26 Best Apple Recipes to Make This Fall

Tasty Ways to Use Up Your Orchard Haul

Apple Dump Cake
The Spruce

Go beyond apple desserts with our best apple recipes that are perfect for fall. Sweet, tart, juicy apples are so delicious and versatile to cook with, we simply couldn't stop at pie (though you will find the ultimate apple pie recipe here). Browse our best ideas and recipes for what to do with apples, including savory salads, meaty mains, tangy sauces, stunning apple cocktails, a fantastic holiday stuffing, and of course, tempting desserts.

  • 01 of 26

    Apple and Brie Soup

    Bowl of Apple and Brie Soup

    AnnaPustynnikova / Getty Images

    Delight dinner guests with this creamy, velvety soup that celebrates the classic combination of fresh apples and brie cheese. Cumin and ginger add gentle heat to this rich starter soup that would make a comforting lunch in itself, with some crusty bread on the side.

  • 02 of 26

    Apple Cake With Caramel Frosting

    Apple Cake With Caramel Frosting

    GM Visuals/Getty Images

    With chunks of fresh apples and lots of chopped pecans nestling in a sweet and lightly spicy batter, this moist apple cake is the essence of fall comfort. The rich caramel frosting is literally the icing on the cake.

  • 03 of 26

    Skillet Chicken Breasts with Apples

    Skillet Chicken Breasts with Apples

    Danielle Leavell/Photolibrary/Getty Images

    Craving roast chicken but lack time to cook a whole bird? This clever one-pan chicken dish—which includes tart fresh apples—takes only 30 minutes to prepare and is a great way to elevate skinless, boneless chicken breasts to dinner party-worthy status. Serve with baked or roasted potatoes for a simply delicious meal.

  • 04 of 26

    Caramel Apple Mug Cake

    Caramel Apple Mug Cake

    The Spruce

    Easy as pie, indeed! Two minutes, one mug, and a short list of baking ingredients, are all you need for this amazing microwave mug cake that tastes like your grandmother's baking. Add a drizzle of warm caramel sauce, some streusel topping for an apple pie experience even kids can make.

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  • 05 of 26

    Apple Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

    Apple Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

    James Baigrie/Getty Images

    In this holiday-worthy entree, two whole pork tenderloins are stuffed with a mixture of chopped, peeled tart apples, herbs, and breadcrumbs, baked with apple juice, and topped with salty strips of bacon for the oven. Serve it for your own festive fall feast, allowing it to rest 10 minutes after cooking before slicing.

  • 06 of 26

    Apple Pie With Cream Cheese Pastry

    Apple Pie With Cream Cheese Pastry

    Diana Rattray

    Apple pie is an American dessert icon, and an absolute must-have at Thanksgiving dinner. This classic apple pie combines the sweet and tender tastes of baked apples and cozy spices, with a rich and delicious cream cheese pastry crust, for a dessert you'll go back to every year.

  • 07 of 26

    Puff Pastry Apple Danishes

    Puff Pastry Apple Danishes

     The Spruce/Leah Maroney

    Pretty enough for an autumn brunch, and easy to prepare and bake in 25 minutes, these apple danishes may become one of your new favorite breakfast treats. They are truly a cinch to assemble, with packaged puff pastry, fresh apple slices, and just a few other basic ingredients.

  • 08 of 26

    German Apple Pancakes

    German Apple Pancakes

    Jon Lovette/Getty Images

    Almost more dessert than breakfast dish, German apple pancakes are sweet, lightly spicy, and will fill your kitchen with heavenly baking aromas. With warm, tender apple chunks, and plump raisins, they are a fruity treat to enjoy at brunch, or after dinner, topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce, or cherry preserves.

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  • 09 of 26

    Instant Pot Applesauce

    Easy crockpot apple sauce

    The Spruce

    If you have an excess of apples, there a few better way to use them than in homemade applesauce. The Instant Pot makes the process quick and easy, using just a few simple ingredients to yield an applesauce with fabulous apple pie flavor. Enjoy it on its own, as a topping for pork tenderloin, or add it to your muffins and cakes.

  • 10 of 26

    Apple Pie Martini

    Apple Pie Martini

    The Spruce / Crystal Hughes

    Filled with the nostalgic taste of mom's apple pie, this premium vodka martini is a grown-up delight. It will keep you satisfied through the winter months, with its infusion of warm vanilla flavor, and makes an excellent holiday party cocktail.

  • 11 of 26

    Sausage and Apple Stuffing With Cranberries

    Sausage and Apple Stuffing With Cranberries

    James Baigrie/The Image Bank/Getty Images

    Seasonal apples and cranberries bring fabulous fall flavor to this classic sausage and herb stuffing. Bake it right inside the holiday turkey, or on its own in a casserole dish, for a fabulous holiday side. Feel free to add some toasted pecans to the dressing, for even more texture.

  • 12 of 26

    Classic French Apple Tart

    Classic French Tarte Aux Pommes

    The Spruce / Bahareh Niati

    What could be more elegant and welcome after a fall dinner than a classic French apple tart? You're sure to earn rave reviews for your baking when you present this show-stopping dessert, with its luscious almond cream filling, flaky pastry crust, and stunning spiral of sweet, sticky, caramelized apple slices on top.

