50 Festive, Flavorful Apple Recipes for Fall or Any Time of the Year (2024)

Caramelized Onion and Apple Tart

These puff pastry bites combine tart apples with caramelized onions for a unique fall flavor that's sure to please. Bake a few tarts for a dinner-party appetizer or a book club snack—or make one for a light meal served alongside a kale or mixed green salad.

Honey-Apple Galette With Pistachio Sugar

This gorgeous galette is a great way to put Granny Smith apples to good use and a terrific way to flex your baking skills. The pastry gets a clever upgrade from ordinary crust courtesy of pistachio sugar.

While it sounds fancy, all you need to do is blitz pistachios with sugar and a pinch of salt until ground and sprinkle it all over the dough—both inside for crisp texture and outside for a beautiful presentation. We promise it's worth it!

Sheet Pan Pork With Fennel and Apples

To ensure a golden-brown crust on this pork, start by roasting everything, then crank up the heat to broil and seal in the glaze. Honeycrisp apples work well in this recipe because they hold their shape when baked. If you can't find them at your market, Jonagold or Pink Lady apples work well too.

Spiced Apple Kombucha co*cktail

Impress your guests with this co*cktail containing kombucha, spiced rum, and classic winter spices. Make it a few days ahead of your event to let the flavors come together. Then, serve it in a highball glass with ice and an apple to garnish.

Sage and Apple Stuffing

Apples and fresh sage combine in this lovely autumn dish for a delicious side dish. We use a rustic bread loaf for a toasted crouton feel, but you can play around with the base and try other breads. We prefer Fuji or Pink Lady apples for this recipe.

Boozy Apple Cider Slushie

These delightful frozen fall co*cktails taste like nothing you've ever had before. If you want to get super-fancy, garnish each drink with an apple slice and cinnamon stick. Your friends will be begging you to make these all year round.

Sheet Pan Apple Crisp

For a scrumptious apple dessert with minimal cleanup, try this sheet pan recipe made with Gala apples, rolled oats, and plenty of warm spices. The genius of using a sheet pan is that the ratio of apples to crisp is essentially 50-50, which yields some delicious results.

Apple Coffee Cake Twist With Giant Crumbs

The sweet-and-spicy cinnamon crumb topping is unquestionably the best part of any coffee cake. So naturally, we made it the star of this dessert.

Here, the big, buttery crumbs sit atop an elegant crescent roll twist, which is more striking to serve (and easier to bake) than a traditional coffee cake. Add apples to the mix, and you've got pastry perfection.

Celery-and-Apple Salad With Crispy Buckwheat

Celery, apple, and toasted buckwheat deliver a variety of textures that make this healthy lunch idea extremely satisfying. Toasted buckwheat is a fun and nutritious add-on that fits into a gluten-free diet. Bonus: Unlike other salads, this recipe won't wilt by the time the clock hits lunchtime.

Apple-Cheddar Quesadillas

Apples in a quesadilla? Just trust us. Here, Honeycrisp apple slices mingle with sharp Cheddar cheese and a tangy honey mustard sauce to add a pop of flavor to this sweet and savory 25-minute meal. If you can't find Honeycrisp apples, look for Gala, Braeburn, or the Pink Lady variety instead.

Mustardy Kale Salad With Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple

Packed with protein and fiber, this hearty main course salad is a nutritional powerhouse. Combine the kale, roasted sweet potato, chopped apple, and almonds in a large bowl and drizzle with a tangy mustard vinaigrette. Once dressed, massage the kale with clean hands to make the salad more palatable.

Seared Salmon with Israeli Couscous

There are plenty of side dishes to pair with salmon, but we're partial to this Israeli couscous salad. It's made with whole-wheat Israeli couscous, chopped apple pieces, parsley, baby arugula, red onion, and toasted pine nuts and boasts a refreshing yet simple mustard and lemon zest dressing.

Potato Pierogi With Sautéed Cabbage and Apples

Turn frozen potato pierogi into a meal by serving them with a simple side of apples, cabbage, and onions. It's a quick side dish recipe that works great for putting together a fast dinner. Try it with other entrees, such as roasted pork chops or chicken.

Slow Cooker Apple Spice Cake

This slow cooker cake takes nearly five hours to come together but only requires 30 minutes of hands-on time, as the appliance does most of the work. The dessert—studded with apple bits—is dusted with a light coating of powdered sugar, but it would be equally delicious drizzled with caramel sauce.

Parm-Crusted Grilled Cheese

If you're a grilled cheese fan, you need to give this Parmigiano-Reggiano-crusted version a whirl. Not only does the sandwich boast a salty, crunchy exterior that's several notches above your standard fare, but it's filled with Gruyère cheese, Gala apple slices, and a slather of sharp Dijon mustard. While the cheese and apple pieces contrast each other nicely, the mustard works to balance the two.

