Apple Recipes and 37 Ways to Use Apples

A crisp, fresh apple is one of life’s sweetest pleasures. We adore biting into a gleaming apple, or crunching on apple slices for a quick and easy snack. With apple season now in full swing, you might be looking for inventive ways to use apples and novel apple recipes. We’ve got all the apple inspiration for you here, guaranteed to keep this produce staple exciting!

Health Benefits of Apples

Apples are a powerful food with a multitude of culinary nutrition benefits. They are rich in:

Apples are widely available, budget-friendly and can last for a long time when stored properly. All in all they are an incredible fruit for any kitchen!

How to Choose Apples

You can find apples at the grocery store year-round, and they will typically taste fresh all year long with good storage. That being said, peak apple season here in North America is August through November – during this time, you’ll find the freshest apples at local markets (or you can go apple picking yourself!).

Choose apples that are:

bright
firm and smooth
unblemished and unbruised
smell fresh and fruity

If your market or grocery store has imperfect produce, you may be able to find gently bruised, scarred or misshapen apples at a great price. We recommend using these apples right away, rather than trying to store and save them long-term. Check out the recipes below for inspiration!

How to Store Apples

In the fridge: Store loosely in the fridge or in a paper bag (ditch the plastic bag). If washing first, dry completely before they are stored.
On the counter: Store in a large bowl for up to a week.
In a pantry/cold storage: If you have a cellar, cold pantry, attached garage or basement, you can store your apples for months. Be sure to choose apples without cuts and bruises, as one bad apple can literally spoil the bunch. Wrap each apple individually, so they’re not touching each other, for long-lasting storage.

Note: Apples release ethylene gas, which can quicken the ripening of other fruits and veggies (and potentially spoil them). Keep apples away from grapes, onions, avocados, bananas, carrots, potatoes and citrus fruits. Unless, of course you are trying to ripen items faster!

Learn more about ethylene-producing and ethylene-sensitive foods.

Best Flavour Pairings with Apples

Apples are incredibly versatile, and play nicely with all kinds of herbs, spices, sweeteners, vegetables and fruits. These are a few of our faves!

Herbs and Spices

Sweeteners

Coconut sugar
Honey
Maple syrup

Vegetables

Fruits

Berries
Citrus fruits
Grapes
Cherries
Cranberries
Dates

Nuts and Seeds

All, but we especially love to pair them with almonds, walnuts, pecans and hemp seeds

Grains

All, but we adore pairing apples with oats, wild rice, rice, millet and quinoa

Miscellaneous

37 Ways To Use Apples

Don’t get us wrong – we love a good gluten-free apple pie as much as the next person, but we also love exploring many other incredible ways to use apples. (Don’t worry, we’ve included apple pie and variations on apple pie below too.)

Try one – or more – of these ideas and apple recipes!

Apple Chips

Baked Apple Chips

Thinly slice your apples and bake or dehydrate for a crunchy, satisfying snack.

Recipe To Try: Apple Chips by Meghan Telpner (*Culinary Nutrition Expert Program Founder + Director)

Applesauce

Cooking and blending apples into applesauce makes their fibres much easier to digest. If you have a strong blender or food processor, you can keep the peel on too for extra nutrition.

Recipe To Try: How to Make Slow Cooker Applesauce by Delightful Adventures

Apple Juice

A fantastic option if you have extra apples on hand, or snagged an excellent sale on imperfect ones.

Recipe To Try: Apple Juice Recipe With and Without a Juicer by Swasthi’s Recipes

Apple Cider Vinegar

Image: iStock/bhofack2

Apple cider vinegar (or ACV for short) is an incredible fermented food that you can make yourself if you like fermentation experimentation. And there are tons of different ways to use it.

Recipe To Try: How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar at Home by Wellness Mama

Apple Tea

Tea lovers out there will love using fresh apples to brew up a lovely cuppa. You can also use apple peels for tea to reduce your food waste.

Recipe To Try: Apple Cinnamon Tea by Palate’s Desire

Baked Apples

It doesn’t get much better than a sweet and simple apple stuffed with a tasty filling. This is one of those ways to use apples that will really impress your guests!

Recipe To Try: Easy Baked Apples by Meghan Telpner

Apple Butter

This luxurious spread, made from apples simmered down until they are a thick, jammy texture, will become your new favourite substitute for jelly or nut butter.

Recipe To Try: Homemade Apple Butter by Britney Breaks Bread

Gluten-Free Apple Cake

In gluten-free and vegan baking, apples (or applesauce) serve as a fantastic egg-free binder due to their pectin content. They also add moisture to baked goodies.

Recipe To Try: Vegan Gluten-Free Apple Upside Down Cake by Delightful Adventures

Apple Galettes

Gluten Free Apple Galette

Apples make the ideal filling for a rustic sweet or savory gluten-free galette.

Recipe To Try: Mini Gluten-Free Apple Galettes by Macy Diulus

Apple Crumble or Crisp

Apples shine in this simple dessert that, truth be told, we also have for breakfast sometimes. One of our favourite ways to use apples!

Recipe To Try: Gluten-Free Apple Crisp by All The Healthy Things

Apple Fruit Leather

A treat for all ages that you can make in the oven or a food dehydrator. An excellent apple recipe for school lunchboxes, too!

