12 Best Apple Recipes to Make This Fall

Tasty Ways to Use Up Your Orchard Haul

By
Cathy Jacobs
Cathy Jacobs
Cathy Jacobs
A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 04/14/21
Apple Dump Cake
The Spruce

Go beyond apple desserts with our best apple recipes that are perfect for fall. Sweet, tart, juicy apples are so delicious and versatile to cook with, we simply couldn't stop at pie (though you will find the ultimate apple pie recipe here). Browse our best ideas and recipes for what to do with apples, including savory salads, meaty mains, tangy sauces, stunning apple cocktails, a fantastic holiday stuffing, and of course, tempting desserts.

  • 01 of 12

    Puff Pastry Apple Danishes

    Puff Pastry Apple Danishes

     The Spruce/Leah Maroney

    Pretty enough for an autumn brunch, and easy to prepare and bake in 25 minutes, these apple danishes may become one of your new favorite breakfast treats. They are truly a cinch to assemble, with packaged puff pastry, fresh apple slices, and just a few other basic ingredients.

  • 02 of 12

    Apple Pie Martini

    Apple Pie Martini

    The Spruce / Crystal Hughes

    Filled with the nostalgic taste of mom's apple pie, this premium vodka martini is a grown-up delight. It will keep you satisfied through the winter months, with its infusion of warm vanilla flavor, and makes an excellent holiday party cocktail.

  • 03 of 12

    Classic French Apple Tart

    Classic French Tarte Aux Pommes

    The Spruce / Bahareh Niati

    What could be more elegant and welcome after a fall dinner than a classic French apple tart? You're sure to earn rave reviews for your baking when you present this show-stopping dessert, with its luscious almond cream filling, flaky pastry crust, and stunning spiral of sweet, sticky, caramelized apple slices on top.

  • 04 of 12

    Apple Cranberry Cobbler

    Apple Cranberry Cobbler

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Apple cobbler is a popular family dessert across the country. This easy, classic version combines sweet apples with tart fall cranberries for an old-fashioned, crunchy, gooey baked treat that is sure to please at holiday dinners, potlucks, and special events.

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  • 05 of 12

    Deep Fried Apple Fritters

    Deep fried apple fritters

    The Spruce

    If you've got 30 minutes, you have time to make these mouth-watering apple fritters that taste like miniature apple donuts, without the holes. Quick-fry a batch to enjoy at breakfast or brunch, or make them as a family dessert to serve warm, either on their own, or with vanilla ice cream.

  • 06 of 12

    Braised Cabbage With Apple and Onion

    Braised Cabbage With Apple and Onion

    Diana Rattray

    Sweet and sour braised cabbage, cooked slowly on the stovetop with apple jelly and fresh apples, makes a deeply tasty accompaniment for savory mains. Serve for a classic accompaniment to ham, sausages and pork, or as part of a vegetarian dinner menu.

  • 07 of 12

    Apple Barbecue Sauce

    Apple Barbecue Sauce

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

    Looking for a different kind of BBQ sauce? This sweet and tangy apple-flavored barbecue marinade is easy to prepare with common pantry ingredients, and makes an excellent glaze for grilled pork ribs or chicken.

  • 08 of 12

    Caramel Apples

    Caramel apples

    The Spruce / Nita West

    You'll be amazed by how easy it is to create picture-perfect caramel apples at home, with just a few simple ingredients. Kids love helping to make the carnival-inspired treat, too. Use any tart apple variety in this recipe, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, to balance the sweetness of the caramel coating.

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  • 09 of 12

    Slow Cooker Apple Pork Chops With Sauerkraut

    Slow Cooker Apple Pork Chops With Sauerkraut

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    Apple pork chops with sauerkraut, onion, and sweet potatoes combine some of the best tastes of fall. Use affordable boneless pork loin chops to make this easy one-dish family meal that cooks hands-free in the crockpot.

  • 10 of 12

    Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

    Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

    Use a rotisserie chicken to assemble this popular apple pecan chicken salad for potlucks, and casual lunches. It is so easy to throw together in minutes, and the combination of tender cooked chicken, crunchy pecans, tart apples, and a creamy honey mustard dressing is fantastic.

  • 11 of 12

    Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe

    apple butter
    Michael Grayson/Getty Images

    Long, slow cooking breaks the apple butter down to make a super smooth, buttery spread. Use it on toast, to highlight the flavors of bacon and pork dishes, as a tasty addition to baked sweet potato casseroles, or fold it into your dessert sundaes.

  • 12 of 12

    Apple Cinnamon Mule Cocktail

    Apple Cinnamon Mule Cocktail

    S&C Design Studios

    Cheer on autumn with this fall twist on a Moscow mule. Infused with apple and cinnamon flavor, it's a unique way to enjoy the classic combination of vodka, ginger beer, and lime as the weather cools. Garnish glasses with a fresh apple slice, and a cinnamon stick.