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Best Apple Desserts (20 Amazing Recipes)

Published: Aug 28, 2023 · Modified: Oct 16, 2023 by Shiran · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

I am often asked about my best apple dessert recipes so I created this list for exactly that purpose. My favorite apple recipes now have a home together on one page. Just in time for fall harvest and apple picking, I’m sure you’ll find a delicious recipe on this list.

One of the reasons I love fall so much is for all the amazing seasonal desserts. I love baking with ingredients like pumpkin, maple syrup, and of course, apples. Don’t get me wrong, I love summer desserts, too, like cherry pie and chocolate cookie ice cream sandwiches (I’m an equal opportunity dessert lover), but ’tis the season for warm and cozy treats. So bring on the apples!

Here are my top favorite easy apple dessert recipes on the blog. They’re simple to make and perfect for all of the fall and winter holidays, or really whenever you have a craving for something sweet and comforting.

1. Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake

This exquisite apple upside down cake is made with a bottom layer of gooey, caramel apples that becomes the top after baking. It’s incredibly moist, decadent, and always a showstopper due to the beautiful pattern of apples that adorns the top. It’s one of the BEST apple dessert recipes and perfect for impressing guests this holiday season!

2. Baked Apple Cider Donuts

These taste just like the apple cider donuts you ate at the pumpkin patch as a kid! They’re one of my favorite apple desserts, are soft and incredibly tender. Made with concentrated apple cider for amazing apple flavor, they’re dipped in melted butter and coated in a sugar spice mix after baking which makes them irresistibly good. Here’s a pro tip: always make an extra batch – they go quick!

3. Caramelized Apple Blondies

This is one of most highly requested desserts from friends during the fall – they really are that good! These chewy, decadent blondies have caramelized apples and yummy autumn spices baked in that come together for a moist and delicious bite of heaven. I love this recipe because it is so incredibly simple to make, yet absolutely delicious.

4. Apple Pancakes

Take breakfast to new heights with these fluffy apple pancakes! They’re perfect for chilly fall mornings and lazy weekends. Topped with sweet, buttery, and tender pieces of apple for added flavor and crunch, these are one of my seasonal go-tos when I’m craving something sweet for breakfast (or let’s face it, sometimes dinner).

5. Caramel Apple Pie

You can’t post about the best apple dessert recipes without including apple pie! But this is not your average apple pie. No, this apple dessert calls for cooking and caramelizing the apples before you fill the pie shell, so they’re extraordinarily soft and gooey once the pie is baked. Made with a perfect flaky, buttery pie crust , this apple pie is over-the-top delicious. I highly recommend serving it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

6. Apple Toffee Cupcakes

I love a cupcake, and these apple toffee cupcakes perfectly embody so many scrumptious fall flavors. The cake is moist, tender and baked with apples and the toffee frosting is rich and velvety smooth. Bring them to a holiday party, the office, or simply make a batch and save them for yourself. You won’t regret it!

7. Caramel Apple Scones

Scones are one of my all-time favorite pastries, and these caramel apple scones are a true winner. They’re buttery and crumbly the way scones should be, baked with apples and topped with gobs of caramel sauce. Eat one for breakfast, dessert, or really, anytime of day. Need I say more?

8. Caramel Apple Rolls

This is one of my favorite dessert-for-breakfast meals. If you want your kitchen to be filled with a truly amazing smell, try making these caramel apple rolls. Fluffy, tender, and filled with sticky apple caramel filling, they are an absolutely delicious addition to your holiday dessert repertoire. Made with brown sugar and cinnamon, they are truly irresistible.

9. Easy Puff Pastry Apple Tart

Made with only four ingredients, there’s nothing not to love about this. It’s one of the best apple desserts I bake when I’m in a hurry. Made with flaky puff pastry and baked with apples and sugar, this tart is perfect when you need a dessert on the fly. Feel free to customize this one as you like: add cinnamon, slivered almonds, even raisins. Top it with a dash of powdered sugar and of course, a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

10. Apple Crumble

The holidays would not be complete without apple crumble! In my mind, this apple dessert is a seasonal staple. Juicy and tender apples are tossed in cinnamon and sugar and baked with crunchy streusel on top, creating an amazing aroma in the kitchen as it bakes. You can also mix it up by adding cranberries or raisins, but either way, everyone is going to love this dessert. 

11. 5-Ingredient Individual Apple Crumbles

Similar to my apple crumble recipe but in individual portion sizes, these apple crumbles look divine served in ramekins. They’re a great way to spruce up dessert during the holidays and taste amazing. You can also individualize ice cream pairings for each guest based on what they prefer: a scoop of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, or pumpkin ice creams are all perfect accompaniments. The only hard part is choosing which one you want (I personally go for a bit of each)!

12. Caramel Apple Bread

Not quite a bread, not quite a dessert, but somewhere in between, this caramel apple bread is moist, tender, and flavorful. It’s baked with apples and topped with a thick and crunchy caramel icing. I love serving this bread at holiday parties because not only does it taste amazing, but it looks absolutely mouthwatering

13. Apple Cake

Words can’t quite describe my love for this apple cake. One of the reasons is for its simplicity – after you’ve cut up the apples, it takes about 5 minutes to make. Once baked, it tastes just like a piece of cake your grandmother would serve. Super moist and bursting with flavor, this apple cake is one of my go-to favorites. 

14. Apple Crumb Muffins

Desserts with complementary textures and flavors are always amazing, and these apple crumb muffins fit the bill. These moist, soft muffins are baked with juicy apples in the batter and topped with crunchy, buttery streusel that’s baked right in. They make a great grab-and-go fall breakfast treat or are perfect served alongside a holiday meal. 

15. Applesauce Bread

If you’re looking for a perfect quickbread to serve this Thanksgiving, look no further! This inviting  applesauce bread is truly delectable. It’s super versatile and can be served alongside a meal, for dessert, or even for breakfast with your morning coffee. Feel free to mix up the add-ins, too, like dried apricots, apples, and raisins or nuts like almonds or walnuts. 

16. Apple Pie Bars

Made with layers of crunchy, buttery shortbread crust, caramelized juicy apples, and crispy cinnamon-oat streusel, these apple pie taste just like apple pie but in easy-to-make bar form.

17. Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Made with caramelized apples, buttery cookie crumb crust, and rich, autumn-spiced cheesecake filling, this caramel apple cheesecake is absolutely incredible.

18. Mulled Apple Cider

This classic mulled apple cider is served warm and full of delicious fall spices. It only takes 10 minutes to make and you can even add some red or wine wine if you want to enhance the flavor!

19. Apple Hand Pies

Apple pie is an all American classic but want to really blow it out of the park? Make these darling  apple hand pies  for your guests! These beautiful little pies are the perfect easy-to-snack-on individual size and great for any gathering!

20. Homemade Applesauce

Applesauce is easy and quick to make at home, and only needs a few basic ingredients. It is a great way to use up your bounty of freshly picked apples!

Before you get baking… do you have what you need?

• Apple corer/slicer: This handy tool makes it so much easier to process apples for all of your baking needs. I use this all the time!
• Apple corer: If all you need is to remove the core and prefer to make your own slices, all you need is an apple corer to get the task done much faster!
• 9-inch Pie Pan: A pan for classic pies!
• Springform Pan: This is essential when making delicious cheesecakes!

All of these apple recipes are near and dear to my heart and absolutely delicious! Let me know in the comments which one(s) you made, I’d love to know. Happy baking!

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I endorse products that I love and use daily.

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28 Delicious Apple Desserts

From cider cake to Tarte Tatin, here's how to enjoy sweet applications for all those apples this season.

When fall rolls around, apple pie is an obvious dessert — bursting with fresh, soft apples and a crispy crust . However, there are plenty of other ways we love to make the most of apple season, including apple cake, fritters, ice cream sandwiches, and fluffy apple sharlotka . Read on for those recipes and more autumnal apple desserts we can't get enough of.

Apple Upside-Down Cake

Cara Cormack

If you have a couple of apples, you probably have everything else needed to make this dessert that comes together in just 20 minutes of active time without having to pull out a mixer.

Tarte Tatin

Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle

Tarte Tatin is a French dessert for which apples are caramelized in a skillet with butter and sugar, then topped with a round of pastry dough and baked. Benoît Guichard's recipe is award-winning.

Gorgeous Glazed Apple Fritters

Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely 

Apple fritters are one of fall’s greatest pleasures — and they’re surprisingly easy to make at home after apple picking.

Spiced Brown-Butter Apples

Dessert doesn’t get easier than this pan of tender roasted apples drenched in browned butter and cozy spices.

Cinnamon-Apple Babka

Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Tender, buttery pastry dough is wrapped around sliced apples that are seasoned with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and ginger for this fall dessert. 

Apple-Rum Spice Cake

A tender chiffon cake pairs well with the light and billowy frosting, seasoned with spicy-fresh ginger juice. Warm spices and a shot of rum add a kick to the apple compote that makes this a centerpiece dessert for the adult table.

Apple-Pomegranate Cobbler

This juicy and bright apple cobbler is just the right amount of sweet, with an irresistibly tender and crunchy crust on top.

Maple-Apple Upside-Down Cake

This is one of the best upside-down cakes ever — the maple syrup infuses both the apples and the cake, making the dessert taste like a stack of apple pancakes.

Apple Cake with Cranberries

For his moist and buttery upside-down cake, Food & Wine's Justin Chapple layers apples with cranberries and brown sugar, then tops them with a fantastic sour cream batter.

Country Apple Galette

Chef Jacques Pépin loves to serve this delicate apple tart as a buffet dessert, since it's beautiful, easy to slice, and simple to eat, pizza-style, while standing. The miraculously easy and versatile pastry dough comes together in a food processor in less than 20 seconds and can be filled with all sorts of fruits or vegetables. Because the tart is free-form, the pastry can be rolled into either a round or a rectangle.

Apple Pie Bars

These bars have a nutty, streusel-like topping and a crisp shortbread crust. It's America's iconic dessert, transformed into an indulgent snack.

Double-Crust Apple Pie

F&W's former senior test kitchen editor Grace Parisi uses a mix of Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Golden Delicious apples for this iconic dessert.

Granny Smith Apple and Brown Butter Custard Tart

Pastry chef Kate Neumann often showcases rich, nutty, fragrant browned butter in her desserts. Here, she adds it to a sweet custard loaded with caramelized apples and baked in a buttery tart shell.

Apple Bread Pudding

© Anson Smart

Chef Gail Simmons to the rescue! How does she transform a lackluster Top Chef Season 3 bread pudding into a standout dessert? By sautéing apples in brandy and butter and soaking them alongside brioche in lots of vanilla custard before baking.

Spiced Upside-Down Apple Bundt Cake

David Guas, co-author of the cookbook DamGoodSweet , tops his apple bundt cake with a nicely salty streusel of pecans and toasted rolled oats. He bakes the streusel on its own to make it extraordinarily crisp, then pats it over the warm cake right out of the oven.

Apple and Olive Oil Bundt Cake

At Coyle's Bakeshop in Seattle, chef-owner Rachael Coyle always keeps a bundt cake or two in the case. This autumnal version, an adaptation of an Italian apple cake, is moist and light, fragrant with freshly ground spices and studded with chunks of fruit. In the spring, substitute fresh rhubarb for the apples.

