Freshly Picked: 10 Ways to Use Apples

One of my favorite memories from Michigan is having had the opportunity to share our first visit to an apple orchard together. I’ll never forget the crisp air smelling purely of apples and fall. Getting there early enough in the morning to catch golden sun rays coming through the branches as we reached for the perfect fruit, the morning dew forming little sparkly drops on their skin, was kind of magical.

Being so swept up in this perfect little moment in time may have caused us to go just a tad overboard on picking. Scratch that. Very overboard. When they handed us the bag, we thought, a peck doesn’t look like it’ll add up to all that much!

Much to our surprise, we ended up with enough apples to make three or four pies and then some! I’m glad we opted not to walk out with a bushel.

Anyway, whether you’ve got more apples than you know what to do with this fall, or you’re just looking for something different to make with this sweet fruit, here are ten ideas to get you inspired.

10 Ways to Use Apples

1. Try a traditional baked good recipe. So many sweet treats can be made using apples. Try a from-scratch pie or a simple apple crisp. How about apple fritters or dumplings? They can even be incorporated into bread, muffins, cookies, and cakes!
2. Preserve them and enjoy them later. A great way of going about this is to turn them into applesauce, or spiced apple preserves! Many recipes out there can be canned or frozen and kept for a long while. Keep in mind, too, that applesauce can be used as an egg replacement in many recipes. If you don’t have time for any of this, you can simply freeze them for later use, too!
3. Give into your extra-sweet tooth cravings. ‘Tis the season for enjoying apples with an extra layer of sugar, right? Try these traditional candied apples, caramel covered apples, or consider this caramel stuffed version. Even simply dusting them with a bit of cinnamon and sugar and baking them for a while makes for an exceptionally sweet treat.
4. Sneak them into breakfast. Chop them up and toss them into your morning oatmeal or smoothie bowl.
5. Make them into fresh juice or cider. Nothing is more refreshing in the fall than fresh-pressed apple cider! Simply toss a few into your juicer and pour for a simple juice. With a few extra steps, you can turn them into a cider – regular, hard, or mulled!
6. Give your salads an extra crunch. I’ve been obsessed with a simple salad of spinach, chopped honeycrisp apple, farmhouse cheddar, and (vegan) Caesar dressing lately. There are so many other fall-inspired salads out there – consider one with apples, cranberries, and pecans, or have a look at these ideas.
7. Spread the flavor. If you haven’t tried apple butter, you’re missing out. Layer it on toast, bagels, homemade pastries, or drizzle it over vanilla ice cream with a sprinkle of cinnamon!
8. Toss them in the oven for a spell. Long enough for them to dry out and turn into some savory apple chips or to string up on a seasonal winter garland.
9. Slice and snack. Let us not forget the simplicity and benefits of simply eating apples whole or slicing them into bite-size, crunchy treats. They’re a great side dish to your kiddo’s (or your own) lunch, and if there’s a need to make them more filling – or interesting – consider serving with a dip like a nut or cookie butter, or yogurt.
10. Share them with Fido. Dogs can benefit from munching on apples, too. We often just give a plain old slice or two to Rosie, but you can bake them into treats, too!

There are so many flavorful ways to incorporate apples into meals and sweet treats! What are your favorite ways to eat this favorite fall fruit?

xo, Aly