Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Popular Ingredients 45 Festive, Flavorful Apple Recipes to Make This Fall Honestly, is there anywhere apples can't go? Here, we toss them in drinks, appetizers, main courses, and desserts. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is a food writer and editor with more than a decade’s experience working on titles such as Food Network Magazine, Bon Appetit, and Good Housekeeping. She is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple and is currently overseeing all food and nutritional content for Well+Good as senior food editor. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Instagram Website Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple.com. Prior to joining Real Simple, she wrote and edited stories about food trends, plant-based food, nutrition, and new product releases for Food Network, LIVEKINDLY, and Eat This, Not That. She also launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. She is a graduate of New York University as a University Honors Scholar. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 13, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Anna Williams Who says you can't eat an apple for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Biting into one out of hand is easy, yes, but let's shake things up this fall and celebrate apple season by cooking and baking with them instead. From savory salads, soups, and flatbreads to sweet apple pies, turnovers, tarts, and more, apples make a delicious addition to every dish. There are over 750 varieties of apples in the world, and more than 100 types of apples that exist in the United States alone. So when cooking and baking with apples, make sure to choose your varieties carefully: tart Granny Smiths and sweet Cortlands are not always interchangeable. Here, we have 45 delicious, real simple fall recipes with apples you'll love eating once that chill sets in—and all year long. Yes, Apples Really Are as Good for You as You've Always Been Told 01 of 45 Caramelized Onion Tarts With Apples Con Poulos These puff pastry bites combine tart apples with caramelized onions for a unique fall flavor that's sure to please. Bake a few tarts for a dinner-party appetizer or a book club snack—or make one for a light meal served alongside a kale or perfectly fall mixed green salad. Get the recipe 02 of 45 Honey-Apple Galette With Pistachio Sugar Anna Williams Not only is this gorgeous galette a great way to put some Granny Smith apples to good use, it's also a terrific way to flex your baking skills. This pastry gets a clever upgrade from normal crust courtesy of some pistachio sugar. While it sounds fancy, all you need to do is blitz pistachios with sugar and a pinch of salt until ground, and sprinkle it all over the dough—both inside for crisp texture and outside for a beautiful presentation. We promise it's worth it! Get the recipe 03 of 45 Sheet Pan Pork With Fennel and Apples Greg DuPree To ensure a golden-brown crust on this pork, you'll start by roasting everything, and then crank it up to broil to seal the glaze in. Honeycrisp apples work well in this recipe because they hold their shape when baked. If you can't find them at your market, Jonagold or Pink Lady apples will work well too. Get the recipe 04 of 45 Spiced Apple Kombucha Stephen DeVries Wow your guests with this cocktail containing kombucha, spiced rum, and classic winter spices. Make it a few days ahead of your event to let the flavors really come together. Then, serve it up in a highball glass with ice and an apple to garnish. Get the recipe 05 of 45 Sausage and Apple Stuffing Mikkel Vang Sweet Italian sausage mingles with chopped tart apples and sage in this lovely autumn dish. We use a cubed baguette for a toasted crouton feel, but you can play around with the base: try using crumbled-up cornbread, cubed challah, or brioche instead. Get the recipe 06 of 45 Spinach, Apple, and Walnut Salad Maura McEvoy This simple salad is great for nights when you need an appetizer in a pinch. It's made with several ingredients you likely have on hand already, and comes together in just 10 minutes. We especially love how the sweet Golden Delicious apple chunks taste alongside some tangy, crumbled goat cheese. 