Apple Tart with Almond Cream

In this delicious dessert, the thin, crisp pastry shell is filled with a layer of almond cream made from both finely ground and coarsely chopped nuts that give the tart layers of texture. The thinly sliced apples on top caramelize as the tart bakes.

Apple Cake with Toffee Crust

When pastry chef Lara Atkins was little, her mother made this cake for her bridge club; Atkins remembers how she and her brothers would have to wait (and wait and wait) for their slices until all the ladies of the club had served themselves. Atkins now makes the cake for her son, who never has to wait for his piece.

Apple Pie Granita

Emeril Lagasse transforms natural apple juice into a refreshing granita in 15 minutes.

Apple Pandowdy

Pie for a crowd, this pandowdy uses a mix of Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Golden Delicious apples for the perfect fall dessert.

Apple Cider Cream Pie

In 2009, chef Allison Kave and her boyfriend, Jay Horton, won Brooklyn's Pie Bake-Off with this clever pie. The challenge was to use a local ingredient, so they chose apple cider and developed this delicious combination of cream pie and apple pie.

Apple Sharlotka

© CHRISTINA HOLMES

Chef Matt Danko uses his father's recipe to make sharlotka, a deliciously light and fluffy Russian apple cake.

Apple Cider Cake

If you love apple cider doughnuts, try this tender, moist cake next.

Apple Pie à la Mode Ice Cream Sandwiches

Top Chef winner Kristen Kish designed this dessert to honor both of her grandmothers, one known for her apple pie and the other for her snickerdoodles. Kish folds spiced apple pie filling into vanilla ice cream, then sandwiches it between chewy snickerdoodle cookies.

Apple Tart with Apricot Glaze

Frank Stitt, owner of Highlands Bar & Grill in Birmingham, Alabama, started his culinary education by working for the late great cookbook author Richard Olney in Provence, France. This tart is the final dish in a dinner party menu designed by Stitt and inspired by Olney's love of seasonal produce and great wine.

Deep-Dish All-American Cinnamon Apple Pie

This pie — one of our 40 best recipes — gets its intensely apple-y flavor from macerating the apples in sugar for an hour. The liquid drained from the apples is simmered with a hit of butter until a syrup forms. That rich syrup is mixed with the apples, piled into the crust, and baked until tender and delicious.

Apple Crisp with Dried Cranberries

For this dessert, chef Lee Woolver recommends a tart apple, like the Northern Spy variety that grows all over upstate New York. To make the recipe more decadent, he often adds chocolate chips.

Caramelized Apple Clafoutis

This lightly sweet pastry, studded with caramelized apple, is one component of an elaborate dish entitled Brillat-Savarin. Its major ingredients — apples, créme fraîche, Calvados, and the Brillat-Savarin cheese — all come from Normandy, France.

Related Articles

46 Apple Dessert Recipes That Will Have You So Excited For Fall

Move over peaches and plums , it's apple time.

Speaking of pumpkin, every year our pie recipes battle it out for top holiday dessert of the year. We’re partial to making them ALL, but if you’re an apple fan, you’ve got to try our apple pie . It’s flaky and buttery, with the perfect sweet-tart filling... swoon. Best of all, we’ve got tons of variations on it too. Try our bacon weave apple pie , our mini apple pies , our apple butter pie , and our apple crumb pie . With all these recipes, you could have a pie a week this fall, no problem.

Looking for easier apple desserts? We get it, pie can be a BIG endeavor. Turn to shortcut ingredients like store-bought caramel , puff pastry , crescent roll dough , phyllo dough , and even the apples themselves to make things a lot easier on yourself. Try our crustless apple “pies” , our French apple tart , our apple dumplings , or our apple strudel for ideas. They’re super-impressive without a ton of effort on your part. Win win.

Want more fall dessert inspiration? Check out our favorite sweet potato desserts and our top pumpkin desserts too.

Crescent Apple Dumplings

Using refrigerated crescent dough makes these apple dumplings a cinch to make and adds an extra buttery, flaky texture that truly takes them over the top. Trust us on the secret ingredient too—lemon-lime soda turns into a sweet sauce that you can drizzle over your gooey apple dumplings.

Get the Crescent Apple Dumplings recipe .

Apple pie is the pinnacle of classic American desserts , and everyone needs a staple recipe up their sleeve. If you’ve been searching for one that delivers a flaky, buttery crust and a perfectly sweet-tart apple filling, we’re here to tell you—this is it.

Get the Apple Pie recipe .

French Apple Tart

This tart is so easy to make and uses store-bought puff pastry dough, meaning it can be ready in under an hour. The glaze uses a little Grand Marnier, which can be left out or replaced with rum or cognac. It really brings the whole tart together, and we highly recommend it!

Get the French Apple Tart recipe .

Apple Cider Whoopie Pies

Picture all the delightfulness of an apple cider donut , stuffed full of cream cheese frosting and drizzled in salted caramel, and you'll have these incredible whoopie pies. Best part? They're pretty straight-forward to make!

Get the Apple Cider Whoopie Pies recipe .

Apple Crisp Cookie Cups

These cookie cups are WAY better than an apple crisp or pie . Why? They're handheld, and that oatmeal crust is SO good.

Get the Apple Crisp Cookie Cups recipe .

Apple Coffee Cake

Apples work wonders in this easy coffee cake . They add extra sweetness as well as making the cake extra moist and tender. We love it with Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples, but your favorite baking apple will do the trick!

Get the Apple Coffee Cake recipe .

Apple Pie Bars

When you need to make apple pie for a big group, these bars are absolutely perfect. With a no-fuss crust that you press (not roll), they're SO easier to throw together, and you can't beat that nutty crumb topping.

Get the Apple Pie Bars recipe .

Apple Crisp Cheesecake

Apple crisp meets cheesecake in a collaboration of EPIC proportions. Take this to the next level with some homemade whipped cream too.

Get the Apple Crisp Cheesecake recipe .

Apple Butter Pie

Want something that couldn’t be easier to put together and to eat? This pie, a cross between a pumpkin and a Dutch apple pie , is adorned with an irresistible crunchy crumble. Buy apple butter at most grocery stores or make your own !

Get the Apple Butter Pie recipe .

Apple Cookies

These snickerdoodle -like cookies are chewy in the center and slightly crisp around the edges. The dough is infused with all the best warm autumnal spices, thanks to the shortcut superhero apple pie spice, and each bite is packed with plenty of tart Granny Smith apple chunks. On top is a drizzle of thick white icing to take these cookies OTT.

Get the Apple Cookies recipe .

Apple Crisp

When butter, brown sugar, and oats are combined, something incredible happens in a way that apple pie just can’t match. You'll almost forget the apples are the second layer beneath.

Get the Apple Crisp recipe .

Apple Cider Donut Pound Cake

Rich and dense with a cinnamon sugar coating that gets all over our fingers, this cake is warmly spiced and so much easier than frying up a dozen apple cider donuts .

Get the Apple Cider Donut Pound Cake recipe .

Apple Galette

We LOVE galettes. They've got all the delicious elements of pie : flaky, buttery crust, and tender baked fruit. What they don't have is fussy technique: no crimping, no lattice work, and absolutely no blind baking. Sometimes, it's okay to take the easy road.

Get the Apple Galette recipe .

Caramel Apples

Caramel apples are one of fall's greatest pleasures. Not only are they easy to make, they're also super-fun to personalize. Follow our easy step-by-step instructions and have an autumnal treat in no time! No state fair required.

Get the Caramel Apples recipe .

Crustless Apple Pies

You need to try this hasselback trick with apples ASAP. It tastes like a cross between a homemade apple pie and a warm apple crumble . The best part: You don't need to deal with rolling out and chilling pie dough . 😍

Get the Crustless Apple Pies recipe .

Apple Cider Donut Cake

In our minds, fall isn't fall 'til we've had at least a dozen apple cider donuts . This super-sized version comes together in no time, and there's no deep-frying involved. That's a win in our book!

Get the Apple Cider Donut Cake recipe .

Caramel Apple Pie

A classic apple pie is always at the top of our fall baking list, but this year we are deciding to step it up. Caramel sauce brings out the sweetness of apples and makes them taste even MORE like fall.

Get the Caramel Apple Pie recipe .

Apple Spice Cake

When baking, it’s best to use a robust apple like Pink Lady, Braeburn, or Honeycrisp. It should be sweet, tart, and sturdy—nothing is worse than eating a flavorless mealy apple pie. In the case of this apple cake , Pink Ladies live up to all of your baked apple expectations: lightly sweet, tart, crisp, and sturdy.

Get the Apple Spice Cake recipe .

McDonald's Apple Pie

Our take on McDonald's apple pie skips the deep fry and is baked instead for an even better copycat of the fast food favorite.

Get the McDonald's Apple Pie recipe .

Apple Cobbler

Nothing says fall better than an apple cobbler . It's amazing right out of the oven with a big scoop of ice cream on top.

Get the Apple Cobbler recipe .

Fall Favorites

Baked Sweet Potato

27 Easy Italian Sausage Recipes

30 Side Dishes For Pork Chops

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

25 Best Savory Pie Recipes

Dirty Chai Blondies

Apple Butter

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Matcha Latte

40 Best Vegetable Soups

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Let's Eat Cake is the lifestyle site for Millennial women. We’re your source for lifestyle, entertainment, fashion, beauty, jokes, puns, food news, coffee trends, and baking recipes.

These 30 Easy Apple Desserts Are Already Our Favorite Thing About Fall

We are still trying to enjoy the last stretch of summer , we swear. There are some pool days left, and we have the mosquito bites to show for it. But these easy apple desserts are getting us ready to ditch the bikinis and locate our oversized sweatshirts.

We won’t bore you with an anecdote about how we went apple picking at an orchard in upstate New York and came home with so many apples that we had to don our apron and get to baking. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, though.

But the worst part about having an abundance of apples is deciding what to do with them. And sometimes, we don’t have the patience for a lengthy recipe that’ll require seven mixing bowls and two business days to complete.

30 Easy Apple Desserts

1. cinnamon apple chips.

2. Snow White Poison Apple Pie Pops

3. Caramel Apple Bars

These luscious Caramel Apple Bars are at the threshold of “easy” recipes, with six ingredients. Sub in canned apple filling, which will leave you plenty of time to house half the tray once they’re baked . Or the whole tray.

4. Apple Pie Tacos

These Apple Pie Tacos are the perfect ending to your taco Tuesday munch fest. We love how basically anything can go in a taco. Except the tequila.

5. Caramel Apple Dump Cake

We love this Easy Caramel Apple Dump Cake because it’s a practically effortless way to achieve the taste of an old fashioned apple pie . It’s like we said, “Alexa, make us an apple pie” and then walked away. Maybe in the next update?

6. Instant Pot Baked Apples

It almost Instant Pot season! Is there anything it can’t do? This Instant Pot Baked Apples recipe produces two apples, so it can be a fun date night. Just make sure your date isn’t expecting something else when you say “pot” and “baked.”

7. Air Fryer Apple Crisp

Any form of warm apple dessert will sing when vanilla ice cream is added. Based on experimentation, this Air Fryer Apple Crisp can handle at least three scoops on top. Anyone who said we “drowned” it can’t be trusted.

8. Caramel Apple Dip

There is no kid on Earth who will turn their head away from fruit when it’s served as this Caramel Apple Dip . But if they do, more for you.

