22 DELICIOUS APPLE RECIPES: WHAT TO MAKE WITH APPLES
Apples are an adaptable fruit that can seamlessly blend into delicious appetizers, entrees, salads, desserts and drinks. Read on to discover apple recipe ideas for any event or time of day, learn more about the best apples for baking and find out how to preserve apples so you can enjoy them down the road.
WHAT CAN I MAKE WITH A LOT OF APPLES?
Apples are packed with culinary potential, so you can work your way through a large, fresh picked bushel quickly by creating everything from pancakes and biscuits to breads, soups, tarts, pies and even cocktails. When you have a lot of apples to cook with, you can try doubling or tripling a recipe to share your favorite apple dishes with friends and family.
Rapidly prepare apples for the recipes that excite you most when you use a KitchenAid® stand mixer equipped with the 7 Blade Spiralizer Plus with Peel, Core and Slice Attachment1 that can simultaneously peel, core and slice apples for you. Or, easily chop, dice or puree apples in a KitchenAid® food processor for chutneys, sauces and more.
1. Attachments and stand mixers sold separately.
1. APPLE BRIE CROSTINI
Mouthwatering appetizers don’t need to be complicated. Quickly whip up a batch of apple brie crostini using a KitchenAid® food processor equipped with a slicing/shredding disc to create thick apple slices, then top golden brown baguette rounds with brie, an apple slice, a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of walnuts and chives. Learn more about how to use a food processor.
2. KABOCHA APPLE SAGE SOUP
Pair apple with the sweet flavor kabocha squash and freshly minced ginger in this rich and velvety soup. Add prepared kabocha, apples and spices to a pot on the stovetop, then use a KitchenAid® hand blender to puree the mixture until it's silky smooth. Garnish with crispy sage leaves and fresh apple chunks for a more complex flavor and texture.
3. APPLE RICOTTA PANCAKES
These aromatic pancakes are packed with moisture and iconic fall flavors. You can use the KitchenAid® 13-Cup Food Processor with Dicing Kit to achieve thinly sliced apple wedges, then top ricotta cheese-infused batter with several slices to create pillowy pancakes with just the right amount of crisp apple texture.
4. CARROT-APPLE BISCUITS
With only a handful of ingredients, these biscuits are simple to prepare and make a great addition to any fall brunch menu. Use a food processor like the KitchenAid® 13-Cup Food Processor with the Dicing Kit to finely shred carrots using the shredding disc, then swap out the disc for the dicing kit to dice apples. Serve finished biscuits warm with honey and butter for a comforting kickstart to the day.
5. SPIRALIZED SWEET POTATO AND APPLE ENCHILADA CASSEROLE
Create a saucy, sweet and savory entree with this unique fruit and veggie casserole. Quickly spiralize sweet potatoes and apples using a KitchenAid® Spiralizer Attachment for a KitchenAid® stand mixer, then assemble flavorful layers of black beans, corn, sweet potato and apple alongside enchilada sauce, whole wheat tortillas and cheese.
6. APPLE GINGER GALETTE
This rustic-looking bake balances the tart and tang of Granny Smith apples and lemon with the warmth of nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice fall flavors. Equip a KitchenAid® stand mixer with a Pastry Beater Accessory to create a flaky galette crust, and use the KitchenAid® 5 Blade Spiralizer with the Peel, Core and Slice Attachment to quickly prepare ¼ inch apple slices with precision.
7. BEER BRAISED BRATWURSTS WITH APPLE MUSTARD SLAW
Add a hint of sweetness to savory, seared bratwurst with an apple, cabbage, green onion and parsley coleslaw. Use a KitchenAid® food processor equipped with the multipurpose blade to quickly chop coleslaw ingredients, and customize the recipe to your tastes when you make homemade bratwursts using the KitchenAid® Sausage Stuffer Kit Attachment for a stand mixer.
8. APPLE ROSE TARTS
These simple tarts combine crisp, juicy Fuji apples with a handful of other ingredients to create a visually stunning desert. Spiralizing apples to help create a delicate rose shape is quick and easy with a KitchenAid® Spiralizer Attachment designed to work with any KitchenAid® bowl-lift or tilt-head stand mixer.
