Best Healthy Apple Recipes

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Fresh Fall Apples

As the weather gets crisp and the crispness of apples signals the sweet, fleeting passage of fall, it's time to get cooking. You may find eight varieties of apples for sale in a good grocery store these days, and a dozen or more in a big farmers' market. There are more than 2,500 kinds of apples grown in the United States alone, with rare, old heirloom varieties on a welcome rebound. All this means you have a bumper crop of fruit to cook with—and apples are a great cooking fruit. We matched some favorite varieties to recipes designed to unlock the unique charm of each fruit.

Watch the Video: Season's Best: Apples

Cinnamon-Apple Cake

Originally appearing in an issue from 1997, this Cinnamon-Apple Cake is one of our most loved recipes and can be served as dessert or a breakfast coffee cake. The cream cheese in the batter gives the cake lots of moisture. We recommend using mild-tasting Rome apples.

View Recipe: Cinnamon-Apple Cake

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Apple Sangria

Sugary-sweet Honeycrisp apples balance the spiced wine in this festive drink. Pink Lady or Ambrosia apples—which are slow to oxidize—would make good substitutes.

View Recipe: Apple Sangria

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Overnight Apple Butter

A mixture of apple varieties, rather than just one type, will produce apple butter with rich, complex flavor in this slow cooker recipe. Good choices include Esopus Spitzenburg, Granny Smith, Jonathan, Northern Spy, Rome, Stayman, Winesap, and York.

Enjoy the apple butter over toast or English muffins, or serve it with pork chops or chicken.

View Recipe: Overnight Apple Butter

Photo: Randy Mayor

Serrano, Manchego, and Apple Sandwiches

Ashmead's Kernel, a very old English apple, is smallish and lumpy with a russet exterior that blankets the green skin. We like its crisp flavor here, though any apple would work.

View Recipe: Serrano, Manchego, and Apple Sandwiches

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Apple Upside-Down Cake

Mild Rome apples are great for baking this scrumptious upside-down cake however you can also use Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, or Jonagold apples. Dollop the cake with a bit of whipped cream, if desired.

View Recipe: Apple Upside-Down Cake

Photo: Randy Mayor

Open-Faced Turkey Sandwich with Apple and Havarti

The flavors of fall meet in this sandwich. Tangy Havarti cheese provides a pleasing contrast to the sweet Pink Lady apples and spicy arugula. Substitute nutty fontina or mild Muenster for the Havarti, if you prefer.

View Recipe: Open-Faced Turkey Sandwich with Apple and Havarti

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

French Toast with Maple-Apple Compote

Sweet Pink Lady apples hold up well to being sautéed for the compote. Liberty, Fuji, or Jonagold apples would also work. Substitute Hawaiian bread if challah isn't available.

View Recipe: French Toast with Maple-Apple Compote

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Double-Crusted Apple Pie

With crust above and below, this classic apple pie offers ample flaky crispness as a counterpoint to the soft, moist, tart-sweet filling made of Granny Smith apples.

View Recipe: Double-Crusted Apple Pie

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Brie, Apple, and Arugula Quesadillas

Fuji apples offer a crisp counterpoint to the rich, creamy cheese. Substitute Honeycrisp or Ambrosia apples, if you prefer.

View Recipe: Brie, Apple, and Arugula Quesadillas

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Fresh Apple Salsa

This sweet-tart condiment features crisp, slightly acidic Spartan apples, though Fuji, Jonagold, and Liberty apples would also work nicely. Serve with pork or roast chicken.

View Recipe: Fresh Apple Salsa

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Apple-Parsnip Soup

Pink Lady apples are wonderful for applesauce, and so work very well in this pureed appetizer soup. Sweet Fuji or all-purpose Spartan apples would also lend themselves nicely to the dish.

View Recipe: Apple-Parsnip Soup

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Squash-Apple Turnovers

Jonagold apples bring some tartness to the lightly sweet squash-based filling. You can also use other good baking apples like Honeycrisp or Rome. Serve as a side dish or appetizer.

View Recipe: Squash-Apple Turnovers

Maple-Walnut Apple Crisp

A crispy crust and gooey, sweet center make this wholesome treat something to write home about.

View Recipe: Maple-Walnut Apple Crisp

Photo: John Autry

Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Sautéed Apples

Sweet spices coat lean pork tenderloin, while apples get a savory treatment with shallots and thyme. Serve with a spinach salad.

View Recipe: Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Sautéed Apples

Photo: Randy Mayor

Apple-Buttermilk Custard Pie

Warm, cinnamon apples combine with a creamy custard for a fun twist on apple pie. Tip: The key to both a flaky piecrust and crisp streusel topping is to keep them as cold as possible before putting them into the oven.

View Recipe: Apple-Buttermilk Custard Pie

Photo: John Autry

French Onion and Apple Soup

Apples are a tasty welcomed addition to this traditional comforting classic of stringy melted Swiss, sweet onions, and sourdough bread.