9. Apple Cider Donut Loaf Cake

We love the newish trend of “ apple cider donut ” as a flavor, as opposed to the more traditional “apple cider” flavor. It definitely makes us more interested to try this Apple Cider Donut Loaf Cake .

10. Cinnamon Apple Pie

Easy is in the eye of the beholder, but don’t let this Cinnamon Apple Pie recipe intimidate you just because it has a few more ingredients than others. It’s still easier than trying to decipher the recipe your great grandma wrote down in pencil back in 1912.

11. British Apple Scones

Sometimes, we like to pretend we’re fancier than we are, which means making involved recipes . Oh, and scones. But this low-impact British Apple Scone recipe will have us enjoying Elevenses with our pinky up in no time.

12. Apple Pie Cookies

This is the same trending Apple Pie Cookie recipe you’ve been seeing everywhere, but adapted to use fridge crust and canned filling, so it’s not as annoying to make. Finally, someone gets us.

13. No-Peel Apple Cake

The most time-consuming part of many apple recipes is peeling the fruit, and thankfully this No-Peel Apple Cake skips that step. Also, it can be served warm, room-temp, or cold, so it’s really the best for lazy and/or distracted people. Us. That’s us.

14. Apple Crumble

There are enough steps here that you may want to reserve this classic Apple Crumble for special occasions—like the October 6 season premiere of Loki . Our calendars have been marked for a totally reasonable amount of time, why do you ask?

15. Apple Tarte Tatin

This Apple Tarte Tatin literally takes three days to make, but don’t let that scare you . That’s just the time the apple slices need to chill out in the fridge. Taking “me time” is important.

16. Sour Cream Apple Bars

Putting these Sour Cream Apple Bars together takes only about ten minutes, and the rest is baking time. Who says it’s too late to start on a summer tan?

17. Apple and Blueberry Crumble

If you’re a high-functioning planner type, this will work for you, as you can make the dough and filling for this Apple and Blueberry Crumble days in advance. We’d probably forget it’s in there, but we’re happy for you.

18. Puff Pastry Apple Pie

This Puff Pastry Apple Pie is very similar to a traditional apple pie recipe, but you can use store-bought puff-pastry sheets instead. Read: more time to focus on the important things, like grooming your cat and binge-watching old Halloween movies .

19. Taffy Apple Salad

Sure, it’s a salad. A Taffy Apple Salad . That magic word allows us to feel healthy while we chow down on Snickers bars and marshmallows . Why don’t we call everything a salad?

20. Lithuanian Apple Yogurt Cake

If you want to expand your horizons by trying this Lithuanian Apple Yogurt Cake (and we know we do), you’ll have to think in Celsius. Just flip the switch in your brain. Sorry, ours is in the shop.

21. Upside Down Apple Tarts

The inclusion of brie in this Upside Down Apple Tart recipe takes it to the next level. Take this as a reminder to add brie to more stuff. Like our lunch box every morning. Thanks, bestie.

22. Apple Butter Pound Cake

This is the perfect Apple Butter Pound Cake recipe to serve at fall gatherings, if you can find your Bundt cake pan. We think ours is lost behind our George Foreman grill.

23. Apple Hand Pies

Hand pies are awesome for packing in lunches or taking on picnics and camping trips. These Apple Hand Pies have instructions for vegan and gluten-free substitutions, so there is something for everyone. Even your annoying cousin.

24. Caramel Apple Spice Cookies

Caramel apples are super messy, so try these Caramel Apple Spice Cookies if you want the same vibe without getting your hair stuck all over it. We could still find a way, though.

25. Apple Custard Bars

Apple Custard Bars are one of those dessert recipes that are easy to convince yourself are wholesome enough for breakfast, too. Go ahead, have one with your morning Dunkin’. Or the whole batch.

26. Apple Pie Crescent Rolls

This Apple Pie Crescent Roll recipe has unlocked so many childhood memories of those refrigerated rolls that go “pop!” But these are definitely grown-up enough to serve anytime. Sound effects not included.

27. Apple Samoas

These Apple Samoas are such a genius (and healthy) way to satisfy that craving for Girl Scout cookies . Hey, come back here, Girl Scout! We didn’t say we wouldn’t still take ten boxes.

28. Apple Strudel

This Austrian Apple Strudel is suggested for Oktoberfest, and you know what that means. It’s totally OK to rock your lederhosen while you make it. No, we didn’t poll your neighbors before making that claim.

29. Eve’s Pudding

Eve’s Pudding takes a traditional apple dessert and adds custard to make it even more delectable. Now who do we have to call to get a pudding named after us?

30. Air Fryer Apricot Cinnamon Dumplings

These Air Fryer Apricot Cinnamon Dumplings are like dessert samosas. Genius idea alert! Do not pass Go before falling down this rabbit hole.

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43 Apple Desserts for a Warm and Cozy Start to Fall

By Joe Sevier and The Editors of Epicurious

The minute fall hits we get apple desserts on the brain. You’ll find us right at the start of apple season, racing to the nearest you-pick orchard, filling our buckets with all the red, green, and gold apples we can get our hands on. The only question: What should we bake first?

If you’re also wondering what to do with an abundance of fresh apples, we’re here to help. First, consider purchasing an apple corer . The inexpensive gadget is a must for some of our editors—it exponentially speeds up apple prep, getting you to Pie Town that much more quickly. Next, sort your apples so you’ve collected the best apples for baking and saved the others for snacking (then find out how to keep those snacking apples from browning ).

Below you’ll find 43 of our favorite apple dessert recipes to make the most of the season. There’s nothing more autumnal than the aroma of a freshly baked apple pie wafting through your home, but the Epicurious archives is also full of easy apple crisps , rustic galettes , fancy cakes , and more to help you turn your bounty of fruit into something even more delicious. Preheat your oven and get that scoop of vanilla ice cream ready.

Classic Apple Pie

When we're thinking about essential apple desserts, pie is first and foremost on the list. We tested the many homemade apple pie recipes on the site to narrow in on our favorite version , which boasts a flaky all-butter pie crust. The apple filling is made with both Braeburn and Honeycrisp apples for the ideal balance of sweet and tart.

Olive Oil Apple Cake With Spiced Sugar

This no-mixer-required, dairy-free cake recipe hits all the right autumnal notes: it’s earthy thanks to the olive oil and warm thanks to the spices. Choose your apples for this dessert wisely—a softer type will melt into the cake, while firmer apples (such as Granny Smith) will give the crumb a coarser texture. Serve instead of coffee cake at your next brunch.

Creole Cream Cheesecake With Caramel-Apple Topping

This tangy cheesecake gets its personality from Creole cream cheese . The topping can take many forms throughout the year (like strawberries in spring), but for fall, there's nothing better than apple slices soaked in a buttery caramel sauce.

Fried Apple Pies

Found throughout the South at church picnics and crossroads country stores, these half-moons of crisp, chewy dough ooze with spiced, stewed dried apples.

Caramel Apple Drip Cake With Candied Walnuts

Grated apples in the filling give this cake a moist, dense texture, while the caramel glaze and pretty caramelized walnuts make it truly stunning.

Apple Strudel

A stack of buttered phyllo is the base for this easy apple dessert. Feel free to swap the raisins for whatever dried fruit you love.

Apple Fritters With Spiced Sugar

Cinnamon, cardamom, and freshly ground black pepper lend warm spice to these sweet fritters.

Apple Pie Cookies

What could be better than apple pie bars? How about apple pie cookies!? These adorable treats remind us of our favorite apple pie but in hand-held form.

Individual Apple Crisp

If you're craving apple crisp but don't need a full-sized baking dish of it, this delightful little dessert is made for you. Dollop with spiced whipped cream or add a scoop of ice cream on top.

Galette de Pommes au Calvados

Apple jelly and a boozy Calvados sauce dress up this French apple tart.

Apple Sticky Toffee Pudding

Two favorite fall desserts meet up in this recipe: It's one part apple cake, one part sticky toffee pudding. And while it's ideal for Rosh Hashanah , we'll be baking it frequently throughout the fall and winter.

Apple-Cranberry Crisp With Oatmeal-Cookie Crumble

Inspired by the bright flavors of cranberry sauce , tangy fresh (or frozen) cranberries and sweet orange zest add a floral tartness to this easy apple crisp recipe.

3-Ingredient Caramel Apple Tart

The secret to making this stunning and delicious dessert for a crowd in under an hour? Store-bought caramel sauce and frozen puff pastry .

Layered Apple Pie With Phyllo Crust

The flaky phyllo pastry crust of this easy tart is reminiscent of crunchy fall leaves—but a dusting of cinnamon sugar between each layer makes it taste a lot better.

Apple and Persimmon Tarte Tatin

The delicate, earthy sweetness of Fuyu persimmons is a perfect match for apples in this twist on a classic French dessert. A quick caramel sauce and easy puff pastry crust give you big payoff for very little fuss.

Apple Walnut Bundt Cake

This is the ideal apple cake for the fall season—it's easy to make and stays moist and flavorful for up to a week. The caramel sauce is an optional, but fabulous, accompaniment.

Salted Apple Pretzel Pie

Instead of pie dough, this cast-iron-skillet-baked apple pie gets a golden pretzel topping strewn with crunchy salt. It's a fun baking project for a fall weekend, perfect for serving after some brats and a football game.

Apple Crisp

This unfussy dessert isn't heavily spiced, so it really lets the apples shine. McIntosh and Golden Delicious apples pair nicely together—the sweet McIntosh apples break down when baked, while the Golden Delicious apples are a bit more tart and sturdy. But you can experiment with whatever apples you have on hand.

Christmas Glazed Apple Cake

To make this "covered apple cake,” line a springform pan with sweet pastry, fill it up with a chunky, raisin-studded cooked-apple filling that's flavored with cinnamon and lemon, and then make a lid with more pastry dough.

3-Ingredient Caramel Apple Hand Pies

With just three ingredients —okay, four including salt—these quick and easy hand pies are a cross between the beloved caramel apple and flaky apple turnovers. The active prep time for this recipe is just 20 minutes, so you can pull it off even on a weeknight.

Apple Pithivier

In this stunning fall dessert, pastry chef Joanne Chang packs flaky puff pastry with caramelized apple butter and almond frangipane. You'll wonder why you didn't make a second one—it's like a caramel apple pie, but better.

Apple Jack Stack Cake

Instead of the spongy cakes more common today, the layers of this rustic Appallachian apple cake are more similar to cookies when first baked. They soften slowly beneath generous amounts of apple butter and cooked apples.

Apple Pandowdy

This fun and easy pandowdy is made with cut scraps of store-bought puff pastry that are scattered over a dish of saucy cinnamon apples before baking.

Big Apple Crumble Cupcakes

All in for apple desserts that just scream “fall!”? Here, grated apples keep these cupcakes moist, while bits of cinnamon crumble and a luscious cinnamon buttercream add fun texture and flavor. These are a great choice for any fall bake sale or birthday celebration.

Sumac, Spelt, and Apple Cake

This easy apple cake gets its citrus notes from sumac, an aromatic spice with tart, lemony flavor. A delightfully crisp crust hides a soft, moist crumb, with chunks of sweet apple running all the way through.

Brown Butter Apple Tart

This fall dessert works best with firm, tart apples, which are sliced into rings and cloaked with a vanilla-scented brown-butter custard, then baked in a tender pie crust until golden brown.

