Are you obsessed with apples, too? This collection has simple and tasty apple recipes perfect for breakfast or dessert. Let’s enjoy this classic fruit to the fullest!
I have a real soft spot for apples. Growing up in Ukraine, and then moving to Washington state, I was surrounded by fantastic apples all my life. As a kid, I remember going apple picking and having the best time! Apples were in abundance in both places I lived, which, of course, meant apple desserts were frequently on the menu. And you would never hear me complain about that — because who doesn’t love sweet, apple desserts!?
In my opinion, I think apples are one of most incredible ingredients to bake with. Not only do they add a subtle sweetness to everything from dessert to breakfast pastries, but they also stand up to the heat of the oven so well. I really am obsessed with cooking/baking with them, so, to give them the honor they deserve, here is a list of my 12 best desserts to make with apples. And in true Momsdish style, they’re all crazy easy and call for minimal ingredients.
Hot tip: Some recipes are best made with fresh apples, whereas others are totally fine with apples that are going soft. If you’re worried about using older apples, I recommend using them in apple fritters (recipe #5), caramel apple cake (recipe #7), and banana walnut apple bread (recipe #8).
Quick Tips for all Types of Apple Desserts
My whole life I’ve been surrounded by great apples and apple recipes. I’ve always found them very “ap-peel-ing”. Here’s a few tricks I’ve picked up along the way!
- Soak bland apples in apple cider or apple juice: Did you pick up a batch of bland apples? Don’t fret. Bring them back to life by slicing them and soaking them in apple cider or juice for up to 30 minutes. Not only does this enhance their flavor, but it also keeps them from browning.
- Invest in a solid apple corer or slicer: Slicing apples with a knife can be tedious – especially when you’re working with several pounds. Therefore, to cut down on prep time, invest in a good apple corer or apple slicer.
- Pay attention to the peel: Depending on the recipe, you’ll need to either keep or nix the peel. Leaving it on or off has a big effect on the texture. As a general rule, remove the peel for most cakes, applesauces, and breads. However, for rustic tarts, it usually stays on.
Hot tip: If you have a ton of apples and want to freeze some (for up to six months), first, core and slice them. Next, soak in lemon juice for 3-5 minutes, then drain and lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet. After that, pop the baking sheet into the freezer. When frozen, finally, place the slices into a freezer safe bag. To thaw, simply place them in the fridge and drain any excess juices before using.
A Quick Guide on Apples
With so many apple varieties, choosing the right one for your recipe can be confusing. This quick breakdown introduces the most popular kinds, describes their flavor profiles, and explains their best uses.
- Red Delicious Apples (bright red and heart-shaped): Often known as the “school lunch apple”, these are mildly sweet and great for snacking and salads.
- Gala Apples (pink and orangish-yellow stripes): These are super crisp and sweet, making them perfect for everything from salads, homemade applesauce, baking, and snacking.
- Fuji Apples (pale-ish red with a yellow background): Fuji apples have a strong flavor and are super crunchy. Because of this, they’re good to snack on, bake, put in salads, and make applesauce with.
- Granny Smith Apples (bright green or pale green): These tart apples are super crunchy, making them wonderful for baking, snacking (if you like a tart apple!), a topping for pork chops, and even mixed with sweeter apples for applesauce.
- Honeycrisp Apples (bright red skin with green speckles): These apples have an unparalleled crisp, they’re super sweet and very juicy, and they’re great as dessert apples, for applesauce, and in salads.
- Pink Lady Apples (reddish pink): Pink Lady’s are a mix of sweet and tart. This balance makes them good for snacking, baking, cheese boards, and salads.
- Golden Delicious Apples (bright yellow): These apples are mildly sweet and super crisp, making them great for baking, applesauce, and snacking.
12 Best Apple Dessert Recipes
1. Quick Apple Turnovers (Only 5 Ingredients)
These super simple apple turnovers are a prime example of store-bought puff pastry turned into a treat that tastes like it came straight out of a bakery. In fact, with only five ingredients – puff pastry, sugar, egg, apples, and cinnamon – you can have this classic pastry in just under 30 minutes.
2. “Sharlotka” Apple Cake (With Video)
Sharlotka is one of the best apple desserts on the planet. In fact, you can even get away with having a slice of this traditional Slavic cake for breakfast! It’s slightly sweet, pairs wonderfully with coffee, and is somewhere in between a coffee cake and American cheesecake in texture. For all these reasons, it’s a must-try!
3. Easy Apple Crisp (The Best)
I love how easy and fast this apple crisp is! The filling is full of spiced apples and the topping is an irresistible crumble of old-fashioned oats and brown sugar. And guess what? It’s all done in one pan! For the perfect finishing touch, make sure to serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of maple syrup!
4. Quick Apple Tarts Recipe
When you don’t have the time or energy to fuss around with baking apple pies, this apple dessert has you covered. The buttery, crispy puff pastry makes these tarts super easy and quick. Plus, this recipe also contains a game changing secret ingredient: sweetened condensed milk. Check it out!
5. Apple Fritters (Extra Easy)
Who knew apple fritters at home could be so easy? Skip the donut shop and whip these out for a lazy Sunday brunch. If you’re a lover of texture, here’s a pro tip — add a cup of chopped pecans to the dough batter. It’s unreal!
6. Homemade Apple Cake Recipe
This super moist apple cake is fall flavors at their best (and simplest). The batter is super simple, yet the result is a moist, soft crumb cake that’s so good you don’t even need to frost it! But, if you do love a frosting, a simple cream cheese frosting or a generous drizzle of caramel sauce is a welcome addition. Oh, and I really recommend you get a good bundt pan (like this one!) for this recipe — I love the fabulous look of a bundt cake!
7. Caramel Apple Cake
This caramel apple cake is a sweet treat for the ages. It tastes like caramel apples in cake form, melting away with each taste. The mixture of caramel cake cream and sweet apple cake is legendary!
8. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe
There’s nothing quite like a dense apple bread with walnuts mixed in. This quick bread is made with Greek yogurt, turning the bread into a melt-in-your-mouth kind of experience. The bread freezes super well and can be kept on hand for quick weekday breakfasts.
9. Dutch Apple Pie Recipe
I love recipes that are “twists” of other recipes! This Dutch apple pie is a twist on the traditional American apple pie! It has a sweet, crumbly topping instead of the usual pie top crust, which makes it even easier to prep and bake! Easy is the name of my game!
10. The Easiest Apple Cobbler Recipe
Let’s welcome fall with this easy apple cobbler recipe! The tender spiced juicy apples are tucked under a buttery biscuit topping just like under a blanket. Get ready for the warmth this cobbler brings to your soul!
11. Easy Baked Apples (Old-Fashioned)
If you just want to use your whole apple with little extra effort, these baked apples are for you. The apples are roasted and filled with sweet and crunchy brown sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts. This is also a naturally gluten-free recipe that’s easily adapted to be dairy-free if needed!
12. Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Ok, I really can’t get enough of these apple cinnamon rolls with their rich flavor! Regular cinnamon rolls are a delicious, irresistible classic, but add apples and they’re really next-level! Make this decadent treat as soon as you can!
More Simple Desserts
The list of easy desserts (or sweet breakfasts) doesn’t have to stop at apples! Here are some more of my favorites!
- Easiest French Toast (The Best) – Classic American french toast
- The Best Shortbread Cookies – Shortbread cookies with dried cranberries
- Banana Zucchini Bread (with Chocolate) – Banana bread made with zucchini squash
- Starbucks Morning Buns (Copycat) – Tender “cinnamon-roll style” buns with honey
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