10 Apple Recipes to Make This Fall
There’s something about the first crisp days of fall that makes me want to put apples in just about everything.
Apple season is one of my favorite parts of fall, and while there’s certainly nothing wrong with a classic apple pie, I thought there must be so many other ways to use those crisp, sweet-tart apples.
Last year I rounded up 10 apple recipes worth trying, so this year I went looking for recipes that were a little different. These are a mix of savory dinners, easy lunches, cozy breakfasts, salads, and a few desserts for good measure. If you’re looking for a new way to use the apples that seem to multiply in your kitchen this time of year, here are a few recipes worth bookmarking.
1. Pumpkin Shortcakes with Cinnamon Apples and Maple Whipped Cream Cheese |
Recipe by Pinch of Yum
If you’re looking for a fall dessert that feels a little more special than your standard apple crisp, these pumpkin shortcakes definitely caught my attention.
The recipe pairs fluffy pumpkin biscuits with warm cinnamon-brown sugar apples and a maple whipped cream cheese. It’s part dessert, part brunch, and completely over-the-top in the best way. The combination of pumpkin and apple makes it feel like two of fall’s best flavors decided to join forces.
This would be especially fun for a weekend brunch or a fall gathering when you want something that looks impressive without making another pie.
2. Sausage Apple Breakfast Casserole
Recipe by Life, Love, and Good Food
Breakfast casseroles are one of those recipes that are useful to have in your back pocket, especially once weekends start filling up with fall activities and holiday gatherings.
This version combines savory sausage and eggs with sweet apples, onion, rosemary, and nutty cheese. The apples add just enough sweetness and freshness to balance the richer ingredients, making this feel hearty without being overly heavy.
It’s also make-ahead friendly, which makes it a great option for a slow Saturday morning, a brunch with friends, or a holiday breakfast when you’d rather not be cooking everything at the last minute.
3. Charred Cabbage with Sausages and Apples
Recipe by Bon Appétit
If you’ve never thought of cabbage as a particularly exciting dinner ingredient, this recipe might change your mind.
Bon Appétit roasts cabbage until the edges are nicely charred, then pairs it with Italian sausage, crisp apple slices, and a creamy horseradish sauce. The result is hearty and savory, but the fresh apples add a crisp contrast that keeps the dish from feeling too heavy.
It’s the kind of dinner that feels especially appropriate once the weather turns cooler—and it all comes together on a sheet pan, which is always a bonus on a weeknight.
4. Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
Recipe by Ambitious Kitchen
Not every apple recipe needs to be a warm, cozy dinner. This honey mustard chicken salad is a great option for those fall days when you want something fresh and easy.
The chicken salad gets a sweet and tangy honey mustard dressing, crunchy celery and nuts, and plenty of crisp Honeycrisp apples. Best of all, the recipe takes just 15 minutes and doesn’t require any cooking, so it’s an easy lunch to keep in your rotation.
Serve it with crackers, pile it into a sandwich or wrap, or keep it simple and eat it straight from the bowl.
And if you’re an apple fan, Ambitious Kitchen has an entire collection of apple recipes worth browsing. There are plenty more ideas here if you find yourself with more apples than you know what to do with.
5. Butternut Squash & Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
Recipe by Ambitious Kitchen
A salad might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about fall apple recipes, but this one is worth adding to the list.
It combines roasted butternut squash, shaved Brussels sprouts, crisp apple, pomegranate, dates, and maple pecans with a creamy vegan Caesar dressing. There’s a lot happening here—sweet, savory, crunchy, creamy—and it makes for a much more substantial salad than the usual bowl of greens.
This would make a great fall lunch on its own, but I also love the idea of serving it alongside a roasted chicken or another cozy dinner.
In my research I was blown away by all the delicious apples recipes on Ambitious Kitchen, it was hard to just pick one! Which is how I ended up with two on this list but I also had to share a link to all her apple recipes so you can explore yourself.
6. Harvest Chicken Skillet with Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts |
Recipe by Well Plated
When you want a dinner that tastes like fall, this skillet pretty much checks every box.
Chicken, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, apples, bacon, and a touch of cinnamon all come together in one pan. The combination of sweet, savory, and slightly salty flavors makes this feel like the kind of dinner you want on a chilly evening, and the fact that it only leaves you with one skillet to clean up makes it even better.
It’s also a great example of how well apples work in savory dishes. They add sweetness and a little acidity without turning the meal into something that tastes like dessert.
7. Smoky Paprika Fish Tacos with an Apple Slaw
Recipe by The Recipe Critic
If you’re not ready to give up tacos just because fall has arrived, try switching up your usual taco toppings with this apple slaw.
The fish is seasoned with smoky paprika, garlic, parsley, and pepper before being tucked into warm tortillas. The apple slaw brings together crisp cabbage, Granny Smith apples, cilantro, green onion, and lime for a fresh, crunchy topping.
The whole meal comes together in about 30 minutes, making this a great option for a weeknight when you want something lighter but still full of flavor.
8. Apple Cake with Honey-Cider Glaze
Recipe by Zoë Bakes
There are a lot of apple cakes out there, but the honey-cider glaze is what made this one stand out to me. Plus, her chocolate cake recipe is one of the best I’ve ever tried!
The cake uses both grated apples and chunks of apple, which gives it plenty of apple flavor and keeps the texture moist. Then it gets finished with a honey-cider glaze that adds another layer of fall flavor without making the cake feel overly sweet.
It’s the kind of cake that would be right at home on a fall dessert table, but it would also be lovely on a quiet afternoon.
9. Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies
Recipe by Cooking Classy
Sometimes you just want a cookie.
These apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies combine the chewy texture of an oatmeal cookie with little pieces of fresh apple and plenty of cinnamon. They’re soft in the middle with slightly crisp edges, and the apple makes them feel especially fitting for fall.
I also love that these are a little different from the usual chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookie. If you’re doing some fall baking with the kids or simply want something homemade to keep on the counter, these would be a fun one to try.
10. Apple Cider Whoopie Pies
Recipe by The New York Times Cooking
And finally, because fall desserts should occasionally be a little whimsical: apple cider whoopie pies.
These soft, cake-like cookies get their apple flavor from reduced apple cider and apple butter, then are sandwiched together with a cream cheese filling. The outside gets a cinnamon-sugar finish that gives them a little of the flavor of an apple cider doughnut in a completely different form.
They’d be especially fun to bring to a fall gathering, school event, or Thanksgiving weekend when you want something a little more unexpected than another plate of cookies.
A Few More Apple Recipes to Keep in Your Back Pocket
If you tried last year’s apple recipe roundup, hopefully this list gives you a few new ideas to add to it. And if you’re heading to an orchard or farmers market this fall and come home with more apples than you planned on buying, consider that your excuse to work your way through the list.
And if you make one, let me know which one you loved most!