Apple Pie With Cheddar Crust

Cheddar has long been served with apple pie; the savory, nutty character of the cheese deepens the flavors of the fall fruit. Here, it's incorporated into a flaky crust made with a mix of butter and vegetable shortening.

Apple and Pumpkin Ginger Crisp

The flavors here are like a big party where pumpkin pie , apple pie, and gingerbread all show up. The crunchy topping is made with old fashioned oats, all-purpose flour, pecans, and brown sugar, and the filling gets bright spice from finely chopped candied ginger.

Salted-Butter Apple Galette With Maple Whipped Cream

Brushing the apples with salted brown butter before baking adds extra richness to this beautiful galette. A dollop of maple whipped cream makes it even more delicious.

Flourless Apple, Almond, and Ginger Cake

This gluten-free cake is made with Granny Smith apples and ground almonds spiced with cloves and ginger. Using maple syrup or golden syrup deepens the flavor while sweetening the cake.

Nana Browne’s Roly Polys

These apple dumplings are made with a hot water pastry and a tart apple filling.

Old-Fashioned Mixed-Apple Pie

An assortment of apple varieties adds complexity to this dessert from master baker Dorie Greenspan. Toss Pink Lady, Pippin, and Golden Delicious apples with graham cracker crumbs, raisins, and nutmeg for an apple pie that’s full of texture and flavor.

Vanilla Bean Tarte Tatin

A touch of apple cider vinegar brings balance to sweet, caramelized apples in this tarte Tatin. With the help of store-bought puff pastry, this classic French dessert comes together in no time at all.

Apple Cider Doughnuts

The classic farmstand treat layers in apple flavor with a glaze made by simmering spiced apple cider until it's reduced by half.

Apple and Fig Custard

Serve this warm-hug-in-a-casserole-dish for brunch or dessert with a pour of maple syrup and a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

Oat Shortcakes With Sautéed Apples

Strawberry shortcake , meet your autumnal cousin. These gluten-free oat-flour cakes make a wonderful base for brown sugar caramelized apples and unsweetened whipped cream.

Baked Apples with Prunes, Almonds, and Amaretto

This easy, make-ahead apple dessert idea is elegant enough for a fall dinner party but doesn't require messing with pastry dough. For a theatrical finish, pour the cream over the baked apples at the table and serve with frozen amaro .

Apple and Blackberry Polenta Cobbler

Polenta adds a warm, sunny corn flavor to this biscuit-topped apple cobbler and thawed frozen blackberries add a pop of sweetness. Yes, a scoop of our favorite vanilla ice cream on top is a good idea.

Cranberry-Apple Crumble Pie

No need to get fussy with weaving a lattice or any other fancy decorative pie crust moves here. This apple crumble pie packs all the flavor and fragrance of a traditional apple pie underneath a nutty, buttery, cinnamon-spiced crumb topping.

Caramel Apple Pastis

This beautiful pastis—a sweet phyllo-wrapped pie that evolved in southwest France from the savory meat-filled b'stillas of Morocco—makes an impressive holiday dessert.

Caramel-Apple Caramels

Flavored with homemade or store-bought apple butter , these chewy candies make a great homemade Halloween or other holiday treat. The wrapped caramels can be kept for up to 1 month.

Salted Caramel Apple Cookies

To make these fall cookies from Bon Appétit, you'll cook down a caramel and grated apple mixture until all the liquid from the apples has evaporated. Once it's cool, the apple caramel gets swirled into a snickerdoodle -like dough.

Fall Fruit Galette

Hosting pros know that galettes are great move for entertaining. This is one of those apple desserts that's just as delicious and impressive as a pie, but takes half the effort. Choose Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith apples (some of the best apples for baking since they hold their shape when cooked). Toss slices in granulated sugar with fennel seeds and vanilla, fold up the flaky pastry edges and bake until golden brown. Click through for even more sweet and savory apple recipes to round out the meal.

Emily Farris

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Our 25 Best Apple Desserts of All Time

Apples are perfect eaten out of hand, but they really strut their stuff when you turn them into dessert. Their natural sweetness gets amplified as they meet the heat, and their crisp structure turns meltingly soft and sumptuous. And although they are an iconic fall flavor, apples are readily available all year long, so you can enjoy apple desserts whenever you like. We've rounded up our very best recipes for apple desserts — the ones our community of home cooks clicked on, cooked up, rated, and reviewed the most. From classic apple pie to cozy apple dumplings, easy apple cakes, and snappy apple cookies, these recipes offer you the sweetest way to get your apple-a-day.

Apple Squares

These cookie bars are filled with apples and walnuts and topped with cinnamon and sugar. Reviewers like to use Granny Smith apples and top these bars with caramel or butterscotch drizzle. And reviewers say to double the recipe because they won't last long!

Autumn Cheesecake

This fall-flavored cheesecake has a graham cracker, pecan, and cinnamon crust topped with a cream cheese mixture and cinnamon-sugar coated apples. Reviewers suggest doubling the cream cheese mixture to make the filling thicker and microwaving the apples to soften them before baking. "YUM! This is one of the best cheesecakes I've ever eaten! It is very easy to make and looks beautiful when finished! Everyone loved this," says home cook ASHBERRY95.

Apple Pie by Grandma Ople

Grandma Ople's apple pie is no stranger to the spotlight, and with over 13,000 5-star reviews, it's a must-make this season. This recipe only calls for six ingredients, plus your favorite double-crusted pie crust recipe. This apple pie is made with Granny Smith apples, but reviewers have used Red Delicious to eliminate the tartness.

Baked Apple Roses

Chef John's Baked Apple Roses are an elegant puff pastry dessert. The wow-worthy apple roses look like you spent all day in the kitchen, but reviewers say they are quite easy to make. If you want a sweeter treat, use jam to glue the rose together. "I followed the recipe exactly and the roses came out looking just gorgeous! Crispy on the outside and quite tasty," says home cook lubatime.

German Apple Cake I

This recipe gives you a perfectly moist, dense cake every time. Reviewers like to dust this cake with confectioners' sugar or top it with caramel glaze or cream cheese frosting. "DELICIOUS! I followed the directions exactly and it came out so wonderfully with a delicious crispy topping," says reviewer eyp1175.

Apple Crisp with Oat Topping

"This is the best dessert for the early fall when the sweet and firm apples are just in season. Within ten minutes of going in the oven the scent will fill the house and neighbors you loaned things to years ago will return them just to invite themselves in and wonder aloud if there is any left (Note: there isn't). Optional accompaniments would be caramel sauce, ice cream, and whipped cream," says recipe creator realnakedchef.

Apple Turnovers

Puff pastry dough and Granny Smith apples are used to make these simple, yet classic Apple Turnovers. Some reviewers suggest doubling the cinnamon and serving the turnovers with vanilla ice cream. "Wow, these ARE better than the bakery! I used Honey Crisp apples and added a dash of nutmeg. Really easy and good," says reviewer chrolivi.

French Apple Tart (Tarte de Pommes a la Normande)

"My mother used to cook this for us all, usually to go with Sunday dinner. I was hooked. Haven't had it in ages and I was wanting to bake something special for a special someone so I asked mum for the recipe. Tried it out today, and it's just as I remember. The thing that makes it for me is the frangipane. Hope you like it as much as me." —Peter Lovering

Gramma's Apple Bread Pudding

Looking for a way to use up your bread and apples? Try this comforting apple bread pudding. You can use whatever bread and apples you have on hand and you can top the bread pudding with vanilla sauce per the recipe or vanilla ice cream. "Wow!! I wish I could give it more than just five stars. This was truly extra special!! I had a mixture of whole wheat and white hot dog buns to use up and a couple pieces of cinnamon bread," says home cook katydid2483.

Applesauce Bars

All your favorite fall flavors in one easy bar. Reviewers love to add raisins to these applesauce and pumpkin spice bars and top with cream cheese frosting. "Truly excellent. Easy enough to whip up for a quick dessert anytime but moist and tasty enough to serve to company along with after-dinner coffee. Frosting is optional — this cake really is that good," says reviewer Jennifer Strange.

The Best Caramel Apples

This nostalgic treat is perfect to serve at your next fall party, and easier to make than you think. You can add any other toppings that you would like to these caramel apples, including peanuts, M & M's, or chocolate drizzle. "The caramel recipe alone gets five stars! It was fun to make and tasted delicious," says reviewer Sarah Waltrip.

Apple Coffee Cake

Start your day off with this delicious Apple Coffee Cake with cinnamon streusel. This cake is made with vanilla yogurt and sour cream, but if you don't have vanilla yogurt you can use more sour cream or Greek yogurt with a dash of vanilla.

Apple Pecan Cobbler

"DELICIOUS! This has become my favorite cobbler recipe. Followed the directions exactly but had a little more apples than it called for so I put it all in a 9x13 pan. Family raved over it," says home cook MAGNIFCANT7.

Glazed Apple Cookies

Spiced apple and walnut cookies are topped with a simple confectioners' sugar glaze to make these tasty cake-like fall cookies. Some reviewers like to replace the shortening with butter or margarine. "These are delicious cookies that were a hit with everyone. Lightly spiced with a little crispy outside and soft chewy center," says reviewer Alberta Rose.

Chef John's Caramel Apple Pie

Chef John turns the iconic fall treat of caramel apples into a pie with his recipe. You can use your favorite double-crust pie crust, but Chef John recommends this Easy Homemade Pie Crust recipe. "This is the first pie I have ever made and it turned out really well! Even the little boy who announced that he 'did NOT like pies' said 'but I LIKE this pie,'" says home cook Danita Banko.

Apple Bundt Cake

Reviewers say this spiced Apple Bundt Cake is dense, yet moist and perfect served with a dusting of confectioners' sugar. "This was a great recipe. The cake came out with a crunchy top (I used a rose Bundt pan) and soft dense middle!!! It is easy to make and my kids loved it," says reviewer robin.

Apple Bavarian Torte

This three-layer torte starts with a simple crust, topped with a cream cheese mixture, and finished off with cinnamon sugar-coated apples and sliced almonds. Reviewers recommend cooking the apples first to soften them before baking. "This was *THE* most gorgeous dessert I've ever personally made. It came out looking like I had spent a gazillion dollars on it at some fancy bakery. The bottom crust and the cream cheese part was to die for," says home cook GRETCHEN01.

Fried Apple Pies

If you're a fan of McDonald's apple pie, you have to try these fried apple hand pies. This recipe uses pastry dough made from scratch, but you can also use store-bought biscuit dough and stuff it with the three-ingredient filling. "I love McDonald's fried apple pies, but my nearest Mcdonald's is a loooong way away. pies came out DELICIOUS!!! The pie dough came out perfect! They were golden and crunchy on the outside and moist and chewy on the inside," says reviewer babooshka76.

Apple Hermits

These cake-like cookies are spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg and stuffed with apples, walnuts, and raisins to make a delicious fall treat. These cookies are kid-approved as is, but you can also add chocolate chips if you would like.

Country Apple Dumplings

The secret ingredient in this top-rated recipe is a can of Mountain Dew — but don't knock it until you try it! Simply stuff crescent roll dough with an apple slice and cover with butter, cinnamon, sugar, and Mountain Dew. It couldn't be any easier.

Chef John's Apple Fritters

Chef John uses cooked Granny Smith apples and sparkling apple cider to make his fried apple fritters. Top the apple fritters with a cinnamon, confectioners' sugar, and sparkling apple cider glaze. "Were really good and not too complicated. This was my first time making them and while they didn't look exactly like the picture they still turned out really tasty; I'll definitely make them again," says home cook Julienne Holmes.

