Fall Apple Harvest Must-Try Recipes
Introduction
Ah, fall! The crisp air, cooler days, and the scent of fall harvest apples and cinnamon wafting from the oven feel like pure magic. Autumn has this wonderful way of pulling people together, and nothing captures the season better than apples. Whether you’re plucking them fresh from an orchard or snagging some at the farmer’s market, apples are fall’s favorite fruit—sweet, tangy, crunchy, and sometimes all at once! From pies to savory dishes, the possibilities are endless. Let’s explore some of the most delightful, Fall apple harvest must-try recipes to celebrate this beautiful season!
Why Apples Are the Star of Fall
If Fall had a mascot, it’d be an apple. Hands down! With so many varieties and their versatility in both sweet and savory dishes, it’s no wonder apples steal the spotlight this time of year.
First off, there’s the variety. Oh, the choices! Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala—each brings something different to the table. Need a crisp, tart bite for your apple pie? Granny Smith is your gal. Looking for a sweet snack or a salad topping? Honeycrisp will never disappoint. And they’re not just tasty; they’re healthy! Apples are packed with fiber and vitamins C and A, and they’re naturally low in calories. A crunchy, nutritious snack and a Fall apple harvest flavor bomb all in one?
But before we dive into some apple recipes, here’s a quick note. When it comes to apples, not all are created equal. Especially when it comes to baking vs. cooking, some hold up better under heat, while others become too mushy. If you want to enhance the flavor and texture of your dishes, the right variety choice is key. Granny Smith apples, with their firm texture and tart flavor, make them ideal for pies and crisps. Honeycrisp apples bring a juicy sweetness and are perfect for salads, sauces, and fresh eating. Fuji apples are naturally sweet and hold their shape, making them great for tarts and baked goods. Gala apples are versatile, mildly sweet, and work well in cakes and muffins. Braeburn apples offer a balance of sweet and tart, ideal for savory dishes like stuffing or pork roasts. Jonathan apples are slightly tart, perfect for baking in pies or crisps. McIntosh apples, though soft, blend beautifully into applesauce and apple butter. Pink Lady apples have a bright, sweet flavor with a hint of tartness, making them fantastic for salads and desserts. Golden Delicious apples are sweet and mellow, great for pies, tarts, and sauces. Finally, Empire apples have a crisp texture with a balance of sweet and tart, working well in both fresh dishes and baking. These varieties offer the perfect range for everything from sweet treats to savory creations. So let’s take a look at what Fall apple harvest must-try recipes we have lined up for your fall cooking.
These are just a few of your most common apples. If you want to learn more about the many types of apples go here: https://www.liveeatlearn.com/types-of-apples/
Sweet Fall Apple Harvest Must-Try Recipes to Bake This Fall
Now, let’s get to the good stuff baking. There’s nothing like the smell of apples and cinnamon wafting through the house to make it feel like Fall has truly arrived. These three recipes are guaranteed to make your kitchen the coziest place to be.
Classic Apple Pie with a Twist
Let’s start with a classic—but with a little extra flair! When it comes to Fall apple harvest must-try recipes, apple pie is probably the first recipe that crosses our mind. Well, this isn’t your grandma’s apple pie. We’re talking about a pie that’s equal parts nostalgia and gourmet.
Ingredients:
- 6 Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored, and sliced thin)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Your favorite pie crust (store-bought or homemade, we won’t judge!)
- Optional: caramel drizzle for serving
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Toss the apple slices with cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, brown sugar, flour, and lemon juice. Let them sit for a bit so the apples soak up all that goodness.
- Roll your pie crust and fit the pie dish. Pour the apple mixture in, making sure it’s evenly distributed.
- Top with another crust, creating a lattice if you’re feeling fancy. (Pro tip: Sprinkle a little sugar on top of the crust for an extra sweet crunch!)
- Bake the crust until it is golden brown. Approximately 45-50 minutes. Let it cool slightly before slicing. Optional but encouraged: drizzle with caramel for some extra indulgence. Maybe a scoop of ice cream if you are throwing caution to the wind. That first warm bite of apple pie? Heavenly Bliss!