9. KALE SALAD WITH BRUSSELS AND APPLES
Nutrition-packed ingredients and a homemade honey mustard dressing makes this salad a satisfying side dish or entree. Choose between Honeycrisp or Gala apples for a sweet, juicy and crunchy kick, then prepare apples using the Fresh Prep Slicer/Shredder Attachment with a customized KitchenAid® stand mixer to quickly create even slices.
10. CARAMEL APPLE BOURBON SLUSH COCKTAILS
Add a seasonal twist to cocktail hour with a caramel apple bourbon slush that you can prepare in a flash. Simply combine apples, apple cider, bourbon, caramel sauce and ice in a KitchenAid® blender, then blend until smooth and serve in drinking glasses with caramel sauce dipped rims.
11. APPLE FRUIT ROLL-UPS
Fruit roll-ups aren’t just for kids. You can customize this recipe to your tastes by choosing sweet or tangy apples, then puree cubed apples alongside sugar, water, lemon and cinnamon in a KitchenAid® blender for just the right combination of sweet, spicy and tangy. See this fruit leather recipe for more tips on making homemade fruit roll-ups or get tips and tricks on how to use a blender.
12. SAVORY APPLE GALETTE WITH PANCETTA AND BRUSSELS SPROUT LEAVES
Apple blends beautifully with a variety of meats, and pancetta is no exception. This savory galette features a thyme-infused crust that you can quickly whip up using a KitchenAid® food processor. Top the crust dough with layers of gruyère cheese, sliced green apples, brussels sprout leaves, pancetta and a flavorful apple vinaigrette.
13. APPLE SALAD WITH CRISPY PROSCIUTTO
Combine the sour crunch of Granny Smith apples with the salty crisp of oven-roasted prosciutto in this simple salad. Use a stand mixer spiralizer attachment like the KitchenAid® Spiralizer Thin Blade Set fashioned with a small core blade to create thin and delicate apple slices. Then top baby arugula with apples, prosciutto, roasted almonds and a drizzle of homemade honey mustard dressing.
14. APPLE BACON TACOS
This Mexican-inspired dish transforms sweet and crispy Fuji apples into a salsa to pair with the aromatic flavors of hoja santa pepperleafs, fresh chamomile flowers, pasilla chiles and more. With homemade tortillas infused with the char from broiled apple skins, these apple bacon tacos are bursting with flavor.
15. APPLE PIE SMOOTHIE BOWL
Try this unique take on a smoothie by topping a sweet apple and cinnamon smoothie with sautéed apple noodles, walnuts, goji berries and chia seeds. A KitchenAid® Spiralizer Attachment can connect to your KitchenAid® stand mixer to create spiralized apple noodles customized to your preferred thickness using one of several blade options.
16. GLUTEN FREE APPLE CRUMB CAKE
Packed with tangy Granny Smith apples and topped with a golden brown oat and cinnamon crumble, this gluten-free apple crumb cake makes the perfect seasonal breakfast or dessert for a gluten-free house. Use a KitchenAid® stand mixer fitted with a Flat Beater Accessory to beat cake batter into a light and fluffy mixture that translates into a soft and airy texture once baked.
17. CARROT BEET APPLE JUICE
Made with nothing but the juice of fruits and vegetables, this nutrition-packed beverage is rich with the fresh flavors of apple, carrot, ginger and beet. Combine the produce with water in your blender, then serve juice immediately for a beverage you won’t be able to stop sipping.
18. WINTER SQUASH AND APPLE SOUP
Create a satisfying flavor profile when you combine the sweet and savory in this festive fall dish. Simply place squash, onion and apple pieces on a baking sheet and sprinkle with savory spices like coriander, cumin and red pepper flakes. Roast the seasoned apples and vegetables, then transfer them to a KitchenAid® blender to blend until you achieve a velvety smooth mixture.
19. TURKEY AND APPLE GOAT CHEESE TEA SANDWICHES WITH HOMEMADE CRANBERRY ORANGE BREAD
These simple sandwiches are loaded with rich, contrasting flavors that make a great afternoon snack or tea time finger sandwich. Use a KitchenAid® stand mixer outfitted with the Dough Hook Accessory to knead cranberry orange bread dough. Once baked, you can assemble a sweet and zesty sandwich with layers of bread, turkey breast, goat cheese, dill and thinly sliced apples.