Skillet Apple Brownie

"This is a warm, chewy apple dessert with a brownie-like texture. Served in a cast iron skillet, it's an impressive presentation, perfect for company. Serve with good quality vanilla ice cream," says recipe contributor MomZilla (Evin).

Apple Banana Cupcakes

These fall buttermilk cupcakes are the perfect way to use your ripe bananas and apples. While this recipe doesn't give specific instructions for frosting, reviewers suggest using this Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting . "An unexpected but great combination of apples and bananas! The cake is extremely moist and flavorful a great complement to the fruit," says reviewer JessKnight.

Cottage Pudding - Upside Down Cake

Give pineapple upside-down cake a fall-inspired twist with this apple upside-down cake. This recipe is easy to make, uses pantry staples, and is ready in just over an hour. Recipe creator Sandra recommends serving this cake warm with ice cream.

Grandma's Iron Skillet Apple Pie

This three-layer skillet apple pie is a Southern favorite and only takes 15 minutes to prep. The secret to this apple pie is the third pie crust hidden in the middle — and you can make it extra easy by using store-bought pre-rolled pie crust. "My husband & I just loved this apple pie. I don't think I will ever bake an apple pie in a pie plate again," says reviewer denise wincz.

More Inspiration

• Our 25 Best Fall Desserts of All Time
• 12 Apple Desserts That Are Easier Than Pie

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Apple Crisp

This Apple Crisp is easy to make and turns out perfect every time! With a sweet and juicy apple filling and a buttery, sweet crisp topping, this classic apple dessert is a favorite year-round.

Apple crisp, along with apple pie , is one of my most-loved apple dessert recipes. This homemade apple crisp will satisfy your craving for a good old-fashioned dessert, the kind that grandma would make from scratch.

Making apple crisp is simpler than you might expect. And the results are so deliciously satisfying.

As I tested this recipe, my family ate A LOT of apple crisp. I wanted to make sure that the recipe was perfect before I shared it with you, so I baked apple crisp after apple crisp to find the just-right balance of ingredients.

Guess what? No one complained one bit about the abundance of apple crisp to be eaten.

This easy apple crisp has a generous amount of oatmeal topping, ensuring that you’ll get some of the sweet buttery topping with every bite of juicy apple filling.

I’ve used brown sugar in both the filling and the topping because I just love the caramel flavor notes that it brings to this cozy dessert. Cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla take this apple crisp to the next level when it comes to flavor.

This classic apple crisp is so delicious, it will leave you reaching for a second helping.

What are the Best Apples for Apple Crisp?

Any apples that are good for baking work well in this recipe. Baking apples are firm enough to hold up to the heat of the oven, so they won’t turn to mush.

I love to use a combination of Granny Smith apples and Honeycrisp apples. This mix gives you the perfect sweet-tart balance. I also make this recipe often using only Granny Smith apples, which are on the tart side.

Other baking apples include Northern Spy and Cripps Pink, which are on the tart side. If you prefer sweeter baking apples, try Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Pink Lady, Jonagold, Jazz, Braeburn, or Crispin (Mutsu). Learn more about apple types .

How to Make Apple Crisp

Here is an overview of how to make the best apple crisp. Find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Apple Filling

This recipe starts with an easy to make apple filling. The hardest part is peeling the apples! If you prefer, you can leave the peel on the apples. It’s a matter of preference, as the apple skins will change the texture of the filling.

Once the apples are peeled, slice them into 1/4-inch slices. I like to then cut each slice in half to make smaller chunks of apple.

Place the apples in a large bowl and add the remaining filling ingredients:

• All-Purpose Flour: The flour helps to thicken the filling.
• Brown Sugar: I use mainly brown sugar for sweetening the filling because it adds delicious caramel notes.
• Granulated Sugar: The granulated sugar helps the apples to release their juices, making the filling juicy, not dry.
• Vanilla Extract: You can’t beat the warm, sweet flavor that a little vanilla adds.
• Cinnamon and Nutmeg: Cinnamon and apples are perfect pair. Just 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg adds flavor.
• Salt: Salt is essential when baking to bring out the other flavors.

Stir everything together. At this point, it is ok if everything isn’t perfectly combined. You will let the filling rest at room temperature while you prepare the apple crisp topping. While they rest, the apples will release some of their juices. Then you’ll stir the apple mixture again to make sure the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Apple Crisp Topping

The topping is easy to mix up by hand. In a large bowl, stir together:

• Old-Fashioned Oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats give the topping the best texture. Do not substitute quick oats.
• All-Purpose Flour: You can use whole wheat flour instead if you prefer.
• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar sweetens the topping and gives it the best rich, caramel flavor.
• Cinnamon: We’re using more cinnamon in the topping to really bring out the apple-cinnamon flavor.
• Salt: Just a little bit of salt brings out the other flavors. You can omit the salt if you will use salted butter in your topping.

Once those are combined, cut 1/2 cup of cold butter into small cubes. Add the butter to the other topping ingredients and use either a pastry blender or your hands to work the butter into the dry ingredients. The mixture will start to clump together a bit. Once the largest pieces of butter are the size of small peas, the topping is ready.

Give the apples one more stir and then transfer them to an 8×8-inch or other similar sized square baking dish. Sprinkle the topping over the apples. Bake until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly and juicy.

Easy Apple Crisp Recipe Tips

• To feed a crowd, you can double this recipe. Bake it in a 9×13-inch baking dish or other similarly sized rectangular baking dish.
• This apple crisp has a generous amount of topping. If you like less topping, you can halve the topping ingredients.
• Cut the apples into slices or chunks, depending on your preference. If you prefer chunks of apples, first slice 1/4-inch thick and then cut each slice in half. If the apple pieces are too thick they won’t soften enough with the bake time given in the recipe.
• You can adjust the amount of sugar in the recipe to your tastes. As written, the apple crisp is sweet but not overly so. You can reduce the brown sugar in the filling and/or topping if you prefer a less sweet dessert. If you like your apple crisp really sweet, you can add a little more sugar.

More Apple Desserts to Love:

• Slow Cooker Apple Crisp
• Slow Cooker Pumpkin Apple Crisp
• Apple Bread

Ingredients

• ▢ 6 cups peeled Granny Smith apples, sliced or chopped (no more than ¼-inch thick)* , 6-7 apples
• ▢ ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• ▢ 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt

Crisp Topping

• ▢ 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• ▢ ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
• ▢ ½ cup cold unsalted butter , cut into ½-inch cubes

Instructions  

• Preheat oven to 350° F with a rack in the middle position. Lightly grease an 8x8-inch square baking dish.

Make the Apple Filling

• In a large bowl, combine all of the apple filling ingredients: apples, flour, ¼ cup brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Stir and then set aside. It's ok if everything is not well combined at this point, because the apples will release some of their juices while you prepare the topping and then you will stir the apple mixture again.

Make the Crisp Topping

• In another large bowl, stir together the oats, flour, ⅓ cup brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.
• Add the cold butter cubes to the bowl. Use a pastry blender or your hands to work the butter into the oat mixture, until the largest pieces of butter are the size of peas.

Assemble the Apple Crisp

• Stir the apple mixture again until everything is well combined. Pour the apples and all of the juices from the bowl into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle on the crisp topping.
• Bake for 40-50 minutes, until the topping is lightly browned and the filling is bubbly on the sides of the baking dish. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• I like to peel the apples, then slice them slightly less than 1/4-inch thick, then halve the slices to make 1-inch pieces.
• Other varieties of baking apples may be used. A combination of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp is especially delicious.
• Recipe may be doubled. Bake a double recipe in a 9x13-inch baking dish or other similarly sized rectangular baking dish.

posted by Kristine Rosenblatt on Dec 27, 2020

13 comments Leave a comment »

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13 comments on “Apple Crisp”

Looks like another great recipe. Can I make up partially the day before up to a certain point. … then add topping and bake the next day?

I haven’t tried it, but I think it would work fine to prepare the entire recipe and then bake it the next day. If you give it a try, let me know how it turns out.

I appreciate your recipes. I am 65 active but I have gained weight – can you recommend recipes that are really tasty but low in calories. My boyfriend is an Albertan BBQ meat eater and my preferences are vegetarian fish and chicken – go figure! LOL

Hi Sharon, Thank you for your comment. I don’t count calories, but my recipes do include nutrition information. I recommend browsing my recipe categories that interest you and looking for recipes that meet your needs. You might enjoy my favorite baked salmon recipe , roasted butternut squash soup or this vegetable stir fry .

TRULY THE BEST!!! We’ve tried many apple crisp recipes over the years, but this recipe here is the keeper! The spice blend is perfect and the vanilla is a wonderful added touch you don’t see in many other apple crisp recipes. The crisp is buttery and perfect. Thank you!

Can you use canned apple pie filling and use the topping of your recipe?. Or any fruit pie filling such as blueberry or cherry?

Yes, that should work fine.

Can you use Almond flour in this recipe instead of regular flour?

I have not tested this recipe with almond flour. If you try it, let me know how it turns out!

Love this recipe. Am I able to freeze it once it is baked? I made it for someone else n won’t be able to give it to them right away.

I have not tried freezing this, but I think it will freeze well. The topping will soften after being frozen and reheated. You may be able to crisp it back up in the oven.

Can I use softened sultanas instead of sugar?

I have not used sultanas in baking so I can’t advise. If you wish to adapt the recipe, you’ll have to do some experimenting. 🙂

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75 Easy Apple Recipes to Make This Fall

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Here, you'll find ideas for after-school snacks like baked apple chips, fall cocktails like apple sangria, and plenty of apple desserts . Of course, there's a recipe for classic apple pie using only the best apples for apple pie , but you'll also find creative twists, including Ree Drummond's apple sweet rolls, caramel apple cheesecake and an easy variation of an apple tart. This list of apple recipes also includes breakfast options, like apple spiced pancakes and apple-cheddar scones. Plus, it offers holiday recipes—like the apple-brie crostini and the apple-cranberry stuffing that's perfect for your Thanksgiving menu ! Need more apple inspiration? Check out our apple-cinnamon recipes for more cozy takes on the fall fruit. So, go ahead and plan you next trip to an apple-picking orchard and prepare to take home your favorite types of apples !

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

This quick and healthy breakfast will help make mornings easier. Plus, everyone in the family will love the sweet combination of apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts.

Get the Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal recipe .

Harvest Bowl

A harvest bowl is basically a fall-inspired grain bowl that's hearty enough for lunch or dinner. It's packed with fall veggies, wild rice, chicken, apples, and goat cheese.

Get the Harvest Bowl recipe .

Apple Pie Cookies

These adorable bites look just like mini apple pies! They even have the warm-spiced apple filling and lattice crust.

Get Ree's Apple Pie Cookies recipe .

Puff Pastry Pork with Brussels Sprouts and Apple Slaw

There's a reason why Ree pairs this elegant puff pastry-wrapped pork with a seasonal slaw—it’s got sweet apple chunks that pairs so well with the flavors of the pork. Sweet and savory is a match made in heaven!

Get Ree's Puff Pastry Pork with Brussels Sprouts and Apple Slaw recipe .

Apple Cobbler

This warm and cozy cobbler is so easy, you don't even need to peel the apples to make it! The softened skins add a nice rustic texture and it'll save you plenty of time in the kitchen.