07 of 45 Boozy Apple Cider Slushie J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler Want to know how to win at any fall or winter holiday? Make boozy apple cider slushies. These delightful frozen cocktails taste like nothing you've ever had before. If you want to get super-fancy, garnish each drink with an apple slice and cinnamon stick. Your friends will be begging you to make these all year round. Get the recipe 08 of 45 Maple Baked Apples Sang An Baked apples are one of the easiest desserts to make, but that doesn't mean they aren't delicious. Here, easy baked apples are topped with maple syrup, walnuts, and golden raisins. If you've got some vanilla ice cream in the freezer, go ahead and serve it alongside the finished treat. 09 of 45 Sheet Pan Apple Crisp Caitlin Bensel For a scrumptious apple dessert that requires minimal cleanup, try this sheet pan treat that's made with Gala apples, rolled oats, and plenty of warm spices. The genius of using a sheet pan here is that the ratio of apples to crisp is essentially 50-50, which yields some delicious results. Pro tip: this crisp recipe also works with other hearty fruits, such as pears, peaches, or plums. Get the recipe 10 of 45 Apple Coffee Cake Twist With Giant Crumbs Brie Passano The sweet-and-spicy cinnamon crumb topping is unquestionably the best part of any coffee cake. So naturally, we made it the star of this dessert. Here, the big, buttery crumbs sit atop an elegant crescent roll twist, which is more striking to serve (and simpler to bake) than a traditional coffee cake. Add apples to the mix, and you've got pastry perfection. Get the recipe 11 of 45 Celery and Apple Salad With Toasted Buckwheat Alison Miksch Celery, apple, and toasted buckwheat deliver a variety of textures that make this healthy lunch idea extremely satisfying. Toasted buckwheat is a fun and nutritious add-on that fits into a gluten-free diet. Bonus: this recipe won't wilt like other salads by the time the clock hits lunchtime. Get the recipe 12 of 45 Catfish With Apple and Cabbage Slaw Aya Brackett Bold cayenne pepper-spiced catfish is served alongside sweet and tangy cabbage slaw in this recipe, for an easy, balanced meal. The colorful slaw includes hearty farro, red cabbage, apple slices, cilantro, and some apple cider vinegar. While you can use just about any apple variety here, we recommend a Gala or Pink Lady. 13 of 45 Apple-Cheddar Quesadillas Antonis Achilleos Apples in a quesadilla? Just trust us. Here, Honeycrisp apple slices mingle with sharp Cheddar cheese and a tangy honey mustard sauce to add a pop of flavor to this sweet and savory 25-minute meal. If you can't find Honeycrisp apples, look for Gala, Braeburn, or the Pink Lady variety instead. Get the recipe 14 of 45 Mustardy Kale Salad With Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple Roland Bello Packed with protein and fiber, this hearty main course salad is a nutritional powerhouse. Combine the kale, roasted sweet potato, chopped apple, and almonds in a large bowl and drizzle with a tangy mustard vinaigrette. Once dressed, massage the kale with clean hands to make the salad more palatable. Get the recipe 15 of 45 Seared Salmon with Israeli Couscous Jennifer Causey There are plenty of sides that go great with a piece of salmon, but we're partial to this Israeli couscous salad. It's made with whole-wheat Israeli couscous, chopped apple pieces, parsley, baby arugula, red onion, and toasted pine nuts, and boasts a refreshing yet simple mustard and lemon zest dressing. get the recipe 16 of 45 Potato Pierogi With Sautéed Cabbage and Apples Kana Okada Turn frozen potato pierogi into a meal by serving with a simple side of apples, cabbage, and onions. Get the recipe 17 of 45 Slow Cooker Apple Spice Cake Victor Protasio This slow cooker cake takes nearly five hours to come together, but only requires 30 minutes of hands-on work, as the appliance does the majority of the heavy lifting. The dessert, which is studded with apple bits, is dusted with a light coating of powdered sugar, but it would be equally delicious drizzled with caramel sauce. get the recipe 18 of 45 Parm-Crusted Grilled Cheese Jennifer Causey If you're a grilled cheese fan, you need to give this Parmigiano-Reggiano-crusted version a whirl. Not only does the sandwich boast a salty, crunchy exterior that's several notches above your standard fare, but it's filled with Gruyère cheese, Gala apple slices, and a slather of sharp Dijon mustard. While the cheese and apple pieces juxtapose each other nicely, the mustard works to balance the two. Get the recipe 19 of 45 Dehydrated Apple Slices Getty Images Sure, you can bite into a perfectly crisp apple if you're on the hunt for a satisfying snack, but if you're in the mood for something a bit different, try