

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Peggy’s Classic Apple Dumplings

Photo: Southern Living
Peggy’s Classic Apple Dumplings Recipe
Nutty, spicy, buttery, and decadent, these classic apple dumplings are well worth the effort of hand-rolling the pie crust and making homemade sugar syrup. Pecans make for a satisfyingly crunchy topping.
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Apple Strudel

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro
Apple Strudel Recipe
This recipe is an easy way to make use of surplus apples. While we prefer McIntosh apples, feel free to use whatever variety you have on hand. Frozen puff pastry dough makes prep easy and yields a delightful flaky pastry.

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Rosemary-Apple Bread

Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke
Rosemary-Apple Bread Recipe
Apple adds a subtle sweetness to earthy rosemary, and also keeps the bread deliciously moist. This quick apple bread is perfect for your favorite fruit preserve or just a simple spread of butter.

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Apple Pie Smoothie

Time Inc. Video Studios
Apple Pie Smoothie Recipe

This apple pie smoothie is an easy way to treat yourself and pack some nutrients into your day. 

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Maple Quinoa Bake with Skillet Apples and Walnuts

Photo: Karen Rankin; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Karen Rankin
Maple Quinoa Bake with Skillet Apples and Walnuts Recipe

This hearty and comforting baked quinoa is a great healthy breakfast to make ahead for the family or serve for a brunch gathering with friends.   

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Sweet and Spicy Apple Chips

Caitlin Bensel
Sweet and Spicy Apple Chips Recipe

Long, low-heat baking dehydrates the apple slices so they become wonderfully crunchy once they cool. Ancho chile powder and cayenne pepper lend moderate heat—adjust the amount to suit your taste.

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Triple-Apple Pie

Caitlin Bensel
Triple-Apple Pie Recipe

How next-level store-bought crust, smart touches of fat and flavoring, and a trio of apples fit together fabulously.

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Pb-Pretzel-Apple Bars

Caitlin Bensel
Pb-Pretzel-Apple Bars Recipe

Sweet, salty, fruity, and crunchy, these bars truly pack a little bit of everything! Whip up a batch for your next picnic or hike, and stay fueled all day.

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Maple Apples

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Claire Spollen
Maple Apples Recipe

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Apple Quinoa Bowl with Cinnamon Ricotta

Jennifer Causey
Apple Quinoa Bowl with Cinnamon Ricotta Recipe

Make this bowl with a batch of our Perfect Quinoa. It captures the essence of a warm slice of apple pie but won’t send you into midmorning nap mode. Feel free to swap the ricotta for Greek yogurt, if desired.

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Kohlrabi and Apple Slaw

Caitlin Bensel
Kohlrabi and Apple Slaw Recipe

Kohlrabi is a good source of vitamin C; it makes a great stand-in for celery in this riff on Waldorf salad.

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Potato Pancakes With Apple Butter

Victor Protasio
Potato Pancakes With Apple Butter Recipe

Frozen hash browns make it possible to whip up latkes in minutes. Enjoy the combo of crisp potato pancakes and a simple green salad for a light entrée, or serve alongside roast chicken or beef for a protein punch.

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Carrot-Apple Muffins With Orange Glaze

Jennifer Causey
Carrot-Apple Muffins With Orange Glaze Recipe

These tender, lightly sweetened whole-grain muffins have a special can’t-put-your-finger-on-it flavor thanks to garam masala. Look for garam masala in the spice aisle; large spice brands make it. If you don’t have it or can’t find it, you can substitute an equal amount of cinnamon.

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Filet Mignon with Apple-Fennel Slaw

Jennifer Causey
Filet Mignon with Apple-Fennel Slaw Recipe

Go ahead and schedule a dinner party—we’ve got the perfect dish right here. Ask your butcher to cut evenly sized fillets to ensure the steaks cook at the same rate.

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Grilled Apple Pie a la Mode

Antonis Achilleos, Food Styling: Margaret Dickey, Prop Styling: Missie Crawford
Grilled Apple Pie a la Mode Recipe

Whether it’s in the backyard or around a campfire, this easy, on-the-spot recipe has all the elements of a perfect apple pie. Make sure to use apples that are the same size so they’ll cook at the same rate. The ice cream will melt quickly, so put it on the apples right as you serve them. 

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Whiskey-Apple Cider Punch

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Whiskey-Apple Cider Punch Recipe

We created this refreshing punch with tailgating in mind, but it would be a hit at fall gathering. Made with frozen cranberries, sparkling apple cider, honey, brown sugar, fresh lemon juice, and bourbon, it’s deliciously sweet and tangy. Frozen cranberries are best for this recipe; be sure to let them thaw before you add them to the food processor.

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Apple Peel-And-Core Jelly

Time Inc. Video Studios
Apple Peel-And-Core Jelly Recipe

Don’t waste a thing this apple season with this scrumptious apple jelly recipe that uses just the scraps! It’s the perfect way to use up the rest of the apple while your next apple pie is baking away in the oven. 

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Roasted Pork with Apples and Potatoes

Greg DuPree
Roasted Pork with Apples and Potatoes Recipe

This meal shows off the sheet pan at its most versatile: The protein, starch, vegetable, and pan sauce all cook to perfection in the same pan. Look for a large apple so the slices retain some texture after roasting. The pan needs to get very, very hot to get a good crust on the pork: Preheat the oven to 500°F first, then reduce to 450°F after adding the pork so it cooks evenly. The browned bits left in the pan will be incorporated into a luscious sauce.

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Apple Pie Nachos

Time Inc. Video Studio 
Apple Pie Nachos Recipe

All of the flavors you crave from a gooey apple pie, but in an easy-to-make, highly shareable format.  

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Apple-Pear Pie with Cookie Butter Caramel

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Pam Lolley
Apple-Pear Pie with Cookie Butter Caramel Recipe

If you’re looking to go next-level for you next holiday pie, this speculoos infused apple and pear pie is exactly what you’re looking for. Featuring finely ground speculoos cookies (we used Biscoff brand) in the crust, larger crumbles in the pecan streusel topping, and a decadent salted cookie butter caramel sauce both in the filling and drizzled over top, this fruit pie is anything but boring. While it may seem like a hassle, don’t skip giving your fruit the little pre-cook described in step 5. This method of par-cooking the slice apples and pears will help your fruit achieve a delightfully tender, but not-too-mushy texture through the baking process.

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Instant Pot Apple Sauce 

Time Inc. Video Studio 
Instant Pot Apple Sauce  Recipe

Is there any food more wholesome than homemade applesauce? Doubt it. Thankfully, wholesome comes quick and easy with this Instant Pot Apple Sauce. 

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Warm Apple Compote and Aged Cheddar Topping

Hector Manual Sanchez
Warm Apple Compote and Aged Cheddar Topping Recipe
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Apple Cider Margarita

Time Inc. Video Studios
Apple Cider Margarita Recipe

This autumnal twist on a summer favorite is the perfect, easy-to-shake-up cocktail for your next fall happy hour or holiday party. 

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Caramel Apple Grilled Cheese  

Time Inc. Video Studio 
Caramel Apple Grilled Cheese   Recipe

This incredible sweet-meets-savory sandwich is buttery and beautiful way to celebrate apple season.  

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Apple Stack Cake

Apple Stack Cake Recipe
Use six disposable 8-inch aluminum cake pans to create the layers of this stunning cake. Prepare the filling up to three days before assembling the cake.