Crisp, juicy and sweet – nothing embodies fall like a freshly picked apple. And while we will never turn down a chance to eat an apple out of hand, we particularly love baking with apples this time of year. Their floral fragrance and tart sweetness are welcome in anything from pies and tarts, to cakes and crumbles and even savory recipes. Choose your favorite varietal of apple or use a combination of different apples for a moist, balanced dessert fresh out of the oven.
The best apples for baking are firm and juicy, with flesh that holds its shape in the oven without turning to mush. And when it comes to flavor, an apple with a sweet yet tart profile results in a balanced final dish – whether savory or sweet. Granny Smith are the most ubiquitous apple found in recipes and they’re available in almost all markets. However, if you can find other varieties such as Honeycrisp, Fuji, Braeburn or Winesap, you’ll be rewarded with even more intense apple flavor. They keep their structure when baking, for distinct slices of apple in your pie or jammy cubes in an apple cake. Read on for a variety of delicious ways to bake with apples this season - the possibilities are endless.
Pies and Tarts
Pies and tarts are a classic way to showcase our favorite fall fruit baked in a buttery crust. Of course, apple pie is the quintessential American dessert with a buttery, flaky crust and cinnamon-spiced tart apples. This category of apple desserts is best baked in a heavy-bottomed stoneware Heritage Pie Dish for an evenly cooked crust with a beautiful ruffled edge and fork-tender fruit. And for larger pies, don’t forget to use a Pie Bird to release steam and ensure the pie isn’t soggy. On the other hand, a cast-iron Heritage Tarte Tatin dish is perfect for a classic upside-down apple tarte tatin that starts out on the stovetop. Or try baking individual Maple-Glazed Apple Rose Tartlets, Cranberry Apple Hand Pies, or Mini Spiced Apple Pies with Cheddar Crust in Mini Cocottes or Mini Apple Tart Dishes, Set of 2 for a special personal treat.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Creamy Apple Pie
Crisps, Cobblers and Breads
To really make apples the star of the show, try making a crisp or cobbler. With no bottom crust and minimal topping, the pure apple flavor shines through with minimal fuss. Crisps start with a generous helping of sweetened fruit on the bottom and a spiced, sugar-butter oat or flour mixture on top. Similar in style, cobblers switch out the crumbly topping for a batter or dough that blankets the hot apple mixture below. Or try incorporating apples as a filling in breads, pastries and even Cornbread Stuffing with Apples and Pecans.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Braid
Cakes, Cookies and Bars
For unbelievably moist fall desserts, used chopped or shredded apples for a delicate sweetness and tender crumb in cakes, cookies and bars. The juicy baked apples blend with warm spices like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg for desserts that are simple, yet jam-packed with apple in every bite. We pair tart Granny Smith Apples with cranberries in our Apple Cranberry Crumb Blondies for an elegant taste of Autumn. Or try baking a French apple cake with a crumbly walnut, butter and brown sugar topping in the Enameled Cast Iron Apple Baker – the delicious snack cake is simpler than making a pie but delivers all the same flavors.
Get the Recipe: French Apple Cake with Walnut Crumble
Pair Apples with Savory Ingredients
Fresh fall apples are just as comfortable alongside savory ingredients as they are with sweet. Apples and cheese are particularly compatible – we love to showcase the winning combo in this recipe for Baked Mascarpone Dip with Caramelized Apples when entertaining. The crisp sweetness of apples also plays well with many of our other favorite fall ingredients like pork, rosemary, root vegetables and winter squash, try it in our recipe for Apple and Kale Pork Roulade. And when apples are roasted alongside a whole duck and basted with a cognac sauce, they are elevated to a show-stopping main dish perfect for the holidays.
Get the Recipe: Roast Duck with Cognac and Apples