Dehydrated Apple Slices

Sure, you can bite into a perfectly crisp apple if you're on the hunt for a satisfying snack, but if you're in the mood for something a bit different, try dehydrating your apple slices instead. The simple process yields crispy apple pieces that are great as a solo snack, in granola, or on top of a comforting bowl of oatmeal.

Microwave Baked Apples

Midnight snack, anyone? These baked apples are super easy to make, as the microwave hack gives a similar result to baking in the oven. Choose from fillings and toppings of your choice, such as cranberries, currants, granola, ice cream, and more.

Apple Cinnamon-Spiced co*cktail

Trade in your rosé and canned co*cktails for a delicious, apple-flavored libation. This co*cktail calls for Aperol, fresh lemon juice, apple cider, and vodka and can be garnished with apropos items such as apple slices or cinnamon sticks.

Kale Apple Smoothie

Eat your greens and keep the doctor away with this healthy smoothie recipe. It's great if you're looking for a post-workout recovery drink or something to sip on on the way to work. If pressed for time, blend it the night before, freeze it, and let it thaw for sipping later.

Sweet Potato and Apple Soup With Cheese and Walnuts

The lusciousness of a sweet potato, combined with tender onions, helps give this easy soup a delicious creaminess without a speck of cream. Nutmeg brings out the sweetness of the cooked sweet potato and apple, and a side of tangy blue cheese, walnuts, and crisp apples is the perfect pair for this comforting meal.

Old-Fashioned Apple Pie

While we love an impressive dessert, sometimes there's nothing better than a slice of warm apple pie. This recipe for an old-fashioned take on the American classic calls for about eight cups of thinly sliced apples and is best served a la mode. But, if you're in the mood for a savory twist, sprinkle a half cup of grated Cheddar cheese over the top crust 20 minutes before removing the pie from the oven.

Spinach Smoothie With Avocado and Apple

Does it get much healthier than this smoothie? The creamy concoction packs just four ingredients: fiber-filled apples, avocado, kale, and fresh apple juice. Not a fan of kale? Swap with spinach.

Roasted Chicken With Apples and Leeks

Rosemary adds an earthy flavor to this easy chicken recipe. Roasting with fruit gives the chicken a caramelized taste. Simply combine all ingredients in a roasting pan and let the oven do the work.

Homemade Hot Apple Cider

Sure, you can stock up on apple cider at your local farmers market or grocery store, or you could make the autumnal drink yourself. Though whipping up some homemade cider might sound intimidating, it only requires about 20 minutes of hands-on prep and uses several fall pantry staples.

Good Morning Green Smoothie

Tossing apple slices into a smoothie is a great way to add subtle sweetness to the drink. In this easy recipe, a roughly chopped Granny Smith apple balances out soy milk, fresh spinach, Persian cucumber, and frozen pineapple chunks.

Big Batch Morning Glory Baked Oatmeal

Start your morning off with this baked oatmeal that feeds a crowd. Oats are stirred together with coconut flakes, sweet-tart apples, and raisins, allowing them to soak up all that extra flavor. Furthermore, adding eggs to the batter makes this breakfast deliciously pudding-like.

Ravioli With Apples and Walnuts

Add crunch to your favorite store-bought ravioli with chopped apples and walnuts. After cooking the ravioli, top with a toasted walnut and apple mixture to elevate the dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan when serving, and voila—you have a quick and easy meal.

Slow Cooker Apple-and-Pear Sauce

Apple and pear sauce isn't exactly something you can find at the grocery store, so we developed a recipe you can make at home using a slow cooker. Here, apples and pears cook concurrently with some water, pure maple syrup, fresh lemon juice, the insides of a vanilla bean, and a cinnamon stick. The result is a sweet sauce that's good on its own or served alongside poultry or pork.

Rustic Apple Tart

For an apple dessert that requires just five minutes of hands-on work, try this rustic tart recipe. It's made with refrigerated pie crust and frozen cinnamon apples, making it convenient and easy to throw together.

Brown Butter and Vanilla Pear Pie

While pears are the star of this pie, it's also filled with chopped apples and plenty of pure vanilla extract. However, what sets this dessert apart is the rich brown butter used for tossing the fruit filling. It adds depth of flavor to the dessert and gives it a mild nutty taste you'll love.

Apple Streusel Cake

Dump cakes might not look like much, but we promise they deliver when it comes to taste. This one is made with apples, cinnamon, and a squeeze of lemon juice for balance, just like traditional pie filling.

The fruit mixture is then covered with a crispy topping that includes rolled oats, cinnamon, and ginger. The bonus streusel layer is made with big, buttery, crunchy crumbs.