Recipe To Try: Apple Fruit Leather by The Roasted Root

Apple Pie or Tart

We can’t talk about apple recipes without including apple pies and tarts! One of the classic ways to use apples because it never gets old.

You can grab more apple pie recipe inspiration in this roundup of gluten-free pie recipes.

Recipe To Try: Vegan Apple Tart with Walnut Crust by Sweet Potato Soul

Apple Muffins

Apples, when baked into muffins with delectable spices, make the ideal snack.

Recipe To Try: Apple Cinnamon Muffins by Okonomi Kitchen

Baked Oatmeal

Gluten-Free Baked Oatmeal

Need a simple breakfast you can meal prep for easy mornings? Pack some nutritious apples into your baked oatmeal for a delicious way to start the day.

Recipe To Try: Cranberry Apple Baked Oatmeal by Jaclyn Beaty (*Culinary Nutrition Expert + Program Coach)

Slather with Nut Butter or Chocolate Spread

Date Paste on Apples

All you need to jazz up your apple slices is a little nut butter, chocolate spread or date ‘caramel’.

Recipe To Try: You’ll love our Chocolate Hemp Spread or Homemade Nut Butter

Apple Chutney

A lovely condiment you can pair with sweet or savory recipes.

Recipe To Try: Apple Chutney by Food Tok With Sherin

Energy Bites or Granola Bars

Apples are already a hand-held, portable snack – so why not incorporate them into bite-sized energy balls or granola bars?

Recipe To Try: Apple Pie Energy Bites by Purely Kaylie

Pancakes and Waffles

Make a fall-inspired brunch with apple-stuffed pancakes or waffles. Extra points for adding cooked apples on top!

Recipe To Try: Apple Cinnamon Buckwheat Waffles by Tasha’s Artisan Foods

Smoothies

Apples are a nutrient-rich companion to your dairy-free smoothies or smoothie bowls.

Recipe To Try: Apple Ginger Smoothie by Planted and Picked (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

Pancake, Yogurt or Ice Cream Topping

Steamed, baked or sautéed apple slices are a naturally-sweetened topper condiment for all kinds of breakfast recipes and sweet treats.

Recipe To Try: Easy Cinnamon Baked Apples by Minimalist Baker

Apple Mocktails

The sweet-tangy apple flavours translate well into all kinds of hot and cold mocktails.

Find more mocktail fun here.

Recipe To Try: Slow Cooker Apple Cider by Orchids and Sweet Tea

Chia Pudding

Ever the versatile culinary ingredient, chia is a great partner for apples. Chia pudding is a make-ahead breakfast or snack that also happens to be great for digestion!

Recipe To Try: Apple Pie Chia Pudding by Loveleaf

Dog Treats

Why should humans be the only one to enjoy apple recipes? Don’t forget about your four-legged friends by whipping up a homemade batch of apple-y treats.

Recipe To Try: Apple Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dog Treats by Wild Wild Whisk

Savory Apple Recipes

Apples aren’t just for treats and baked goods – they work beautifully in savory dishes too. Check out these savory apple recipes!

Pork and Apples

Pork and apples are a delicious combo you have to taste.

Recipe To Try: Pork Bulgogi by What Great Grandma Ate

Burgers and Patties

Apples are a sweet complement to both vegan and meat burger patties.

Recipe To Try: Turkey Apple Breakfast Patties by Inspiralized

Pizza Topping

Gluten Free Pizza Crusts

Apples (and pears) may seem like an unconventional pizza topping, but we highly recommend them. The key is slicing them very thinly for the perfect sweet-salty bites.

Recipe To Try: 20 Best Gluten-Free Pizza Recipes

Soups

Add a touch of sweetness to your soup recipes – especially ones that include winter squash and root veggies.

Recipe To Try: Sweet Potato Apple Soup by Sondi Bruner (*Academy of Culinary Nutrition Head Program Coach)

Braised Apples and Cabbage

Cabbage is one of those veggies not everyone knows what to do with – and pairing it with apples makes it much more deliciouis.

Recipe To Try: Braised Red Cabbage with Apples and Onions by My Pocket Kitchen

Waldorf Salad

A fruit-heavy salad that includes loads of apples and grapes. Yum!

Recipe To Try: Festive Waldorf Salad by Kitchen Frau (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

Apple Slaw

Apples give standard coleslaws and salads a sweet crunch.

Recipe To Try: Kale Apple Slaw by Veggie Inspired

Sauerkraut

An apple recipe that proves you can pickle anything.

Recipe To Try: Apple Spice Sauerkraut by Fermented Food Lab

Quick Pickles

A quick pickle recipe that uses vinegar (rather than fermentation with salt).

Recipe To Try: Easy Apple Pickles by Farmers Girl Kitchen

Apple Stuffing

Spark new interest in your classic holiday stuffing recipes by including some apples.

Recipe To Try: Paleo Butternut Sausage Apple Stuffing by Get Inspired Everyday

Potato Latkes

Applesauce is a typical condiment for potato lakes, so why not add shredded apples directly to the recipe in the first place? Genius.

Recipe To Try: Gluten-Free Apple and Potato Latkes by The Mindful Hapa

Try Apple Crafts!

We normally like to reserve our apples for eating (and to reduce food waste). Yet if you’ve got some extras you simply can’t eat, use or freeze for later, try some fun apple-inspired crafts!