These easy apple recipes are perfect for any time of year, but especially great during the fall season. If you have a bag of fresh apples from the orchard and you’re wondering what to make with them, these recipes are the answer. Make warm apple desserts, cozy drinks and cocktails, sweet breakfasts, or savory apple recipes for dinner. There’s no shortage of ideas here!
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What to Make with Apples this Fall
Autumn is apple season! So this is the best time of year to make all of the best apple recipes you can think of. You might be planning your pumpkin recipes for fall, but you don’t want to forget this amazing fruit!
My family and I love apple-picking, which usually means lots of leftover apples to use up. I use them to make delicious desserts and baked goods, but they work in drinks, breakfasts, and even savory recipes too.
There are so many different types of apples to choose from (Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, McIntosh, and more), so you can get such different flavors depending on which you choose. Whether you want to make something sweet or savory, there’s definitely a few apples recipes here for you to try.
Best Recipes for Apples
When it comes time to use up those fresh apples, these are the classic recipes I go to first. Never let a season pass without making these favorites!
- Apple Cake: Sweet and tart apple slices and a crumbly cinnamon sugar crust make these easy cake that pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee or your favorite apple drinks.
- Homemade Apple Pie: This traditional pie is a must in the fall season! Use apples to make a fresh, homemade pie for holidays or weekends.
- Apple Butter: Cook down fresh apples into a smooth and buttery spread, with the flavors of cinnamon and brown sugar. Make as many jars as you can and store long-term!
- Caramel Apples: Candied apples are a must for Halloween and fall parties, and they’re so easy to make. The kids will love these!
- Instant Pot Apple Cider: This cider is made with apples, oranges, cranberries, and cinnamon, for a warming drink made in minutes. Serve it on chilly autumn nights!
- Fried Apples: Cook up apple slices with butter, sugar, and cinnamon for a simple, easy, and satisfying treat.
Sweet Apple Dessert Recipes
These apple desserts are all easy to make, and just scream autumn. Nothing is cozier than a warm, sweet, apple-filled treat. Make pies, crisps, cakes, and more!
- Sheet Pan Apple Crisp: Make apple crisp for a crowd with this easy sheet pan recipe! This is the best way to make a large batch of everyone’s favorite fall dessert.
- Apple Dumplings: Apples are wrapped in pastry and baked to perfection, for the most delicious (and easy) treat. These are so tasty served up warm with ice cream.
- Apple Cupcakes: Inspired by apple pie, these apple cinnamon cupcakes are topped with a simple cream cheese frosting, and they bake up fast!
- Apple Bundt Cake: This fluffy bundt cake is filled with fresh apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar for a fall dessert that’s sure to satisfy.
- Caramel Apple Bread Pudding: Caramel apple flavored bread pudding makes a great dessert or indulgent holiday breakfast!
- Instant Pot Apple Crisp: Make this dessert in the quickest and easiest way possible–in an Instant Pot! You’ll have a sweet treat ready in no time.
- Caramel Apple Dump Cake: Dump your ingredients in a baking dish, put it in the oven, and you’ll end up with this deliciously sweet cake!
Apple Breakfast Recipes
Apples are a healthy fruit, so it’s the perfect excuse to sneak them into these morning breakfast recipes. They go just as well with breads and oatmeal as they do with donuts or eggs (yes, eggs!).
- Apple Cinnamon Rolls: These fresh, fluffy, gooey cinnamon rolls are made with warm apple pie filling and a tasty cream cheese frosting.
- Baked Apple Oatmeal: Make oatmeal even better by baking it! This healthy recipe is an easy way to make breakfast for the whole family.
- Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Cookies: Combine diced apples with oats and bake up these delicious little cookies. They’re nutritious and filling, perfect for breakfast on the go!
- Apple Pie Monkey Bread: Turn a can of cinnamon rolls into festive monkey bread by adding apple pie filling. Just 3 ingredients to make this recipe!
- Apple Pie Overnight French Toast: Combine the flavor of apple pie with richly delicious french toast, all in an easy to make casserole! The best make ahead breakfast for holidays, or any time you have guests.
- Apple, Ham, Cheese Frittata: Frittatas are the perfect egg-y recipe for brunches and holiday breakfasts. This one features apples, ham, and cheese, for a savory flavor mix that everyone will love.
- Apple Cinnamon Bread: This quick bread is deliciously warm and sweet. It’s perfectly spiced and filled with tender apples in every bite!
- Baked Apple Cider Donuts: These donuts are a must for fall. Baked to perfection, these are great for dipping in hot apple cider or coffee.
Apple-Filled Drinks and Cocktails
There are so many different drinks to make with apples. Whether you prefer a coffee or a cocktail, something warm or refreshing, one of these easy fall drink recipes will fulfill those cravings.
- Apple Cider Margaritas: Take margaritas from summer right into Autumn. This cocktail is made with apple cider, maple syrup, cinnamon, and of course the classic marg ingredients.
- Apple Crisp Macchiato: Make a deliciously tart yet sweet iced coffee drink to start off your day, or keep you going in the afternoon. The homemade syrup is a great way to use up fresh apples.
- Apple Cider Mojitos: These mojitos are perfect for fall. Easy to make and filled with that warm, spiced flavor you’d expect from cider!
- Apple Cider Hot Toddy: Take that hot toddy up a notch with apple cider and whiskey, for a cocktail that will surely keep you warm.
- Apple Butter Old Fashioned Cocktail: Use apple butter and apple cider to give a classic Old Fashioned a very festive fall twist!
- Caramel Apple Sangria: This white wine sangria is made with apple cider, caramel flavored vodka, and ginger ale to create a refreshingly fall drink.
- Crockpot Apple Cider: Make up a big batch of apple cider in the easiest way possible: in a slow cooker! Let it simmer for the afternoon, and it’ll be ready when it’s time to warm up.
- Apple Pie Punch: This apple pie flavored punch is the perfect party drink for any fall occasion.
Savory Apple Recipes for Dinner
Most of the recipes on this list are sweet, but apples make for delicious savory recipes too! Pair apple with pork, veggies, cheese, and more. Make lunch, dinner, salads, and appetizers all with this favorite fruit.
- Apple Butter Pork Chops: Cook up the perfect pork chops with apples and apple butter. It makes for the most amazing sweet and savory dinner.
- Apple Ginger Glazed Ham: Make a ham for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any occasion. It features a delicious apple-infused glaze, served along with baked apples.
- Kale Apple Salad: This is the best fall salad. It’s healthy, hearty, and super flavorful. Mix kale, apples, pumpkin seeds, goat cheese and more, finished with a maple pumpkin dressing.
- Spiced Rice Pilaf with Apples: Apples are sauteed up with onions, then combined with herbs and spices to create a warmly-seasoned rice dish.
- Apple Cheddar Waffle Sandwich: Apple and cheese might sound like a surprising combo, but it’s so amazing in this sandwich. The maple dijon sauce really finished it off perfectly (though you can skip it for the kids).
- Cucumber Apple Salad: This salad features cucumbers, apples, and radishes, with a creamy apple cider dressing. It’s a great starter for any dinner.
Now that you’ve got all those fresh apples, make these easy apple recipes to celebrate fall! Whether you choose something sweet or savory, you really can’t go wrong. They’re perfect for fall holidays, or really any time of year.
More Fall Recipes
Autumn is the best time for pumpkins, apples, winter squash, and all of those warming spices. These recipes and how-to’s will help you make the most of the season!