One-Tray Maple Pork Chops

What's better than a lavish pork chop dinner? A pork chop dinner made on one baking sheet and that is on the table in less than 30 minutes. This balanced meal includes maple-mustard glazed chops and savory-sweet parsnips, fennel, and apples, which play off the juicy meat.

Carrot-Apple Slaw

Need an easy BBQ side dish? Opt for this colorful and healthy slaw, which requires just five minutes of hands-on work. It pairs well with any cookout staple but is especially delicious alongside grilled sausages, seared steak, or pulled pork sandwiches.

Apple Pie Skillet Cake

This easy apple dessert is ready in 45 minutes and requires only 20 minutes of hands-on time. After cooking apples in brown sugar and cinnamon, fold them into the batter, then bake.

We recommend Honeycrisp apples for their crisp texture, but Gala or Pink Lady apples will also work. Serve with ice cream for optimal satisfaction.

Ginger Apple Tarte Tatin

Store-bought puff pastry helps this gorgeous dessert come together faster. Caramelized apples, a flaky crust, and fresh ginger fuse together for a delicious treat. It's a perfect recipe to make for a party.

Gin-Cider Punch

Our refreshing holiday punch recipe combines apple cider, gin, and elderflower liqueur for a delicious drink to serve guests. Add fresh apple slices for added flavor and garnish.

Potato-Parsnip Latkes

These latkes combine potato (of course) with parsnip, leeks, and apples for a bit of sweetness. Serve with sour cream or applesauce for a delicious appetizer, or serve alongside roasted chicken and veggies for a complete meal.

Crab Rolls

Pre-cooked crab meat provides an easy way to make crab rolls for lunch or a light dinner. This recipe combines the crab with radishes, celery, and apples for a tasty crunch. Granny Smith apples are our suggestion for these sandwiches, but try experimenting with other apple varieties if preferred.

Turkey-and-Rice Meatballs

Turkey and rice meatballs pair perfectly with a kale and apple salad for a quick 30-minute meal. Apples add crunch and sweetness to already-crisp kale. Serve the salad with a lemon-tahini dressing and enjoy any night of the week.

Gorgonzola Cream and Prosciutto Endives

Put together an easy and quick appetizer with this no-cook recipe. Quick-pickled apples add a bit of tartness to the creamy cheese mixture and work wonderfully with the prosciutto. You'll be making this dish every time you have guests.

Raspberry Rum co*cktail

Apple juice is blended with dark rum, raspberries, lime, and ginger ale for a delectable co*cktail that will have you feeling like you're on vacation. It's the perfect drink to serve guests. Try adding a few apple slices for a fun twist on the recipe.

Mulled Wine

This recipe combines traditional fall flavors, like ginger and cinnamon, with apple juice and red wine for a comforting, warm drink. Ready in just 30 minutes, it'll be ready in time for you to relax after a long day and sip along while reading your favorite book.

Bourbon-Cranberry Compote

Give your Thanksgiving meal a twist with our bourbon-infused compote recipe. Cranberries get added flavor from apple juice, while bourbon gives the recipe a sweet vanilla note. Make ahead and store in the fridge until ready to eat.

Frozen Spiced Apple Snowball co*cktail

Taking inspiration from Japanese kakigori, which uses shaved ice, this co*cktail recipe is served with snow for a truly unique drink. Apple brandy is combined with cinnamon and cloves for the perfect combination of fall flavors. Then, serve over fresh snow and enjoy your grown-up snow cone.

Fall Apple Cider Sangria

This sangria recipe is full of fall flavors. Combining apple cider, apple brandy, and fresh apples with white wine makes for a delicious guest-worthy co*cktail. It's easy to make, too—mix all ingredients in a pitcher and chill for a few hours before serving.

Warm Mulled Cider

You'll love the smell of this simple-to-make drink. Simmering apple cider with spices and orange zest gives this mix a fall-like flavor. It's the perfect warm drink to sip on as you wind down in the evening.

Apple Spice Donut Pudding

For a fun twist on traditional bread pudding, use glazed donuts instead of bread cubes and add sauteed apples. You get a delicious fall-flavored pudding that is comforting and perfect for serving guests.

Cinnamon-Spiced Apple Cider Donuts

Homemade donuts are a treat. These apple cider donuts are perfect for baking on a relaxed weekend morning while enjoying the crisp fall air. They're easy to make and delicious.

Spiked Hot Apple Cider With Molasses

Simmer apple cider with molasses for a sweeter note and ginger for a bit of spice to create a comforting fall drink. Add rum right before serving to avoid burning off the alcohol. Rum is optional, though, since this hot cider is delicious on its own.

Apple-Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

Apple and pumpkin shake hands in this cozy fall breakfast recipe. This baked oatmeal dish can be reheated in the oven each weekday morning, so it tastes fresh out of the oven every time you indulge. Serve with a dollop of creamy yogurt and maple syrup, if desired.