20. APPLE PIE SMOOTHIE
Whip up a classic fall dessert in the form of a chilly treat with this apple pie smoothie. Add almond milk, apple, banana, oats, vanilla, cinnamon and dates to the blender jar of a KitchenAid® blender, then blend until smooth. You can add even more sweetness to the mixture with extra dates to create a fiber-rich treat.
21. CINNAMON APPLE CROSTATA
Indulge in an Italian baked tart rich with warm flavors like cinnamon, vanilla and brown sugar with this cinnamon apple crostata. Use a KitchenAid® food processor to form the crostata dough, adding ingredients through the feed tube to create an evenly kneaded dough ball. Prepare Honeycrisp apples using a Peel, Core and Slice Attachment for a KitchenAid® stand mixer, or use Bosc pears in place of apples and sprinkle sharp cheddar cheese into the crumb topping for a savory alternative.
22. FENNEL, ROSEMARY, APPLE & BROWN SUGAR PORK TENDERLOIN
Apples and pork have complemented each other in recipes for centuries, and this pork tenderloin recipe carries on the tradition. Sweet Honeycrisp apples cut the saltiness of pork seasoned with rosemary, fennel seed, bourbon, honey, brown sugar and a dash of soy sauce and dijon. Serve this sweet and savory pork dish atop roasted carrots and potatoes for a filling and well-rounded dish.
SHOP KITCHENAID® STAND MIXERS FOR MAKING APPLE DISHES
Discover all that a KitchenAid® stand mixer plus attachments1 can do. Get help choosing the right stand mixer for you with the stand mixer buying guide or compare KitchenAid brand models with the stand mixer comparison guide.
1. Sold separately
WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR COOKING APPLE?
The most common varieties of apples for cooking and baking include Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Braeburn and Honeycrisp. These are the best apples for cooking or baking as they can maintain their firm and crisp texture—as well as a balance of sweet and tart flavors—when exposed to the high heat of an oven or cooktop. The different apples vary in sweetness but are all juicy and firm enough to hold their shape and maintain a pleasant texture and flavor when baked.
WHAT APPLES ARE NOT GOOD FOR BAKING?
Some apples are best suited to eating raw, whether they’re diced in a salad or sliced up for an afternoon snack. Varieties like McIntosh apples do well when baked and pureed into applesauce, but collapse when baked in a pie or tart. Popular snacking apples like Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious types also don’t hold up well under heat and are prone to becoming grainy or mushy when baked.
WHAT FRUITS MIX WELL WITH APPLES?
All apple varieties fall somewhere on the spectrum of tart to sweet flavors, so the best fruit pairings often come down to flavors that can complement each other without becoming overpoweringly sweet or unpleasantly tart. Sweet apples pair well with tart fruits like cranberries, cherries and citrus fruits, while tart apple varieties pair well with sweet fruits like squash, pears, peaches and bananas.
HOW DO YOU PRESERVE APPLES?
The enzymes in apples make them prone to browning once they’re peeled or cut. You can help extend the life of sliced apples by placing cut fruit in a lemon juice or sugar syrup solution, then refrigerating them to help slow the browning process. You can freeze apples for up to one year for later use in baking or cooking by first washing, peeling and coring apples. Then, prevent darkening by sprinkling them with lemon juice or finely crushed vitamin C tablets mixed with water. Put the apples in a freezer bag, then label it with the date and place it in the freezer. You can also try canning or dehydrating apples, or turn them into a jam, sauce, jelly or butter for later use.
SHOP KITCHENAID® FOOD PROCESSORS FOR YOUR KITCHENS
KitchenAid® food processors can help you make the most of your favorite apple varieties as they slice, dice, chop and puree ingredients for savory salads, flavorful entrees and decadent desserts. Some models feature the ExactSlice™ System that lets you slice fruits and vegetables from thick to thin with the slide of a lever, while others come equipped with a dough blade to help you whip up bread or pie dough in no time.