Fall Apple Harvest Must-Try Recipe Perfection
Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Next, we’ve got the perfect grab-and-go snack: apple cinnamon muffins. They’re the definition of Fall in a bite. Moist, sweet, and loaded with bits of fresh apple, these muffins are fantastic for breakfast or a snack.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup melted butter
- 1- large egg
- 1 cup milk
- 2- medium apples, peeled and diced
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in one bowl. In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar, white sugar, butter, egg, and milk.
- Take the dry ingredients and mix them into the wet ingredients. A gentle mix until dry and wet are combined. Fold in the diced apples.
- Fill your muffin cups about ¾ full. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin. If the toothpick comes out clean, the muffins are done. Cool for a few minutes, then enjoy.
These muffins are perfect for busy fall mornings when you need something sweet but quick. Plus, your house will smell AMAZING.
This Fall Apple Harvest Must-Try Classic Recipe is Always a Winner
Classic Apple Crisp
If you love apple pie but don’t have time to roll out dough, apple crisp is your new best friend. It’s warm, buttery, crunchy, and, best of all—easy.
Ingredients:
- 5 Honeycrisp apples (peeled, cored, sliced)
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter (cold, cut into cubes)
- Caramel sauce for drizzling
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Toss the apples with sugar and cinnamon. Spread the apple mixture out evenly in a 9 X 9 greased baking dish. In a separate bowl, mix the oats, flour, and brown sugar. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter (or your fingers!) until it forms a crumbly topping.
- After sprinkling the topping over the apples, bake for 40-45 minutes. The apples should be bubbling, and the topping should be golden brown.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce while it’s still warm.
Allow the Apple Crisp to cool slightly, allowing it to set. Serve with vanilla ice cream. You’ll thank me later.
Let’s be honest—those recipes are the timeless classics we all love. But why stop there? I’ve got three more apple gems up my sleeve that you need to try. Trust me, once you make these, they’ll earn a permanent spot in your recipe book. These aren’t just tasty! They’re the kind of recipes you pass down, the ones your family begs for at every gathering. So, grab those apples, and let’s dive into three of my absolute fall favorites. I promise, after one bite, you’ll wonder how you ever celebrated the season without them!
An Apple Dumpling Story
One of my favorite Apple Dumpling memories involves my best friend, Angie, and her younger brother, Johnny. They invited me to Depot Days, a fall festival in Milton, FL—just about an hour’s drive from Niceville, FL. Their mom, Lois, had sisters there, so while she caught up on things with her sisters, the three of us headed straight for the festival. Now, we had a plan, and when I say plan, I mean a very food-driven strategy. We were all serious food lovers (still are), and what would be the grand finale of our day? Apple dumplings. Warm, flaky apple dumplings nestled under a scoop of ice cream, drenched in apple syrup and cinnamon. Heaven in a bowl.
But we had discipline! We decided to hit up all the craft booths first, saving our dumpling treat for last—something to savor before we left. So, off we went, browsing booths and plotting our dumpling triumph. Finally, with mouths watering and anticipation at its peak, we stepped up to the apple dumpling truck… only to be told they had just sold the last one. They were sold out! You could practically hear the sound of three grown adults having their hearts crushed in unison. Johnny, who had gone from excited to heartbroken in 0.5 seconds, looked like he might actually cry. Then, he did a 180 and looked like he was going to explode from pure frustration. The rest of us? That would be shock, disbelief, then finally laughter. But I’m telling you, that disappointment stung all the way back to the car—and all the way home. So close to that Depot Day Delight, but no apple dumpling in sight! The moral of this memory is to have an apple dumpling at the beginning of your festival lest you face heartbreak. As we three surely did.
This is a simple and easy recipe for Apple Dumplings that Johnny’s sister Angie first made and introduced to me. This is a recipe you will make over and over again for your family and friends. Just don’t forget the ice cream!
