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Our Best Apple Recipes

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Peak apple season is here and there are so many ways to get in an apple a day. Our Best Apple Recipes showcase everything from savory to sweet, and even warm beverages to make you feel as cozy on the inside as you do on the outside. Find a new apple classic today!

Crispy chicken thighs with apples and cider sauce in a cast iron skillet.
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I think we can all agree that donning a sweater and biting into a crisp apple while a cool breeze tickles your face is peak fall feels. But we can also agree there is so much more you can do with a peck of apples than, well, peck at them.

From salads to soups, and of course desserts, it’s darn near criminal not to enjoy at least an apple a day. Get yourself to the orchard, farmer’s market, or local farm stand and enjoy the sweet-sour bounty of fall’s favorite fruit. While you’re at it, grab a jug of cider and indulge in one our sweet or savory cider recipes too!

Buy Local! Not sure where to go locally for the freshest, crispest apples? Scope out your town on Local Harvest – our favorite source for finding local farm-fresh produce (and more).

How to Store Fresh Apples

Apples like it cold (but not freezing) with relatively high humidity.

For small quantities of fresh apples, store them in your crisper drawer in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

For longer term storage, identify a place in your home that’s cooler and protected from the weather. An unheated garage, enclosed porch, and basement crawl space are ideal locations for fall and winter storage. We store apples in a cooler under our back porch once the daytime temperatures are consistently below 60°F.

Wrap the apples individually in newspaper or packing paper, gently pack them into a box or cooler, then store.

For everything you’d ever want to know about how to store apples, read this guide from Wholefully.

Freshly picked apples in a ceramic bowl on a marble table.

Best Apples for Baking

While some might argue that this comes down to personal preference, the science of baking says otherwise – for the best baked apple texture in pies, galettes, crisps and crumbles, you want an apple that doesn’t completely fall apart under heat. Flavor matters too – an apple on the tarter side will still taste apple-y after your choice of sweetener has been added to the recipe.

Our favorite apples for baking meet all these conditions:

  • Honeycrisp
  • Pink Lady
  • Granny Smith
  • Jonagold
  • Braeburn
A mandoline, apple chunks, and thinly sliced apples on a cutting board.

Useful Tools for Preparing Apples

  • Y-Peeler:  this handheld peeler is ergonomic and easy to use for peeling small portions of apples.
  • Peeler/Corer Combo:  I’m generally not a fan of single-use kitchen gadgets, but there are exceptions to every rule. If you process loads of apples every fall, this is worth the investment.
  • Mandoline Slicer:  I have a well-loved mandoline that I’ve used in my kitchen on weekly basis for years. Quickly julienne apples, or create impossibly thin slices for pie.
  • Paring Knife:  I use a paring knife to core and dice small portions of apples.
  • Chef’s Knife:  for thinly slicing larger quantities of apples.

Apple Recipes Worth Trying

Our favorite sweet and savory apple recipes to use up your most recent orchard haul! Toss diced apples into a sweet potato breakfast hash, simmer slices with crispy chicken in a savory cider sauce, or make decadent blueberry applesauce.

A collage of recipes featuring fresh apples.

Sweet Potato Hash with Bacon and Apples

Bacon makes everything better, and this Sweet Potato Hash with Bacon and Apples is no exception. Whip this recipe out for breakfast, dinner, or alate-night cure-all – it’s loaded with nutrients for your body, flavor for your taste buds, and comfort for your soul. Cooked in one skillet in just about 30 minutes so be ready to feast!
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A fried egg served over sweet potato hash with bacon and apples on a blue plate with a silver fork.

Chicken Salad with Apples and Greek Yogurt

Make this quick and easy chicken salad with rotisserie chicken or poached chicken breasts. It has a wonderful sweet flavor that isn't overpowered by mayo, and it's full of texture and color.
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Shredded chicken salad with apple, fennel, and yogurt dressing over arugula on a blue plate.

Apple Sage Breakfast Sausage

Homemade sausage is such a special treat. We almost never indulge in breakfast sausage, Whole30 or not, so when we do it has to be chock full of real food ingredients and it has to taste awesome. This recipe ticks all those boxes. A shredded apple add just a hit of sweetness, while arrowroot powder acts as a binder for the perfect texture. Freeze half for later use or meal prep!
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Side view, Whole30 breakfast sausage on a blue and white plate, garnished with fresh sage.

Cinnamon Apple Bread Pudding

Apple bread pudding is a seasonal star for the fall and winter holidays – a totally irresistible crowd pleaser. It's savory enough to offer for breakfast or brunch, but sweet enough to drizzle with salted caramel sauce for dessert. Be sure to properly prepare the apples so they don't sink to the bottom of the bread pudding. Thinly sliced apples stay integrated throughout the bread cubes, and the result is a perfectly layered bread pudding bursting with apple flavor in every bite. 
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A slice of apple bread pudding drizzled with salted caramel sauce.

Apple Chicken with Cider Mustard Sauce

Chicken with Apples and Cider Mustard Sauce. It sounds so fancy, right? I know. And it very well might be, but this apple cider chicken recipe is also easy, relatively quick (45 minutes), and a one-pan family friendly delight. There are so many ways to enjoy the bounty of apple season, and if you're in need of a savory fix after your eleventy-billionth apple pie, this is the dinner recipe for you! 
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Featured image for apple chicken with cider mustard sauce recipe.

