Apple picking is an annual ritual in my family. I take the boys picking every year and thankfully, since apples are a cold storage crop, they keep well in the fridge if I store them properly.
That means you’ve got apples for pie, cake, crisp, sauce, tarts, and so forth. For days and days.
WHICH APPLES SHOULD YOU BUY FOR YOUR RECIPE?
Although I think there are some general guidelines that are useful, people often worry a bit more than I think is necessary about which apples are good for which particular dessert. You’ll notice that many of the recipes in this round-up specifically call for using a variety that will provide a more complex flavor. I can get behind that!
Of course, certain apples are harder (such as Granny Smith) or softer than others (McIntosh), and that is worth considering when making an apple dessert. For example, you’d want a more tender apple for something like applesauce, while something firmer and more tart holds up better in apple pie.

Photo by Sabrina Modelle
But there’s a wide gamut of flavors and textures you can choose from. I like to use my favorites from a local orchard (Honeycrisp, Evercrisp, Pink Lady, and Fuji) all of which are crispy and have a good balance of sweet and tart.
But in general, I like to tell people in recipes or in cooking classes (when I teach them) that whatever apple you like to eat out of hand is worth considering for a baking project.
HOW TO STORE APPLES
You want to keep apples in the coldest part of your refrigerator. Some people like to keep apples on the countertop—and that’s certainly fine if you want a visual reminder to eat them—but if you’re looking to keep them for anything longer than a few days, refrigeration is your friend.
What are your favorite apple desserts to make this time of year?
All of these recipes sound yummy and I love that you make these from scratch as we in Australia don’t have ready to put in the oven straight from the freezer ( I wish we did) I remember how much more fun it was to get these ready to bake treats when I lived there for 3 years, it would make life in the kitchen a little bit easier. so I have printed off quite a few and can’t wait to make them .thank you again or these great recipes. We have just started spring over here, and nothing beats the smell of apples and spices cooking.
My family all like Apples, but my favorite fruit is PEARS.
Do you have any Pear recipes!
Hello, Lynda. Thanks for your comment. Carrie Havranek here, Simply Recipes Associate Editor. Here’s a link to our page with pear recipes. https://www.simplyrecipes.com/?s=pears
Will try these, we love apples.
Thank you….I am so ready for Fall and your apple recipes!
Thank you ..They all sound amazing..