dehydrating your apple slices instead. The simple process yields crispy apple pieces that are great as a solo snack, in granola, or on top of a comforting bowl of oatmeal. Get the recipe 20 of 45 Microwave Baked Apples Getty Images Midnight snack, anyone? These baked apples are about as easy to make as it gets, as the microwave does the most of the work. Choose from fillings and toppings of your choice, such as cranberries, currants, granola, ice cream, and more. The 6 Best Practices for Baking With Fruit, According to a Cookbook Author Get the recipe 21 of 45 Apple Cinnamon-Spiced Cocktail a_namenko Once fall rolls around, trade in your rosé and canned cocktails for a delicious, apple-flavored libation. This cocktail calls for Aperol, fresh lemon juice, apple cider, and vodka, and can be garnished with apropos items such as apple slices or cinnamon sticks. get the recipe 22 of 45 Kale-Apple Smoothie Grant Cornett Eat your greens and keep the doctor away with this healthy smoothie recipe. It's great if you're looking for a post-workout recovery drink or something to sip on on the way to work. If you're really pressed for time, you can blend it the night before, freeze it, and let it thaw for sipping later. 21 Healthy Breakfast Smoothies for When You Need a Quick Meal on the Go Get the recipe 23 of 45 Sweet Potato and Apple Soup With Cheese and Walnuts William Brinson The lusciousness of a sweet potato, combined with tender onions, helps give this easy soup a delicious creaminess without a speck of cream. Nutmeg brings out the sweetness of the cooked sweet potato and apple, and a side of tangy blue cheese, walnuts and crisp apples is the perfect pair for this classic fall meal. Get the recipe 24 of 45 The Best Old-Fashioned Apple Pie RealSimple.com While we love an impressive dessert, sometimes there's nothing better than a slice of warm apple pie. This recipe for an old-fashioned take on the American classic calls for about eight cups of thinly sliced apples, and is best served a la mode. But, if you're in the mood for a savory twist, sprinkle a half cup of grated Cheddar cheese over the top crust about 20 minutes before you remove the pie from the oven. Get the recipe 25 of 45 Spinach Smoothie With Avocado and Apple Christopher Baker Does it get much healthier than this smoothie? The creamy concoction packs just four ingredients: fiber-filled apples, avocado, kale, and fresh apple juice. Not a fan of kale? Swap in spinach. get the recipe 26 of 45 Roast Chicken, Apples, and Leeks Miha Matei Rosemary adds an earthy flavor to this no-fuss chicken dish. Get the recipe 27 of 45 Pork With Buttered Apples Grant Cornett There's just something about the combination of sweet apples and pork that really works. Here, you'll cook pork tenderloin and serve it alongside a mixture of buttered apples and thyme. While tenderloin is typically the leanest cut of pork, the buttered apple accompaniment adds a richness to this meal that you won't be able to resist. 28 of 45 Pork With Sautéed Granny Smith Apples Antonis Achilleos Cook tart apples until tender and golden-brown and pair with crisp cumin-dusted pork cutlets. 29 of 45 Homemade Hot Apple Cider chas53/Getty Images Sure, you can stock up on apple cider at your local farmers market or grocery store, or you could make the autumnal drink all by yourself. Though whipping up some homemade cider might sound intimidating, it only requires about 20 minutes of hands-on prep and makes use of several fall pantry staples. Get the recipe 30 of 45 Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple Soup Ken Kochey Warm up with this healthy vegetarian soup, which gets its rich consistency from pureed sweet potatoes. 31 of 45 Good Morning Green Smoothie Caitlin Bensel Tossing some apple slices into a smoothie is a great way to add some subtle sweetness to the drink. In this easy recipe, a roughly chopped Granny Smith apple balances out some soy milk, fresh spinach, a Persian cucumber and frozen pineapple chunks. Get the recipe 32 of 45 Sage and Apple Stuffing Mikkel Vang When added to stuffing, apples provide a touch of sweetness and moisture that pairs perfectly with turkey, which can often be a touch dry. Here, rustic bread, some veggies, and chicken broth are paired with butter-crisped sage leaves tucked into each bite, and grated apple. For this recipe, we prefer a Fuji or Pink Lady apple. Get the recipe 33 of 45 Ginger-Apple Chutney Max Kelly This homemade chutney boasts earthy spices, like cumin and fennel seeds, that add depth to the sweet-tart apples. You'll also find fresh ginger, which adds bright heat, and red onion, which has savory appeal. If you like spice, you can even add a red serrano chili to the mixture. Enjoy this condiment with roast chicken, pork chops, or whatever else you desire. 