Blueberry Vanilla Applesauce

Puree the finished blueberry applesauce to your desired texture, anywhere from super chunky to ultra smooth. Enjoy it as-is for a healthy snack loved by all ages, mix into greek yogurt for an antioxidant packed breakfast, or serve over ice cream – warmed up and thinned just a bit, it's an amazing sugar free coulis substitute.
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Homemade vanilla infused blueberry applesauce in a small glass jar.

Carrot Apple Soup

This roasted carrot apple soup is like a big hug – warm, comforting, and nourishing for the body and soul. Be sure to roast the carrots, even though it’s tempting to skip that step. They bring a hint of smokiness and depth of flavor that really makes this soup shine. This serves four as a main course or six as an appetizer. 
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This roasted carrot apple soup is like a big hug - warm, comforting, and nourishing for the body and soul. It's a nutty and sweet fall soup recipe that's naturally paleo, whole 30 and gluten-free. #paleo #whole30 #fall #soup #wholefood

Pork Chops with Apple Jicama Slaw

Pork chops have an undeserved reputation for being dry, tough, and bland. But they needn’t be! Brining thick cut pork chops helps them retain moisture and seasons the meat from the inside out. The result is juicy, tender pork chops infused with earthy flavor. Serve them with a simple apple jicama slaw for an elegant, but easy, weeknight dinner.
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Tender thick cut oven roasted pork chops over apple jicama slaw on a blue and white plate with a navy linen napkin.

Gluten Free Apple Crisp

This gluten free apple crisp is a lightened up and refined sugar free version of the Thanksgiving classic! It’s made start to finish in a cast iron skillet resulting in an equally tender and crisp texture. This is a healthy fall dessert recipe that will satisfy even the pickiest sweet tooth around your table.
This gluten free apple crisp is a lightened up and refined sugar free version of the fall classic! It's sweetened with maple syrup and coconut sugar, and topped with gluten free oats, pecans, and walnuts. It's made start to finish in a cast iron skillet resulting in an equally tender and crisp texture. This is a healthy fall dessert recipe that will satisfy even the pickiest sweet tooth around your table.

Kale Salad with Pomegranates and Apples

This kale pomegranate salad is bright, colorful, hearty, and packed with vitamins and nutrients. It’s a quick and easy recipe that’s perfect for dinner or meal prep, and a total crowd pleaser for parties.
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A kale pomegranate salad with apples, fennel, and pepitas in a blue ceramic bowl.

Our Favorite Apple Cider Recipes

While you’re at the orchard, don’t forget to grab a jug of fresh apple cider. Then check back here for all the delicious ways you can use it, from cocktails and mocktails to braising and marinating.

A collage of recipes featuring apple cider.

Mulled Apple Cider

Sugar, and spice, and everything nice… that's what Mulled Apple Cider is made of. Crockpots and dutch ovens aren't just for stews – cozy up with this aromatic brew of apple cider, fresh orange and ginger, and mulling spices. (Plus maybe a splash of something stronger after the kids are in bed for a spiked apple cider cocktail.) Simple to make, and slow-simmered for beautiful fall flavor.
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Two mugs of mulled apple cider garnished with an orange slice, apple slice, and cinnamon stick on a cement background.

Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pulled Pork

Apple Cider Pulled Pork is the hands-free, low-and-slow combo you need this and every fall. It takes just twenty minutes to prep, and your crock pot does all the heavy lifting. Thanks to a flavorful dry rub, apple cider, and apple cider vinegar, this slow cooker pulled pork recipe delivers deep, developed flavor every time. Slow cooker pulled pork should be cooked low and slow, so plan for at least 8 hours cooking time.
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Side view, apple cider pulled pork on a brioche bun with apple cider vinegar coleslaw.

Apple Cider Hot Toddy

This apple cider hot toddy fall cocktail recipe is warm, soothing, sweet and spicy. It’s a seasonal cocktail recipe that will warm you from head to toe. 
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This apple cider hot toddy fall cocktail recipe is warm, soothing, sweet and spicy. It's a seasonal cocktail recipe that easily scales up and keeps perfectly warm in a crockpot for your next holiday party.

Grilled Apple Cider Chicken

This apple cider chicken is the best chicken you’ll ever taste. Life. Changing. Chicken. It grills up with a crispy charred, smokey exterior and juicy tender interior. While this takes a bit of time to marinate (at least 2 hours, and up to overnight) the hands on time is little and the cooking time is just 10 minutes. 
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This apple cider chicken is THE BEST chicken I've ever made. Life. Changing. Chicken. The marinade is quick and easy, and the brined chicken grills up in 10 minutes to charred, juicy, sweet + savory perfection. This is a family friendly weeknight recipe that everyone will love!

Apple Cider Sangria

Sweet, tart, and subtly spiced with cinnamon, this apple cider sangria is, dare I say it, absolutely perfect. It’s an easy large batch recipe for a cocktail party with the added benefit that you have to make it in advance – and it’s better the longer it sits. Take an extra minute or two to serve this white sangria with a cinnamon sugar rim for an extra special touch. 
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Side view, several glasses of apple cider sangria on a marble table garnished with cinnamon sticks.
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