Angie’s Easy Apple Dumplings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 each Granny Smith apples
- 2 – 8 oz. cans of crescent rolls
- 1 cup butter (will need additional butter to grease the baking dish.)
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 12 oz. can Moutnain Dew A Sprite may be used instead of Mountain Dew
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Butter(grease) a 13×9 baking dish & set aside.
- Peel and core the 2 apples cutting each apple in half vertically. Cut each half of apple into 4 wedges. You will have a total of 16 apple wedges.
- Remove the 2 cans of crescent rolls from the refrigerator. Working quickly while they are cold, unroll the crescent dough onto a lightly floured surface and separate the perforated dough into 16 triangles. Place an apple wedge on the widest side of the dough triangle and roll the apple to the pointed end of the triangle allowing the remaining do to continue wrapping around the apple wedge. Continue with the remaining dough and apple wedges. Place these in the buttered baking dish.
- Melt 1 cup of butter in a small saucepan. Add the 1 1/2 cups of sugar and stir just enough to incorporate. Do not over-mix; we want it to look lumpy and grainy. Add the vanilla and just barely stir it in. Pour this mixture over the wrapped apples. Pour the 12 oz. Mountain Dew around the edges of the baking dish. Sprinkle cinnamon over the top of the wrapped apples.
- Place the apple dumplings in the preheated oven and bake until the dumplings are golden brown and crispy on top. Approximately 35 to 45 minutes
- Plate two apple dumplings in an individual serving dish, spoon some of the pan sauce onto the dumplings, and then serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A single serving of 2 apple dumplings, pan sauce, and 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream is approximately 485 calories.
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Nutrition
A Fall Apple Harvest Must-Try: Apple Pie & Cheesecake Combo
Who doesn’t love cheesecake and apple pie? Why not Indulge in the best of both worlds with a mouthwatering Caramel Walnut Apple Pie Cheesecake Bars? This decadent dessert combines the rich, creamy goodness of cheesecake with the comforting flavors of apple pie, making it a top contender for my favorite fall apple harvest treats. Save this recipe for the upcoming holiday party or get-togethers. It will be a hit!
Caramel Walnut ApplePie Cheesecake Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 3 tbsps granulated sugar
Cheesecake Filling
- 3 – 8 ounce cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
- 1 cup grandulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp grated lemon zest
Apple Topping
- 6 Granny Smith Apples (peeled, cored, & chopped)
- ¼ cup light brown sugar-packed
- 1 tsp grated lemon zest
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 pinch salt
Strudel Topping
- 1 cup light brown sugar-packed
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup quick oats
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- ¾ cup unsalted butter
Caramel Topping
- ½ cup store-bought caramel sauce for drizzling
Instructions
Prep
- Preheat oven to 350℉ and lightly grease the sides and bottom of your 13×9 baking dish. Line the baking dish with parchment paper allowing it to overhang the ends. This will make it easier to lift the cheesecake from the baking dish before slicing it to serve.
- Peel, core, and coarsely chop the Granny Smith Apples. Place in an airtight container until ready to use.
Graham Cracker Crusting
- In a medium saucepan, place the butter and melt over low heat. Add graham crackers and sugar to the melted butter and thoroughly mix. Pour the graham cracker mixture into the prepared baking dish and press into an even bottom layer. Set aside.
Cream Cheese Filling
- In a large mixing bowl, add three 8 oz. packages of cream cheese and beat on medium speed until light and creamy. Add 1 cup sugar and continue to beat the cream cheese mixture until creamy, scraping down the sides occasionally. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and the grated lemon zest and thoroughly mix.
- Pour the cheesecake filling into the baking dish and lightly tap the pan on the countertop to remove any air pockets.
Apple Topping
- Take your peeled and chopped apples and place them in a mixing bowl. Add 1/4 cup of brown sugar, grated lemon zest, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine thoroughly and set aside for about 5 minutes to let flavors blend well. After 5 minutes, gently spoon the topping onto the cheesecake filling..
