Whether you’re a Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, McIntosh or Fuji sort of person, there’s an apple for you. Their season is extraordinarily long and bountiful, and there are always new varieties emerging at the farmer’s market. (Hello, tasty Pink Ladys!) Our hundreds of apple recipes include all the tarts, pies and fritters you could want, and encompass both sweet and savory options. If you’ve never had apple paired with bourbon, pork, or sage—or some combination thereof—you’re in for a treat. How ’bout them apples, indeed.
1. Pork Chops with Apples and Sage
This five-star reader favorite introduces hearty pork chops to apples, a bit of butter, and fresh sage in a single skillet. The key to this recipe is browning the fruit in the pork fat. (Trust us; it works). When everything bundles into the oven together, the apple slices caramelize and the sage crisps up a bit. As the pork fat renders, it creates a jus in the pan to drizzle over the cooked chops. This is a downright dreamy weeknight dish, especially when served with crusty bread or potatoes.
2. Apple-Pistachio Hand Pies
Add pistachios to the list of unexpected ingredients with which this fruit pairs beautifully. These hand pies feature a half cup of the buttery nut, adding welcome crunch. We love that you can make these in any shape you desire: in rounds as instructed, as squares, or folded over into triangles or half circles. They look lovely no matter how you fold them.
3. Deep-Dish Apple Bourbon Streusel Pie
If there’s a “problem” with apple pie, it’s probably that you don’t have enough of it. Apple pie is perennially popular for good reason, but if you’re feeding a crowd, consider a larger vehicle for its deliciousness. Enter this deep-dish apple-bourbon streusel pie. The fruit mingles with bourbon, light brown sugar and classic baking spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. A sugary, cinnamony pecan streusel on top is out of this world.
4. Apple Fritters
When was the last time you had a homemade apple fritter? These fritters are easier than you’d think, and contain a mouthwatering mix of sliced fruit, butter, cinnamon and sugar. Brushed with sweet apple glaze and served warm, they are pretty much the most fabulous thing you could serve brunch guests.
5. Frosted Apple Cake
Pie gets the lion’s share of the credit, but this frosted apple cake sure is good. It’s a super-simple recipe that just involves breaking out the electric mixers, spinning apples with baking spices, sugar and flour, and spreading out the dough in a baking sheet. Top the finished product with vanilla-cream cheese frosting and see if it doesn’t disappear just as fast as pie in a crowd.
6. Savory Apple Tart with Onions, Cheddar and Thyme
We love a fruit-centric recipe you can serve as easily for lunch as you could for dessert. This savory apple tart with onions, cheddar and thyme hits all the French cravings you might have. Serve it alongside a heaping green salad with mustard vinaigrette at lunch, or serve it as an unusual appetizer at dinnertime. It will also please lovers of not-too-sweet desserts, especially alongside a cheese board.
7. Caramelized Apple Onion Tarts
Storebought puff pastry is the secret ingredient in these knockout, party-worthy caramelized onion and apple tarts. Adapted from a recipe by chef Justine Kelly, these are just the thing to pass around at parties. Caramelize onions in a skillet, use that same pan for softening up the apples, combine them with Gruyère and thyme, and scoop on to puff pastry. Pop in the oven, and they’ll emerge golden and gorgeous.