While there are plenty of things to love about autumn, we always look forward to baking and cooking with apples! While it's true that you can use pretty much any variety in your favorite pies, tarts, and cakes, you'll find that certain apples simply crunch, slice, and taste better. Some apples are sweeter, some have a little more spice. It all depends on what you’re making and how the flavors will work together.
And beyond mere deliciousness, there are a ton of other important factors that determine whether the apple you've selected will actually be able to stand up to your oven's high temperatures. Moisture, acidity, and crispness are just a few of the qualities you'll want to assess before selecting your fruit.
To help narrow down your choices and help you get a move on your apple baking, we're sharing the best apples for all kinds of recipes—the varieties that'll really help your homemade desserts shine. While we all love homey and comforting cinnamon-scented pies and tantalizing apple desserts, they’re really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the creations you can throw together using these sweet autumn gems. They're perfect for all kinds of appetizer and dinner recipes too, including salads, dumplings, kugel, coleslaw, and other savory dishes. If you’re craving apples, we’ve got all the details you need to get started!
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1
Granny Smith Apples
It's a name you know well—and for good reason. With a subtly sour bite and telltale firmness, the Granny Smith apple is one of the most popular varieties used in professional-quality apple pies. Even after being subjected to high heat, this green beauty holds it shape, so you're bound not to have any unsightly, sagging messes on your hands. Granny Smith apples can also be found in nearly every supermarket around the country, which makes them one of the most practical options on our list too.
Recipe Idea: Cranberry Apple Crisp
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2
Fuji Apples
We're partial to Fuji apples because they've got the perfect balance of sugary and sour flavors. Developed in Japan in the 1930s, they're also one of the sweetest apples you can find, making them an ideal choice for muffins, galettes, tarts, and more. Just like a Granny Smith apple, a Fuji variety will hold up nicely in the oven, and it's available year-round in most supermarkets.
Recipe Idea:
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3
Winesap Apples
As its name would suggest, Winesap apples boast rich, complex flavors that pair nicely with the sweeter, lighter ingredients in most baked goods—but there's always a chance they could overpower the rest of your dish. If you're going for a real apple flavor though, these are a great choice.
Recipe Idea: Pie-Spiced Apple Fritters
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4
Honeycrisp Apples
What more do we have to tell you about Honeycrisp apples? "Crisp" is in the name, after all. These guys are practically guaranteed not to break down into mush (assuming you haven't selected one that's overripe).
Recipe Idea: Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad with Citrus-Maple Vinaigrette
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5
Calville Blanc D'Hivers Apples
Use exotic French Calville Blanc D'Hivers as you would Granny Smiths—to deliver tart, crisp flavor.
Recipe Idea: Maple-Apple Tarte Tatin
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6
Jonamac Apples
An early-fall hybrid, the crunchy, slightly spicy Jonamac makes a perfect snacking apple.
Recipe Idea: Grilled Apples with Prosciutto and Honey
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7
Gala Apples
Try the mellow-flavored Gala in salads and savory dishes, as its creamy flesh doesn't brown quickly after cutting.
Recipe Idea: Sausage and Apple Pies
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8
Cortland Apples
Cooks give the crisp and sweet Cortland high marks, as it freezes well and doesn't turn brown too fast. Use that resistance to browning by incorporating it into salads!
Recipe Idea: Composed Waldorf Salad
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9
Empire Apples
A sweet-but-tart all-purpose variety, the Empire is good for making cider, baking into pies and galettes, and applesauce.
Recipe Idea: Rustic Apple Galette
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10
Red Delicious Apples
Though the Red Delicious you find in the grocery are often more pretty than flavorful, that wasn't always the case — and there are still varieties available at orchards and farmers' markets called Red Delicious that are, in fact, more delicious than red. Still, you can lean into the attributes of these ubiquitous apples by fashioning them into Decadently Dark Candy Apples — or simply squishing them into cider.
Recipe Idea: Slow Cooker Apple Cider