Get the Apple Cobbler recipe .

SHOP BAKING PANS

Apple Cider Sangria

This make-ahead cocktail uses apples three ways: apple cider, apple brandy, and fresh apple slices. It's the best way to celebrate the fall season!

Get Ree's Apple Cider Sangria recipe .

Homemade Chicken Apple Sausage

Freshly grated Granny Smith apples keep these breakfast sausages juicy. Plus, it makes them perfect for a cozy fall breakfast or brunch.

Get the Homemade Chicken Apple Sausage recipe .

Baked Apples

Each one of these apples is stuffed with a crumbly oat mixture made with brown sugar, cranberries, and cinnamon and covered with an apple cider and honey glaze that makes them so tender and delicious.

Get the Baked Apples recipe .

Caramel Apple Cookies

These fall cookies have both grated apple and dried apple chips in the dough so there's no lacking in apple flavor. Plus, the caramel icing is to die for!

Get the Caramel Apple Cookies recipe .

SHOP COOKIE SHEETS

Apple Cinnamon Bread

Quick breads, like this apple-cinnamon version, are so easy to make. You can whip them up for breakfast or serve a slice as an after-school snack.

Get Ree's Apple Cinnamon Bread recipe .

If you like the sweet and sour taste of green apples, then this cocktail is for you! It's the prettiest color and even has a few thin apple slices for garnish.

Get the Appletini recipe .

Mini Apple PIes

These adorable bites are filled with apples and a crumble topping just like a full sized apple pie. They'll have everyone reaching for seconds.

Get Ree's Mini Apple Pies recipe .

Carrot Salad

This might be called a carrot salad but there's definitely a pop of apple in there, too! In fact, the sweetness from the apples pairs so nicely with carrots and raisins.

Get the Carrot Salad recipe .

Caramel Apple Dip

Here's a fun way to show off the assortment of apples you pick this fall! Serve different types of apple slices for dipping in the creamy caramel dip.

Get Ree's Caramel Apple Dip recipe .

SHOP SAUCEPANS

Dreamy Apple Pie

Can't decide between a pie and a crumble? No need to decide! This dreamy apple pie has both a flaky pie crust and a crumb-topping that's hard to resist.

Get Ree's Dreamy Apple Pie recipe .

Apple-Cranberry Stuffing

Crisp Gala apples and dried cranberries give this homemade stuffing a sweet and tart flavor. It's perfect for serving alongside your holiday turkey.

Get Ree's Apple-Cranberry Stuffing recipe .

Applesauce Cake

This seasonal cake is lightly spiced, sweet, and full of moisture—in part thanks to the addition of chunky applesauce. Serve it up on its own or add a thick layer of maple buttercream.

Get the Applesauce Cake recipe .

Red Sangria

In a classic red sangria, you'll often find fruits that add bright, citrusy flavors, like apples and oranges. In the cooler months, you can also pair the apples with pomegranates and cranberries for a fall-inspired twist.

Get the Red Sangria recipe .

Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Apples

This cornbread dressing is both sweet and savory thanks to granny smith apples, Italian sausage, mushrooms, and fresh rosemary. It's a welcome addition to your Thanksgiving table.

Get Ree's Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Apples recipe .

SHOP CASSEROLES

Chicken Waldorf Salad

This classic, creamy chicken salad is loaded with crunchy mix-ins, like apples, celery, grapes, and nuts. It's perfect for just about everyone—including picky eaters!

Get the Chicken Waldorf Salad recipe .

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• Editors’ Collection

Best Apple Dessert Recipes

Fall is apple picking, eating and baking season. try our delicious and easy apple dessert recipes for apple crisp, baked apples, apple pie and much more..

Cinnamon Apple Quick Bread With Apple Cider Glaze

Samantha Seneviratne

1 hour 10 minutes

Apple Crisp

Genevieve Ko

1 1/4 hours

Sam Sifton, Kierin Baldwin

1 hour 30 minutes

Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

Erin Jeanne McDowell

About 35 minutes

Apple Pie Bars

1 1/2 hours, plus cooling

Apple Cider Whoopie Pies

About 55 minutes, plus chilling

Baked Apples

Dorie Greenspan

1 hour 15 minutes, plus cooling

Mixed Apples Pie

2 1/4 hours, plus chilling and cooling

Caramel-Apple Dutch Baby

Skillet Caramel-Apple Crisp

Yossy Arefi

Caramel Apples

About 30 minutes

Deep-Dish Apple Pie

Julia Moskin, Kate McDermott

2 hours, plus chilling and cooling

Deep-Dish Honey Apple Galette

Alison Roman

1 1/2 hours, plus 2 hours’ chilling

Baked Apples With Honey and Apricot

David Tanis

Apple Ombré Pie

1 ½ hours, plus chilling

Apple Skillet Cake With Salted Caramel Frosting

1 hour, plus cooling

Apple-Pear Galette With Apple Cider Caramel

1 hour 10 minutes, plus chilling

Norwegian Apple Cake

Florence Fabricant, Nevada Berg

1 hour 45 minutes, plus cooling

Candy Apples

About 30 minutes, plus cooling

Apple Cider Honey Cake

Joan Nathan, Alex Levin

About 2 hours

Apple Bourbon Bundt Cake

Melissa Clark

1 1/2 hours plus cooling time

Apple Crumble

About 1 hour 10 minutes

Double Apple Pie

2 1/2 hours, plus at least 3 1/2 hours’ chilling and cooling

Babette Friedman’s Apple Cake

Joan Nathan, Daniel Rose

1 hour 40 minutes

Easy-as-Pie Apple Cake

Melissa Clark, "Food52 Baking"

Upside-Down Caramel-Apple Muffins

Teddie's Apple Cake

Amanda Hesser

Apple or Pear Crisp

Mark Bittman

Foolproof Tarte Tatin

Julia Moskin, Ron Paprocki

1 1/2 hours, plus 1 to 2 days’ aging time for apples

Apple Kuchen With Honey and Ginger

1 1/2 hours

Rose Apple Tart

2 1/2 to 3 hours, plus cooling

Apple Crumb Crostata

Claudia Fleming

About 2 hours, plus at least 1 hour chilling

Free-Form Apple Or Pear Tart

More editors’ collections, our best weeknight dinner recipes, 268 recipes, easy spring pastas, grilling and bbq side dishes, 178 recipes, practically magical 3-ingredient recipes.

25 Easy Apple Dessert Recipes with Few Ingredients

Categories Dessert

You know that feeling when you’re craving dessert, but you can’t decide what to make?

All you want is a sweet apple treat, but you don’t want to spend all day on it—and the thought of having to go to the store for a bunch of ingredients makes your stomach turn.

Don’t worry!

You’ve come to the right place.

We’ve gathered 25 easy apple dessert recipes with few ingredients that will help you make the perfect sweet treat in a pinch.

Table of Contents

When you want to treat yourself to something sweet but don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, these apple desserts are just the ticket!

They’re easy, delicious, and use only a handful of ingredients.

• 3-ingredient Easy Apple Cobbler

I’m an adventurous cook.

I’ll try any recipe and will probably like it. But lately, with the holiday season bearing down on me, I’ve been looking for something that’s easy to make—and quick!

With that in mind, I LOVE this 3-ingredient Apple Cobbler recipe because it tastes like you spent hours making it, but you can whip it together in just a few minutes.

I found it browsing around on Pinterest and have already made it twice and recommended it to several friends!

A perfect treat for Thanksgiving or any other fall day!

Here’s how I usually go about it:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease a 9×13″ pan and spread 2 cans of apple pie filling (with the juice) over the bottom of the pan.
• Sprinkle 1 box of yellow cake mix over the top of the apples (don’t mix it in). Drizzle with 1/2 cup melted butter.
• Bake for 35 minutes. The cake will turn golden brown on top, and all that buttery goodness will be bubbling up through the cake mix! YUM!
• 2-Ingredient cinnamon roll apple cobbler

If you’re looking for a way to wow your family this holiday season but don’t have time for an elaborate dinner, look no further than the 2-Ingredient cinnamon roll apple cobbler.

The cobbler is perfect for any occasion, from family dinner to potluck and beyond. It’s also easy enough that you can make it with kids in the kitchen, and simple enough that they’ll enjoy helping out.

Plus, with only two ingredients ( apple pie filling and cinnamon rolls), you don’t have to worry about keeping a ton of stuff on hand or having to run out to the store at the last minute.

Just grab what you need at your local grocery store and get cooking!

The result will be a scrumptious dessert that’s sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.

When making the recipe, this tip is crucial: use the refrigerated cinnamon rolls! They come already rolled up in convenient little tubes and make it much easier to put together this dessert.

• Apple Pie Pizza – Only 2 Ingredients!

You’ve never had apple pie like this before!

This recipe for apple pie pizza is a game-changer for all of your holiday festivities.

It’s the perfect recipe to whip out when you need to serve up something easy and delicious, but also want people to think you’re a skilled chef.

I discovered this recipe while browsing around on Pinterest, and it looked so good that I had to try it immediately.

The ingredients could not be simpler: one can of apple pie filling and one can of cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing.

You don’t even need to preheat your oven—just bust out that trusty pizza stone and get ready to have a blast!

I usually like to top my Apple Pie Pizza with ice cream or whipped cream.

You can also add a dollop of caramel sauce to make it even more delicious.

I sometimes add caramel sauce and ice cream on top of my pizza when I’m serving it to guests, but that might not be necessary for everyday use.

• Easy Apple Cake (Apple Yogurt Cake)

My first time trying this recipe was a couple years ago, when I was making dinner for my family during the holidays.

I must have just been feeling adventurous because I decided to make something sweet, too.

Lucky for me, I stumbled upon this easy apple cake recipe on Pinterest, and it’s been a go-to ever since.

I’m always looking for ways to impress guests at dinner parties and family gatherings, but let’s be honest: who has time to spend hours in the kitchen?

That’s why I love this recipe—it’s quick and easy, but looks like you’ve spent all day on it.

The first thing that caught my eye about this recipe was the ingredient list. It’s so simple! And so few ingredients!

It only has six ingredients in total : Greek yogurt, eggs, caster sugar, melted butter, self raising flour, vanilla extract and cinnamon.

And you probably already have most of those things in your fridge or pantry!

After you’ve whipped up your batter, pour it into a loaf pan and bake for about 40 minutes. Then you’re done!

Just add some powdered sugar for decoration and serve with some ice cream if you want to go all-out.

• Healthy Apple Crumble Bars

I love autumn for many reasons, and one of them is apple pie!

But I also hate how much time it takes to make a good apple pie, so I’ve been looking for something just as delicious but that is simple, fast, and easy.

That’s why I’m so excited to share with you these Healthy Apple Crumble Bars from BeautyBites.org.

The recipe is super simple:  

• All you need to do is peel your apples and then put everything in the food processor.
• Then you pour the batter into a baking pan, throw the almonds on top, and let it bake for 20 minutes.
• And that’s it!

More than anything else, though, what I like about this recipe is how versatile it is.

You can serve these bars as a dessert with some ice cream or whipped cream on top, but they’re also great eaten by themselves as a quick breakfast or snack.

I like to have one right when I wake up with a cup of coffee—it’s so easy to just grab one and go.

Also: any leftovers?

Throw them in a tupperware container and take them with you at work or school!

