Fall is apple time. There are so many different things that you can do with apples. An all-American favorite is of course apple pie. To celebrate fall, here are 3 all-time favorite apple recipes.
Before we get baking, let’s look at 12 popular apple varieties so that you know what apples will work the best for whatever you want to make.
12 Popular Apple Varieties
Some apples are perfect for eating as is, while others lend themselves to baking, cooking, making apple sauce, and so on. Of course, some varieties store better than others. Here’s a quick overview of some of the more common varieties of apples and the best ways to use each.
Crispin Apples
Crispins are large apples with yellow-green skin. With their sweet flavor, these crisp yet juicy apples are perfect for baking pies and making apple sauce.
Empire Apples
Empires are a cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious. They last a while after picking if stored in a cool dark place. They don’t turn brown as quickly as other varieties when sliced. This great apple works for just about anything including baking.
Gala Apples
Gala apples are sweet and work great for eating and making apple sauce. Don’t try to bake with these apples. They tend to fall apart when you cook them.
Golden Delicious
These apples keep their shape well during baking, making them perfect for pies. They also blend well with other apples when using them for applesauce. They are also delicious eating apples that store well.
Granny Smith
This is one of the most popular apples around and for good reason. They are perfect for eating raw and hold up well in pies and crisps. You may want to add a little extra sugar or honey to balance out the tart flavor of these green apples.
Honey Crisp
This is a fairly new apple variety that’s crisp and juicy. As you bite into these apples you’ll notice a light honey flavor. These are great for eating and using in baked goods.
Ida Red
This is a very old apple variety. Ida Reds keep their shape during baking and even freeze well. Perfect for using them for baking and in apple sauce. These apples are excellent keepers due to their ability to stay good for months.
Jonagold
These apples are a blend of Jonathan and Golden Delicious apples. They are best eaten fresh, baking, or used in apple sauce.
Jonathan
Jonathan apples are another variety that’s perfect for baking pies and cakes. They hold their shape well and have a nice crisp flavor.
McIntosh
This is another apple that’s best eaten fresh from the tree. They don’t hold up well to baking but make delicious apple sauce.
Red Delicious
Like the McIntosh apples, this is another variety that’s best used for eating or in applesauce. This apple can bruise easily and they don’t keep well.
Winesap
This is a firm but sweet apple that holds up well in baking and makes a great addition to your apple sauce as well. This sweet juicy apple is also great for making cider.
Give these different apple varieties a try and find your favorites for eating, storing, baking, and cooking. Of course, you can mix and match, particularly when you’re making pie fillings or apple sauce.
3 Mouth-Watering Apple Recipes
Ok, we have talked about some of the different varieties of apples and how to use them. With an overabundance of these delicious fruits, let’s look at some fun recipes to cook and bake with apples.
Apple Fritters
1 pound of apples
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
2/3 cup of milk
2 eggs
1 tbsp. oil plus oil for frying
Optional: Cinnamon Sugar
1. Start by peeling, coring, and chopping your apples. Set them aside.
2. Heat the oil for frying to about 375F.
3. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
4. Whisk the milk, eggs, and 1 tbsp. of oil in a smaller bowl until well combined. Pour this wet mixture into the large bowl of dry ingredients and mix until your batter is well combined. Fold in the apple pieces.
5. Drop the apple batter into the hot oil by the spoonful and fry until golden brown. Don't overcrowd the pot and give the oil a chance to heat back up between batches. Remove the fritters and drain them on a plate lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar as soon as the fritters are cool enough to handle and enjoy while warm.
Please note that you can also use your air fryer for a healthier version.
Baked Apples
4 large apples
1/2 cup of brown sugar
4 tbsp. butter
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Wash your apples, and using a melon baller scoop out the core of the apples from the top, creating a hole. Be careful not to scoop all the way to the bottom. You don't want your filling to leak.
Combined the cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl. Gently mix.
Gently spoon two tbsps. of brown sugar in each apple, top with 1 tbsp. of butter and sprinkle with cinnamon. Place the filled apples into a shallow baking dish.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the apples are tender. The sugar and butter will melt together, and start to caramelize. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.
America's Best Apple Pie
There's nothing more American than homemade apple pie cooling on the windowsill. America's Best Apple Pie may be one of the best pie recipes out there. Made from scratch, it tastes just like the kind Mom used to make and will receive rave reviews from the family. With a gooey center that we love, the crumble topping is what really makes this the best apple pie recipe. Enjoy with some vanilla ice cream for an a la mode experience that will leave you wanting more and more.
Ingredients
For the crust:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, diced, frozen
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 to 4 tablespoons of ice water
For the filling:
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cold water
1/4 teaspoon Allspice
1/2 cup butter, diced, room temperature
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
6 to 7 Gala apples
For the topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, diced, chilled
Instructions
For the crust:
In a food processor, combine flour, salt, sugar, and butter; pulse until coarse crumbs form. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time until moist.
Grease the bottom and sides of the pie pan; dump in the crumb mixture and press to form the crust.
For the filling:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Peel and slice apples. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the filling ingredients and gently toss until well coated. Fill the pie pan with the mixture; set aside.
For the topping:
In a medium bowl, add all ingredients, and using a fork or pastry blender, mix until coarse-like crumbs form. Cover the apples evenly with the mixture and bake for one hour.
Cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Now you have a better idea of what apples will work best for your apple needs and 3 mouth-watering recipes. What is your favorite apple and how do you use it?
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