View Recipe: French Onion and Apple Soup

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Amaretto Apple Streusel Cupcakes

Top tender apple cupcakes with a sweet and crunchy topping of brown sugar and almonds, then drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze. The amaretto adds an even more distinct almond flavor to the cupcakes, but if you don't have it, you can use almond extract instead.

View Recipe: Amaretto Apple Streusel Cupcakes

Photo: Randy Mayor

Spiced Pork Chops with Apple Chutney

Apple chutney is a heart-warming topping for pork in this family-friendly dinner of spicy, boneless chops.

View Recipe: Spiced Pork Chops with Apple Chutney

Photo: Sang An

Chicken Soup with Cabbage and Apple

Chicken Soup with Cabbage and Apple is the definition of hearty in a bowl. Earthy green cabbage mingles with moist shredded chicken, chicken sausage, and broth-soaked potatoes. Tart, crunchy apple slices add a fruity counterpoint to this German-inspired soup.

View Recipe: Chicken Soup with Cabbage and Apple

Photo: Randy Mayor

Apple-Cinnamon Coffeecake

This coffee cake is best served warm. To prepare ahead, cool completely, wrap (still in the pan) in foil, and leave out at room temperature for up to one day, or freeze for up to three months. To reheat thawed cake, unwrap and bake at 250° for 15 to 20 minutes.

View Recipe: Apple-Cinnamon Coffeecake

Photo: Randy Mayor

New-Fashioned Apple and Raisin Slaw

"This slaw is a healthier version of an original family recipe. It is creamy and delicious, and takes about five minutes to make." -Kelly McWherter, Houston, TX

View Recipe: New-Fashioned Apple and Raisin Slaw

Photo: Randy Mayor

Caramel-Apple Cheesecake

This creamy cheesecake combines the pleasant tartness of fall apples with the buttery sweetness of caramel to really showcase fall flavors.

View Recipe: Caramel-Apple Cheesecake

Photo: John Autry

Apple, Goat Cheese, and Pecan Pizza

Pungent goat cheese, peppery arugula, and slightly sweet apples transform this token finger food into a gourmet dinner.

View Recipe: Apple, Goat Cheese, and Pecan Pizza

Photo: Randy Mayor

German Apple Pancake

The dramatic presentation of this German pancake—it puffs up gloriously—as well as the recipe's rich, custardlike texture make it a morning delight. Use any type of firm, tart apple such as Granny Smith, pippin, Northern Spy, or Sierra Beauty.

View Recipe: German Apple Pancake

Photo: Randy Mayor

Rhubarb Apple Pie

Spring is the season for fresh rhubarb. So take advantage of this seasonal fresh flavor and dish up homemade Rhubarb-Apple Pie.

View Recipe: Rhubarb Apple Pie

Photo: Howard L. Puckett

Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins

Enjoy this fruit-studded chicken salad with whole-grain crackers, or spread it on whole wheat bread for a sandwich.

View Recipe: Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins

Photo: Randy Mayor

Pork Loin Chops with Cinnamon Apples

Warm flavors like sage and cinnamon play up the contrast between the juicy pork chops and caramelized apples. Tart Granny Smiths and slightly sweeter Braeburn apples both work well for this dish.

View Recipe: Pork Loin Chops with Cinnamon Apples

Photo: Randy Mayor

Shrimp Tacos with Green Apple Salsa

Tart Granny Smith slices take the bite out of the sweet heat from the shrimp. This is easy for a weeknight meal but also unique for weekend entertaining.

View Recipe: Shrimp Tacos with Green Apple Salsa

Photo: Kiyoshi Togashi

Celery-Apple Salad

Simple sometimes means the best and the boldest. This fresh apple and celery salad is certainly the crunchiest.

View Recipe: Celery-Apple Salad

Our Best Apple Recipes

Fresh Fall Apples

Cinnamon-Apple Cake

Apple Sangria

Overnight Apple Butter

Serrano, Manchego, and Apple Sandwiches

Apple Upside-Down Cake

Open-Faced Turkey Sandwich with Apple and Havarti

French Toast with Maple-Apple Compote

Double-Crusted Apple Pie

Brie, Apple, and Arugula Quesadillas

Fresh Apple Salsa

Apple-Parsnip Soup

Squash-Apple Turnovers

Maple-Walnut Apple Crisp

Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Sautéed Apples

Apple-Buttermilk Custard Pie

French Onion and Apple Soup

Amaretto Apple Streusel Cupcakes

Spiced Pork Chops with Apple Chutney

Chicken Soup with Cabbage and Apple

Apple-Cinnamon Coffeecake

New-Fashioned Apple and Raisin Slaw

Caramel-Apple Cheesecake

Apple, Goat Cheese, and Pecan Pizza

German Apple Pancake

Rhubarb Apple Pie

Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins

Pork Loin Chops with Cinnamon Apples

Shrimp Tacos with Green Apple Salsa

Celery-Apple Salad