Strudel Topping
- Mix light brown sugar, all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, and mix together. Grate the 3/4 cup of cold butter (1 & 1/2 sticks) into the mixture. Mix until it looks crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over top of the apples.
- Place in the preheated oven. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the filling is set and the topping is golden brown. Once baking is done, remove from the oven and let it cool to room temperature and then place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes,
Slice & Serve
- Remove cheesecake from the refrigerator. Using parchment paper remove from the baking dish and place on a flat surface. Cut into 16 even serving squares. Drizzle each square with caramel sauce before serving.
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Nutrition
Savory Fall Apple Harvest Recipes to Cook This Fall
Now, apples aren’t just for desserts. They add an incredible burst of flavor to savory dishes too! Let’s look at a few recipes that’ll bring some apple magic to your main courses.
Mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables are my favorite sides to serve with this dish. Fall comfort food that feels like a warm hug.
Skillet Pork Chops with Apples and Onions
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 6-8 oz. ea. bone in pork chops (you may use boneless also)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 each Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored, sliced into 1/2 inch thick wedges)
- 1 medium yellow or sweet onion (thinly sliced)
- ⅓ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup whipping cream
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- ¾ tsp dried thyme (can use 8 fresh small thyme sprigs)
Instructions
Prep
- Preheat oven to 450℉. Heat olive oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Peel and core the apples slicing into 1/2 thick slices. Slice onion into thin slices.
Cook
- Once the skillet and oil become hot, place each pork chop in the skillet. Cook over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes on each side or until both sides are golden brown. Remove from the skillet and set aside
- Add apples and onions to the cast-iron skillet you just cooked pork chops in. Cook apples and onions over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 4-5 minutes or until browned. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Add broth to the skillet and stir to loosen the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Whisk together the cream and Dijon mustard and add to the skillet stirring constantly. Add the thyme. Cook for 1 or 2 minutes until sauce becomes bubbly.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the pork chops back to the skillet turning each to coat both sides with sauce.
- Top pork chops with the apples and onions.
- Place the skillet in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes just until the sauce starts to bubble. Remove the skillet from the oven and let sit for about 5 minutes.
- Serve with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables for the perfect fall meal.
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Nutrition
Fall Harvest Apple Salad with Maple Dressing
Not everything fall has to be heavy and rich! This. salad is a light, refreshing dish packed with fall flavors.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 2 apples (sliced thin)
- ¼ cup crumbled feta or goat cheese
- ¼ cup toasted walnuts or pecans
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
Maple Dressing:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Toss the greens, apples, cheese, nuts, and cranberries together in a large bowl.
- Make your Maple Dressing and add to the salad just before serving.
It’s crunchy, sweet, tangy, and everything you want from a fall salad. Add some roasted chicken and you will have a protein-packed salad that will satisfy everyone’s taste buds.
Fall Apple Harvest Must-Try Recipe Pairings and Tips for Fall Cooking
Before you rush off to the kitchen, here are a few tips and tricks for cooking and baking with apples this fall:
- Spice it up: Cinnamon and apples go together like peanut butter and jelly, but don’t forget about other spices! Nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice all add depth to both sweet and savory dishes.
- Keep them fresh: Prevent apples from browning by tossing them in a little lemon juice. And if you’ve got a big haul from the orchard, store them in a cool, dark place. Apples will stay fresh for weeks that way!
- Prep like a pro: Invest in an apple corer or slicer to make your life easier when working through large quantities.
Fall is a great time of year and when the cool weather arrives, we go in search of comfort food. I would put all the above recipes in the comfort food category, but if you are looking for more check a previous post of mine here: https://blissfulfoodsplus.com/classic-comfort-foods-for-every-season/
Conclusion
Fall is the perfect time to get creative with apples. Whether you’re baking up something sweet or adding apples to a savory dish, they’re the star ingredient that brings a burst of fall flavor. So, go ahead—try out these Fall apple harvest must-try recipes, have fun in the kitchen, and embrace the coziness of the season.
Let me know which recipe you’re excited to try! And if you have any Apple-based favorites of your own, drop them in the comments below. Happy fall cooking!
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