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  • 13 of 26

    Easy French Baked Apple Brie

    Easy French Baked Apple Brie

    Dana Hoff/Getty Images

    What's not to love about this elegant warm appetizer of tender baked apples smothered in hot, melted brie cheese? Did we mention that the whole thing is drizzled in maple syrup, sprinkled with brown sugar, and takes 15 minutes to prepare? Your only challenge will be not eating it before guests arrive.

  • 14 of 26

    Apple Cranberry Cobbler

    Apple Cranberry Cobbler

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Apple cobbler is a popular family dessert across the country. This easy, classic version combines sweet apples with tart fall cranberries for an old-fashioned, crunchy, gooey baked treat that is sure to please at holiday dinners, potlucks, and special events.

  • 15 of 26

    Crumb-Topped Apple Pie Bars

    Crumb-Topped Apple Pie Bars

    The Spruce Eats / Jessie Sheehan

    Transform a stockpile of Granny Smith apples into a dozen delicious apple pie dessert bars. They've got everything you crave in a traditional apple pie, including a shortbread crust, cinnamon-apple filling, and crumbly topping.

  • 16 of 26

    Deep Fried Apple Fritters

    Deep fried apple fritters

    The Spruce

    If you've got 30 minutes, you have time to make these mouth-watering apple fritters that taste like miniature apple donuts, without the holes. Quick-fry a batch to enjoy at breakfast or brunch, or make them as a family dessert to serve warm, either on their own, or with vanilla ice cream.

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  • 17 of 26

    Braised Cabbage With Apple and Onion

    Braised Cabbage With Apple and Onion

    Diana Rattray

    Sweet and sour braised cabbage, cooked slowly on the stovetop with apple jelly and fresh apples, makes a deeply tasty accompaniment for savory mains. Serve for a classic accompaniment to ham, sausages and pork, or as part of a vegetarian dinner menu.

  • 18 of 26

    Apple and Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

    Butternut Squash Soup

    Stuart West / Getty Images

    Fresh apples give this fragrant, satisfying butternut squash soup a sweet kick. This delicious, warm autumn soup is very easy to make and stands up well to being prepared in advance and reheated.

  • 19 of 26

    Hot Gold Apple Cider

    Hot Gold Apple Cider

    zi3000/Getty Images

    Few things are more comforting on a chilly fall day than a steaming cup or thermos of hot apple cider. This holiday cocktail kicks warm cider up a notch, spiking it with rum and cinnamon, and adding Goldschlager schnapps so it literally sparkles.

  • 20 of 26

    Apple Barbecue Sauce

    Apple Barbecue Sauce

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

    Looking for a different kind of BBQ sauce? This sweet and tangy apple-flavored barbecue marinade is easy to prepare with common pantry ingredients, and makes an excellent glaze for grilled pork ribs or chicken.

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  • 21 of 26

    Caramel Apples

    Caramel apples

    The Spruce / Nita West

    You'll be amazed by how easy it is to create picture-perfect caramel apples at home, with just a few simple ingredients. Kids love helping to make the carnival-inspired treat, too. Use any tart apple variety in this recipe, such as granny Smith or honeycrisp, to balance the sweetness of the caramel coating.

  • 22 of 26

    Slow Cooker Apple Pork Chops With Sauerkraut

    Slow Cooker Apple Pork Chops With Sauerkraut

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    Apple pork chops with sauerkraut, onion, and sweet potatoes combine some of the best tastes of fall. Use affordable boneless pork loin chops to make this easy one-dish family meal that cooks hands-free in the crockpot.

  • 23 of 26

    Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

    Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

    Use a rotisserie chicken to assemble this popular apple pecan chicken salad for potlucks, and casual lunches. It is so easy to throw together in minutes, and the combination of tender cooked chicken, crunchy pecans, tart apples, and a creamy honey mustard dressing is fantastic.

  • 24 of 26

    Apple Butter Recipe

    apple butter
    Michael Grayson/Getty Images

    Here's an oven method for making apple butter that turns store-bought applesauce into a rich, spreadable treat. Use apple butter as a spread on toast, to highlight the flavors of bacon and pork dishes, as a tasty addition to baked sweet potato casseroles,or fold it into your dessert sundaes.

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  • 25 of 26

    Apple Cinnamon Mule Cocktail

    Apple Cinnamon Mule Cocktail

    S&C Design Studios

    Cheer on autumn with this fall twist on a Moscow mule. Infused with apple and cinnamon flavor, it's a unique way to enjoy the classic combination of vodka, ginger beer, and lime as the weather cools. Garnish glasses with a fresh apple slice, and a cinnamon stick.

  • 26 of 26

    Apple Dump Cake

    Apple Dump Cake

    The Spruce

    Start with a boxed yellow cake mix to make this easy, delicious apple dump cake that even novice bakers can pull off. The finished product looks like a cake, but tastes like an apple pie, and will fill your kitchen with delicious baking aromas.