• 4 Ingredient Apple Cake

If you’re looking for a more rustic cake that still packs a punch of flavor, try this 4-ingredient recipe.

It uses box cake mix as the base, but it tastes like something baked fresh from grandma’s kitchen.

• 5-Ingredient Apple Crisp

This recipe is great for a pot luck dinner or as an after-school snack for the kids.

Just mix your ingredients together and bake!

Personally, I like to add some raisins or cranberries for a little extra flavor.

• 5-Ingredient Apple Crumble

If you want to go the classic route, this recipe is for you.

With only five ingredients and less than an hour to prepare, it’s perfect for a potluck or Thanksgiving dinner (and it might just taste better than your mom’s).

• 5-Ingredient Apple Dump Cake

If you’ve only got five minutes to make a dessert, there’s nothing like this 5-Ingredient Apple Dump Cake from bettycrocker.com.

This is one of my favorite desserts to make when I’m craving something sweet but don’t have time to hunt down a bunch of ingredients.

All you need is apples, sugar, cinnamon, cake mix, and butter. Really!

It’s perfect for a last-minute party or family gathering, because it only takes a few minutes to prepare and then 20 minutes in the oven.

Then you’ve got this perfectly sweet, warm apple cobbler that will have your guests asking, “Wait…you made that??”

• 2-Ingredient Apple Dumplings

Who knew dumplings could be so easy?

All you need are two ingredients and half an hour to whip up this treat that tastes like home (even if your home wasn’t chock full of apples).

• Apple Crisp Tart

This recipe takes the classic Apple Crisp to new heights.

For starters, instead of using cornmeal, we top this tart with a delicious streusel.

And while it may look like there’s more filling than actual fruit at first glance, that’s not at all the case—we’ve used our Tart Fruit Crumble to replace some of the filling so you have all the fruit and no crust overload!

This tart is perfect for breakfast or dinner or as an appetizer for your next party!

• Apple Pie with Crescent Rolls

We’ve talked about how amazing crescent rolls are before, and this recipe proves it.

You’ll just combine crescent rolls with apple pie filling, top it with butter and cinnamon, and bake it in the oven.

It’s sweet, buttery, and perfect for satisfying a dessert craving.

• Apple Crumble

This one’s so easy, you’ll be wondering why you never made it before!

All you do is take an apple, cut it in half, and scoop out the core—then sprinkle on some brown sugar (or cinnamon sugar, if you like!) and pop it into a toaster oven until the sugar caramelizes.

Serve with a scoop of ice cream for a tasty dessert that won’t break the bank or your time constraints.

• Caramel Apple Dip

You can make this one ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until your bestie gets there!

Just mix some cream cheese with caramel sauce, then slice up your favorite apples and serve with the dip.

You could even buy pre-sliced apples at the store if that makes it easier!

If you want to get fancy, sprinkle crushed nuts on top!

This is about as easy as apple pie, and it’s one of the most delicious desserts that you can make.

You can use store-bought crust, like Pillsbury pastry dough, or if you want to get a little fancy, you can make your own.

If you do, try the recipe below!

Once your pie crust is ready, all you need is some apples.

• Cut them up (peel first!), toss them in sugar, cinnamon and flour until they’re coated, then pour them into your pie crust.
• Cover with another crust or crumble the top with flour and sugar if you like a more open texture.
• Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes.
• Apple Pie Milkshake

We’ve all been there: It’s late, and you want a little something sweet.

But the kitchen is dark, and you don’t want to turn on any lights to wake up your family.

And even if you did, there’s no way you could convince anyone else in your household that they need another apple pie right now.

But hey—darkness is no obstacle for us!

We’ve got just the thing: Apple Pie Milkshake from Fifteen Spatulas.

You can whip it up in less than five minutes with an immersion blender (or just a regular blender if that’s what you’ve got), and you’ll feel like a total genius for having done so.

The best part?

It’s only 106 calories!

• Apple Pie Tacos

These delicious tacos are built with pre-made pie crusts and the core of an apple.

• All you have to do is cut out circles from the pie crusts, then put them in your waffle iron to bake.
• The ingredients for the filling are just diced apples and cinnamon-sugar.
• Use a small amount of water to make the apples tender, then add a generous shake of cinnamon-sugar before serving.
• Apple Cupcakes

Take any cupcake recipe you like—just make sure it has a dense cake base—and replace the water in the batter with apple juice or cider.

Then top it with cinnamon-sugar and sliced apples instead of frosting.

Apple cupcakes!

• Apple Pie in a Mug

• Start by cutting an apple into small, bite-sized pieces.
• Set aside 2 tablespoons of the apples.
• Then add the rest to a microwave-safe mug, followed by ¾ teaspoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
• Stir gently with a spoon until everything is evenly combined.
• In a separate bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of milk, 3 tablespoons of flour, and ⅛ teaspoon of baking powder.
• Add the mixture to the apple mix in the mug and stir gently until everything is evenly combined again.
• Use your spoon to press down on any apples that are floating at the top so they’re completely submerged in the batter.
• Cook in the microwave for 90 seconds on high power.
• Let cool for 5 minutes (if you can wait that long).
• Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if you’re feeling fancy, and enjoy!
• Apple Turnovers

The name sounds fancy, but turnovers are really just a type of pastry filled with anything from fruit to meat.

You can buy pre-made dough or make your own pastry dough with flour, butter, water, and salt.

• Apple Pie Wontons

This is a great recipe for an after-school snack or a birthday party!

It’s easy to make, and it can be served warm or cold.

First, you’ll need to gather some wonton wrappers and fill them with apple pie filling (which you can buy premade) and some brown sugar.

Then just fold them up like wontons and fry them in oil until they turn golden brown! They’re so tasty, they’ll melt in your mouth!

You should definitely try this one out the next time you have friends over.

• Apple Pudding

Apple pudding is the perfect warm and gooey dessert for the autumn season.

It’s perfect for Halloween or Thanksgiving dinner when you need a treat that feels like fall.

It’s also easy to make—just four ingredients: 3 cups of peeled and chopped apples, 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of sugar, and 1/4 cup of water.

The recipe is so simple that even young kids can help make it.

This recipe has been a hit at our house for years, but we’ve made a few modifications over time.

Our favorite way to eat it is with ice cream on top—it adds just the right sweetness to balance out the tartness from the apples.

• Apple Pie Pop-Tarts

Did you know that you can make Pop-Tarts from scratch? I didn’t either until I tried this recipe.

It’s surprisingly easy, and the results are delicious.

All you need is pie crust, apples, and a few other ingredients that you probably already have around the house ( honey , cinnamon, egg whites, butter). You’ll love this fun spin on apple pie!

• Apple Pie Cheesecake Tacos

If you’re a cheesecake lover, this is the apple dessert recipe for you!

All you need is crescent rolls, cream cheese, sugar, applesauce , and cinnamon sugar.

These easy-to-make tacos are sweet yet tart—perfectly balanced to be a fun treat.

• Grandma’s 5-Ingredient Apple Crisp Recipe

Looking for a quick, easy dessert that is eye-popping and has tons of taste?

Grandma’s Quick and Easy Apple Crisp Recipe – Only 5 Ingredients is the way to go!

All you need are apples, sugar, flour, butter and cinnamon to make this delicious crowd-pleaser.

A great option for when you need something on the fly, this recipe will take you only minutes to prepare.

You can even put it together while you’re cooking your main meal.

It’s also a fantastic choice for Thanksgiving. It goes great with turkey and all the fixings.

When it comes to taste, this apple crisp packs a punch.

The apples are crisp and sweet with just a touch of cinnamon.

This dish is warm, comforting and oh so satisfying.

If you want to make this treat extra fancy, add whipped cream or ice cream on top of each serving before serving.

Consider serving the dessert in small ramekins individually so everyone feels like they have their own special treat.

Benefits of Easy Apple Dessert Recipes with Few Ingredients

As we enter the fall season, it’s time to embrace all things apple: cider, donuts, and desserts!

If your mom’s apple pie recipe intimidates you, or you’re looking for a new twist on an old favorite, easy apple dessert recipes are the perfect place to start.

1. You Can Improvise

With a simple apple dessert recipe, you don’t need many ingredients, but that doesn’t mean you need any specific ones or any specific amount of them.

If you don’t have the exact amount of sugar called for in the recipe, just adjust it based on how much sugar you do have; if you don’t have apples, use pears!

Low-ingredient apple dessert recipes are like jazz: there’s freedom within a framework.

2. They’re Foolproof

You’ve got your grandma’s holiday dinner coming up, and you’re in charge of bringing dessert.

You forgot to plan ahead and make a complex pie with multiple layers of fruit, caramel sauce, and a lattice crust—but it’s okay!

A simple apple pie is easy enough for even the least experienced cook to make.

And when your grandma asks where you got the recipe, just nod knowingly and say “I have my ways.”

3. You Can Stop Making Excuses

You always want to bring a pie to Thanksgiving dinner at your aunt’s house, but you never feel like you have the time or energy to make one.

No more excuses.

With these easy apple dessert recipes with few ingredients, anyone can make an amazing pie—and they’ll even think that you stayed up all night making it.

4. Your Friends Will Love It

They’ll think that your pie is made by a professional baker—and they’ll be so impressed with how quickly and easily you pulled it off!

You’ll have to tell them that you didn’t spend hours and hours in the kitchen—it really was as easy as 1, 2, 3.

5. You Can Save Money

When recipes call for only a few ingredients, you don’t need to shell out big bucks for fancy spices or trendy ingredients—you can just pick those up when you see them on sale if you want to make the recipe again.

And because most low-ingredient apple dessert recipes are made with everyday staples (like butter and flour), you probably already have everything in your pantry!

6. You Can Use It as A Jumping Off Point

A simple apple dessert recipe is also a great starting point for experimenting and creating your own apple dessert recipes from scratch!

Try adding different spices or substituting one ingredient for another.

Once you’ve mastered the basics, the world’s your oyster when it comes to apple desserts.

7. They’re Easy to Multiply and Scale

If your family is growing, or you have a bunch of guests coming over, no problem!

Low-ingredient recipes are easy to double (or triple) because they rely on generic measurements (e.g., cups) rather than specific amounts of ingredients (exact numbers).

You don’t have to calculate how much butter or cinnamon to add when you’re doubling or tripling a recipe—you just double or triple the amount called for.

8. It Helps You Practice Creative Problem-Solving

Simple apple dessert recipes are great for helping you develop your creative problem-solving skills.

When the recipe calls for an ingredient you don’t have, or when it doesn’t turn out the way you expected, what do you do?

You solve the problem creatively!

9. You’re Forced to Ask Yourself: “is This Really Necessary?”

The fewer ingredients you use and the easier your process is, the more clear it will be whether or not each ingredient is doing its job.

If an item isn’t contributing to your finished product’s taste or appearance, maybe it’s not needed after all!

10. They’re Great for Learning to Cook

If you’re new to cooking, easy apple dessert recipes are a great way to get started!

You don’t have to worry about messing up or burning something, since you’ll need so few ingredients and only minimal prep time.

There’s no such thing as “too easy” when it comes to cooking; in fact, easy desserts like this can actually teach you a lot about baking in general!

Ingredients   

Instructions  .

• Pick one of the recipes from this list.
• Prepare the ingredients according to the recipe.
• Be ready to munch in no time!

Hi, I'm Benjamin. I love cooking, long walks, and my girlfriend! Here you’ll find simple and delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.

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Easy and delicious apple desserts the whole family will enjoy

Posted: November 4, 2023 | Last updated: November 4, 2023

Make apples the stars of your Thanksgiving with these easy desserts!

Fall means peak time for apples and making all the wonderful dishes that go along with them. With so many options for apple-friendly desserts, it can be hard to choose what to whip up for your Thanksgiving meal. After all, one cannot live on pumpkin pie alone. 

Apple fritters

Okay, maybe this one is more for breakfast than for dessert. Start Thanksgiving off right with these apple fritters from The Pioneer Woman to hold everyone over until dinner. 

You may also like: Recipes that prove oatmeal doesn't have to be boring

Apple crisp

A delightful dessert that even tastes good left over, the kids will probably beg to have some for breakfast the morning after! Check out Allrecipes.com's version of apple crisp here.

Follow us on MSN to see more of our exclusive lifestyle content.

Apple hand pies

This flaky pastry full of goodness will tempt the whole family to drop the forks and eat with their hands. Check out this rendition of apple hand pies from MyBakingAddiction.com .

You may also like: 25 gameday snacks you can make in a slow cooker

Apple coffee cake

Either first thing in the morning or late at night after clearing the last of the dishes, enjoying a cup of coffee and some spongy apple coffee cake is a great way to take a moment and either gear up or unwind after a long day of holiday cooking. Red Star Yeast has a recipe we've come to enjoy that comes together quite quickly with little effort . 

Here's a fancy-looking dessert that is easy to replicate! Check out this tart recipe from TheComfortOfCooking.com.

You may also like: 20 quick & easy crock pot dishes you can make on gameday

Apple bread

It's a loaf so good your family will beg you to make it for every meal, and not just on special occasions. Try food.com's "Awesome Apple Bread" recipe.

Caramel-dipped apples

Always a hit when fall arrives, you can add sprinkles and other toppings if so inclined. Try this Kraft Recipes version.

You may also like: Try something new with these 20 Thanksgiving meal & side dish recipes

Skip the overly sugary varieties and opt for a healthier bar recipe this Thanksgiving, like this one from Eating Well Magazine .

Sort of a cross between an apple tart and apple bread, this family-pleasing dessert is simple but delicious. Try this recipe from Epicurious.com.

You may also like: Feed the whole family for the rest of Thanksgiving weekend with these recipes

Apple galette

Few things are as impressive as a perfectly spiraled apple galatte. But if you're like us, making a rustic "freeform" galette is more your speed. (It's not messy, it's "artisanal.") Country Living has a recipe that hasn't failed us ye t.  

Apple cheddar scones

Here's a sweet-and-savory baked delight that can also be enjoyed the next morning for breakfast – just make sure to mop up some of that leftover gravy with your scones. Yum. Check out this recipe for apple cheddar scones by TheBakerChick.com.

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Chocolate caramel-coated apples

For an apple treat that is extra sweet — albeit a bit messy to eat — try this recipe from She Wears Many Hats.

Apple pie a la mode

When serving up this bit of Americana dessert for your Thanksgiving feast, skip the store-bought pie and try this easy recipe from LittleSweetBaker.com .

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Apple danish

For a tasty pastry that the adults will enjoy pairing with their after-dinner coffee and the kids will enjoy simply stuffing in their faces, check out this apple danish recipe from TasteOfHome.com.

Apple cider doughnuts

Baking buffs looking for an extra tasty recipe for apple cider donuts should look no further than this delectable rendition from SmittenKitchen.com.

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Sweet apple quiche

For those of you who plan on being ultra-busy cooking other things for your Thanksgiving meal, don't fret. This "sweet apple quiche" from gourmandasia.com will be ready to go in under an hour.

Apple compote with fig

This tasty topping is great when served alongside vanilla ice cream. Check out this recipe for apple fig compote from Taste.com.

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Baked apples

The dessert version of baked apples can be drizzled with honey or caramel or stuffed with sweet components as in this recipe from SimplyRecipes.com.

Apple cinnamon cheesecake

Succumb to your darkest dessert urges this Thanksgiving and serve up some apple cinnamon cheesecake. Try this recipe from LifeLoveandSugar.com.

You may also like: 20 foods & drinks from important historical events in U.S. history

Apple strudel

Want to wow the family with a seemingly authentic apple strudel without killing yourself in the kitchen? Check out this recipe from SeriousEats.com.

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Apple Crisp

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• Prep 20 min
• Total 50 min
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Apple Crisp Ingredients

With just a few ingredients (many you may already have on hand) you can create a delicious dessert that’s sure to impress. Here’s what you need to make your apple crisp. Apples : The undisputed star of the show! Velvety, tender apples are what makes this crisp so craveable. We recommend a slightly tart, firm variety like Granny Smith for a perfect texture and just the right amount of sweetness. Oats : Adding that all important element of crunch, oats are your star ingredient to put the “crisp” in apple crisp. Butter : The rich flavor of butter adds depth to the dish, and helps it bake to that perfect golden brown finish. Avoid margarine, as the dairy in the butter is what really lends the decadent taste to your apple crisp. And make sure to use unsalted butter so you have more control over the final flavor. Brown sugar : Sweet and rich, brown sugar gives your apple crisp notes of subtle, almost caramel-like flavor. Spices : What could be better than apples and cinnamon? Add a little nutmeg too and you have an absolutely classic fall flavor combination. Spices : What could be better than apples and cinnamon? Add a little nutmeg too and you have an absolutely classic fall flavor combination.

What Are the Best Apples for Apple Crisp?

With so many varieties of apples, which type should you choose for a perfect apple crisp? For this recipe, you’ll want to go with a crisp, tartly sweet variety. This will ensure the apples maintain their texture when they bake and that they won’t be too juicy—because no one likes a soggy apple crisp! Because of this, we strongly recommend a Granny Smith apple, or one of the other varieties provided. Granny Smith : A go-to pick for pies, crisps, and cobblers. Granny Smith apples have a uniquely tart, bright flavor that works well in sweet desserts as it offers a nice, acidic balance to all the heavier, sugary ingredients. Empire : A cross between Red Delicious and a McIntosh, Empire apples give an ideal balance of sweet and tart, with a crisp texture and vibrant red skin. Honeycrisp : Honey sweet with just a touch of tartness, Honey Crisp apples have an extra crunchy texture that makes them ideal for recipes of all kinds. Braeburn : With a rich, almost creamy flavor and crisp bite, you can’t go wrong with this classic apple variety. Braeburn apples have a good balance of sweet and tartness and pear-like notes. Cortland : Similar in flavor to a Honeycrisp, with a slightly softer bite, Cortland apples are another great pick for apple crisp.

How to Make Apple Crisp

Making this apple crisp recipe is easy as can be. It has all the incredible flavors of a classic apple pie with no dough to roll. These simple, step-by-step directions will guarantee you get perfectly bubbly apples and a golden brown crispy crumble top every single time. Prep the apples : Start by peeling and slicing your apples. We recommend using an apple slicer to make sure all your pieces are the same sizer. Once your apples are prepped, spread them in a baking dish in an even layer. Make the topping : Mix your dry ingredients and butter to create that sweet, crumbly, craveable topping. Be careful not to overmix. It’s okay if your mixture still has some small, visible chunks of butter or brown sugar–it’ll all come together in the oven later. Top and bake : Sprinkle your topping mixture evenly over your prepared apples and pop it in the oven. The only difficult part of this recipe will be waiting while it bakes! Take a look at the full detailed directions below. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a brand new maker, this apple crisp can’t miss!

How to Store & Reheat Apple Crisp

Though this dish isn’t likely to leave you with a lot of leftovers, it’s important to know how to store and reheat your apple crisp. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be able to enjoy your leftover apple crisp as much as that first helping. Storing : Once your apple crisp has cooled completely, cover your baking dish tightly with foil or parchment paper, or transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Covered apple crisp can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheating : Though you are welcome to enjoy your leftover apple crisp directly from the fridge, good things come to those who wait! Heat your oven to 350 degrees and bake the uncovered crisp in a baking dish for 10 - 20 minutes until warm. If the topping begins to get too brown for your liking, just tent with parchment paper. Once warmed through, your apple crisp should be restored to its just-baked splendor and ready to eat. Freezing : If you’d like to enjoy your apple crisp later, you can freeze it in an airtight container for up to three months. When you’re ready to eat, just place it in the refrigerator to thaw before reheating. However you enjoy your leftover apple crisp, just don’t forget the whipped cream !

Ingredients

• 4 medium tart cooking apples, sliced (4 cups)
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Cream or Ice cream, if desired

• 1 Heat oven to 375°F. Grease bottom and sides of 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish or baking pan with shortening.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

• tip 1 No matter the name—crisp, crumble, or cobbler—any baked dessert filled with fresh fruit is defined by the topping. A crisp and crumble are close cousins—both are topped with buttered flour and sugar. What makes crisps unique is the addition of the oats to the topping, which get extra-specially crunchy when baked.
• tip 2 Want to add some extra crunch to your apple crisp? Try tossing some chopped nuts in your sweet, crumbly topping; walnuts, pecans, or macadamia nuts are good choices and will toast during baking.
• tip 3 If you want a richer, more caramel-like flavor for your apple crisp, substitute dark brown sugar in place of light brown. It pairs incredibly with the apples and adds a whole new dimension to the dish.
• tip 4 Like things a little extra spicy? Get creative by adding your favorite dried spices to the apple crisp recipe. Try 1 tablespoon candied ginger or add 1/2 cup chewy dried fruits to add more layers of flavor and texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are delicious apple crisp toppings.

Apple crisp is incredible all on its own, but adding tasty toppings take this dessert over the top. The crumbly streusel topping in this recipe combines rich, golden butter with sweet brown sugar, warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and oats for just the right amount of crunch. (Though, if the oat topping is your favorite part, you may want to give Betty’s Apple Crisp with Oats a try.) It’s part of a popular family of fruit desserts that includes all kinds of crisps (like this perfect-for-fall Apple Pumpkin Crisp ) and cobbler recipes. These amazing treats are hard to beat, but believe it or not, they’re easy to top. Adding a drizzle of caramel or a generous scoop of sweet vanilla ice cream to your fresh from the oven apple crisp takes this dessert to a whole new level of deliciousness. Or whip up something extra special and serve with Betty’s homemade whipped cream .

Do I Have to Peel the Apples?

It all comes down to preference. Many prefer to use peeled apples in their apple crisp because it creates a slightly softer, more uniform consistency. Leaving the skin on your apples can create a tougher texture that some people may actually prefer. Whether you choose to make your apple crisp with the skins on or off, make sure to cut your apples to a uniform size so they cook as evenly as possible.

What Is the Easiest Way to Peel Apples for Apple Crisp?

There are plenty of kitchen tools out there that can make quick work for peeling, coring, and slicing apples. However, they aren’t necessary to bake up a perfect apple crisp. A vegetable peeler or paring knife will do the trick. Make sure to grab a cutting board as well to protect your countertops. Holding the apple in your hand, or pressed down against your cutting board, bring the peeler downward in straight, consistent strokes. Repeat until your apple is fully peeled, then you’re ready to slice.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size: 1 serving, % daily value*:, carbohydrate choice, more about this recipe.

• Looking for more dessert inspiration? Try these extra-special Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert recipes for your next special occasion or holiday celebration.

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