Emilee Unterkoefler
As they say, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Maybe not when it’s cooked in butter or made into a streusel, but this time of year it’s impossible to resist scrumptious baked apple treats.
We picked through hundreds of recipes to find five of our favorite ways to incorporate this beloved fruit into breakfast, snacks, and even dinner.
The Best Time of Year to Enjoy Apples
If you’re from an apple-orchard rich area like New England or the Midwest, you probably know all about the fun tradition of apple picking. In recent years, this fun activity has also involved taking plenty of pictures and of course, adding them to all social media platforms. Trust me; it’s a thing—if an apple is picked but unphotographed, was it ever really picked at all?
But seriously, taking the family on a trip to the apple orchard is both fun and gives you the perfect excuse to bake all sorts of heart-warming goodies. Whether you’re looking for a classic apple pie, or something a little less ordinary, we’ve got you covered.
Best Traditional Idea: Apple Pie by Grandma Ople
You’ve had it at Thanksgiving and many other family gatherings. As long as it’s made right, you can’t get enough of it. Taking a slice of homemade warm apple pie and topping it with a cold scoop of vanilla bean ice cream is a great way to end a perfect meal.
Grandma Ople made it to the top of our list for the best apple pie recipe. For years she’s won the hearts of many and continues to as this recipe travels through the web. There must be something special about this recipe coming from a Granny because people just adore it, and we hope you will too.
Get the Recipe: All Recipes
Best Breakfast Option: Cinnamon Apple Muffins
If you’ve already made a pie or two but still have an abundance of that tart fruit, why not try making cinnamon apple muffins? Not only will this make the perfect go-to breakfast or snack, but your co-workers will love you for taking a batch in on a Monday morning.
These muffins have bits and pieces of diced apple mixed in and are topped with cinnamon sugar, packing each bite with flavor. Those who have made these in the past say they’re easy to prep and you’ll want to eat the entire muffin, not just the tops.
Get the Recipe: Add A Pinch
Great Snack Recipe: Homemade Applesauce Recipe
Why buy jars of apple sauce for your kids when you can make your own? The main difference is you know yours will be made with love and no extra preservatives. If you’ve never made applesauce, you probably don’t understand how simple it can be.
Enjoy how this sweet combination of apple and cinnamon come together to create a healthy snack that you and your kids will love.
Get the Recipe: The Forked Spoon
Excellent Dinner Idea: Apple Cider Chicken
If you’ve ever loved eating grilled chicken or pork chops with a side of applesauce, this is a gourmet version of that. The granny smith slices and onion pairs perfectly with thyme and garlic to create a deliciously sweet and savory dinner.
During your next grocery shopping trip, grab an onion, some cider, and grilled chicken (assuming you have the other common ingredients) and try this.
Get the Recipe: Food Network
Best All-Around Recipe: Awesome Country Apple Fritter Bread
If you love apple fritters, or you love apple bread, this recipe is a slam dunk combination of the two. Not only has this delicious recipe been pinned over a million times, but Food Network even featured it on their site!
This recipe offers a few substitution options if you’d like a vegan version of this bread, and directions to cook it in a crockpot express too.
This recipe has only one problem: One loaf usually goes fast, and you’ll likely have to make two. Kim, the owner and operator behind The Baking ChocolaTess said it herself. Now, what are you waiting for? It’s time to bake!
Get the Recipe: The Baking ChocolaTess