34 of 45 Big Batch Morning Glory Baked Oatmeal Greg DuPree Start your morning off with this baked oatmeal that feeds a crowd. Inside you'll find oats stirred together with coconut flakes, sweet-tart apples, and raisins, which allows them to soak up all that extra flavor. Furthermore, the addition of eggs in the batter make this breakfast deliciously pudding-like. Get the recipe 35 of 45 Ravioli With Apples and Walnuts Jose Picayo Add crunch to your favorite store-bought ravioli with chopped apples and walnuts. Get the recipe 36 of 45 Slow Cooker Apple-and-Pear Sauce Greg DuPree Apple and pear sauce isn't exactly something you can find at the grocery store, which is why we developed a recipe so you can make it at home using a slow cooker. Here, apples and pears cook together with some water, pure maple syrup, fresh lemon juice, the insides of a vanilla bean, and a cinnamon stick. The result is a sweet sauce that's good on its own or served alongside poultry or pork. Get the recipe 37 of 45 Rustic Apple Tart David Prince For an apple dessert that requires just 5 minutes of hands-on work, give this rustic tart a try. It's made with refrigerated pie crust and frozen cinnamon apples, which is why it's so easy to throw together. Get the recipe 38 of 45 Cast Iron Mummy Pie RealSimple.com For a Halloween treat that's slightly spooky but still delicious, give this creepy Mummy Pie a whirl. While the exterior is made with pie dough arranged to look like a mummified head, the sweet, slightly tart red filling features frozen raspberries and three pounds of apples. We like the Granny Smith, Braeburn, or Golden Delicious variety. 39 of 45 Apple Cake With Caramel Glaze Amy Neunsinger Pour a sticky caramel sauce over the spiced apple cake and let it soak in to add extra moisture and another layer of flavor. 40 of 45 Brown Butter & Vanilla Pear Pie Johnny Miller While pears are the star of this pie, it's also filled with chopped apples and plenty of pure vanilla extract. What really sets this dessert apart, however, is the rich brown butter the fruit filling is tossed in. It adds depth of flavor to the dessert and gives it a mild nutty taste you'll love. Get the recipe 41 of 45 Apple Streusel Dump Cake Caitlin Bensel Dump cakes might not look like much, but we promise they deliver when it comes to taste. This one is made with apples, cinnamon, and a squeeze of lemon juice for balance, just like traditional pie filling. The fruit mixture is then covered with a crispy topping that includes rolled oats, cinnamon, and ginger. The bonus streusel layer is made up of big, buttery, crunchy crumbs. Get the recipe 42 of 45 Cranberry-Apple Crisp Greg DuPree This dessert is just as quick and easy as apple crisp, but twice as interesting thanks to the inclusion of cranberries. The bright red bits not only add more complex flavors, but also prevent this treat from becoming overly sweet. Additionally, roasted, salted macadamia nuts and rolled oats make for an extra-crispy streusel topping you won't want to miss. Pair this dessert with big scoops of vanilla ice cream and you're good to go. 43 of 45 One-Tray Maple Pork Chops Caitlin Bensel What's better than a lavish pork chop dinner? A pork chop dinner that can be made in one baking sheet and is on the table in less than 30 minutes. This balanced meal includes maple-mustard glazed chops and savory-sweet parsnips, fennel, and apples, which play off the juicy meat. Get the recipe 44 of 45 Bourbon-Cranberry Compote Gentl & Hyers This compote recipe is foolproof and fuss-free, plus you can make it ahead of time (which is a blessing, especially in busy holiday seasons). You'll simply heat fresh or frozen cranberries and sugar with apple juice and bourbon in a saucepan until it thickens up nicely. Let the compote cool, and store it in a covered container in the refrigerator until you're ready for the feast. get the recipe 45 of 45 Carrot-Apple Slaw Antonis Achilleos Need an easy BBQ side? Opt for this colorful and healthy slaw, which requires just five minutes of hands-on work. It pairs well with just about any cookout staple, but is especially delicious alongside grilled sausages, seared steak, or pulled pork sandwiches. Get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit