Sweet, Savory, Cozy Apple Recipes that are Fall-Out Delicious
There may not be a fruit we cherish more than the apple here in the Pacific Northwest. It is the Washington State symbol after all, and you can never drive far without spotting a few trees or an entire orchard. Their bounty is impressive!
So when local apple season arrives, we all can't help but make crumbles, cobblers, ciders, and eat them as crunchy treats right out of hand—is there anything so delightful as a fresh, crisp apple? Probably not!
But once you get your fill of fresh apples, it's time to take this tasty fruit to the next level with some of our favorite cozy and unique apple recipes perfect for fall.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Spiced Apple Bundt Cake
We'll start off with a sweet apple recipe that's meant to be baked on a rainy weekend.
Ingredients
For the Pecan Filling
1 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
1 teaspoon cinnamon
For the Cake Batter
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups peeled and diced tart apples
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
To make the pecan filling, mix together the pecans, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.
For the cake batter, whisk together the flours, sugars, salt, baking soda and spices in large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, oil, applesauce and vanilla. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir just until blended. Fold in the diced apples.
Grease the Bundt pan, spoon half the batter into the bottom of the pan, sprinkle evenly with the pecan filling and top with the remaining batter. Place in the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes. Check for doneness and continue baking if needed. Let the cake cool in the pan before turning it out.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Savory Apple Tart
Typically, apple tarts are intended to be sweet, flavorful desserts. But here, they're paired with cheese and fresh herbs and served as a savory appetizer.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
2 sticks unsalted butter, chilled, plus 2 additional tablespoons
1 cup ice water
3 large onions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon pepper
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
4 large baking apples, peeled and sliced (about 6 cups)
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F and get out a rimmed 10 x 15 baking sheet.
For crust, whisk together the flours and 1 teaspoon of salt in a large bowl. Cut 2 sticks of chilled butter into cubes. Work the butter into the mixture quickly with your fingers until the mixture is crumbly, but small chunks of butter remain. When the butter and flour are combined, toss the mixture gently with a fork while drizzling in ice water. When all the water is incorporated, begin mixing and gently squeezing with your hands until dough is formed. Scrape onto a floured counter and shape into a rectangle. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
Roll out the rested dough until it is an inch longer and wider than the pan. Gently fold the dough in half and place on the pan, then unfold. Pat the dough into the pan and fold under any extra dough at the rim. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
For filling, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and thyme and cook, stirring frequently, until the bottom of the pan is coated with brown reduction, about five minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of water and scrape up reduction with a wooden spoon. Repeat cooking, adding water and scraping up browned bits until onions are softened completely and have a deep brown color, about 15 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper. Remove from heat and let cool.
To assemble the tart, spread onions on the prepared crust. Add a thin layer of Dijon mustard, then cover with sliced apples. Sprinkle shredded cheddar on top and bake for 25 minutes, until apples are tender and cheese is melted and golden. Place on a rack to cool. Serve warm or let cool and refrigerate, tightly covered, for up to 3 days.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Wheatberry and Apple Salad
Crunchy and a little nutty, this salad is sweet and tangy and a great way to enjoy perfectly crisp, ripe apples.
Ingredients
1 cup dry wheatberries
1/4 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries
3 scallions, sliced
2 celery ribs, diced
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and cubed
For the Dressing
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
1/3 cup sour cream (or plain yogurt)
2 tablespoons red wine or rice vinegar
3 tablespoons apple juice
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Bring 3 cups of water to a boil, then stir in the wheatberries and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the wheatberries, uncovered, for 1 1/4 -1 1/2 hours until tender and chewy. Drain the wheatberries in a colander and cool. Wheatberries can be cooked and stored in the refrigerator for up to three days to reduce your preparation time to 30 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream (or yogurt), vinegar, and apple juice. Mix the dressing with the cooled wheatberries, walnuts, cranberries, scallion, celery, and apple. Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Apple Cheddar Turkey Burgers
Not only are sliced apples added as a crunchy topping to these burgers, they're grated and mixed into the ground turkey for a sweet, juicy patty.
Ingredients
1 small and 1 medium apple
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon ground sage
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, divided
3/4 teaspoon salt
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 pound lean ground turkey
4 whole wheat buns, toasted
1 tablespoon honey
4 ounces cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
Directions
Grate or shred the smaller apple into a large bowl. Add onion, sage, Dijon mustard, salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Mix the ingredients well, then add the turkey, and gently mix with your hands. Divide the mixture into four even portions and form patties.
Thinly slice the medium-sized apple crosswise and remove the seeds. Toast the buns. Stir the Dijon and honey together in a small bowl.
To cook the burgers, place a large skillet with a lid over medium heat and heat for about a minute. Spray or brush the pan with canola oil and add the patties. Let cook for about 5 minutes per side, uncovered, then insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the patty. When it reads 160°F, the burgers are done. (See Tips & Notes below for a grilled version.) Top each patty with a slice of cheddar, cover the skillet, and remove from the heat to allow the cheese to melt a bit. Place each patty on a bun; top with apple slices and honey-mustard spread. Serve immediately.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Cinnamon Apple Stuffed Squash
Here's a savory apple recipe that's full of alllll the fall flavors. Serve this stuffed squash as a side dish at Thanksgiving along with a big slice of turkey.
Ingredients
2 acorn squash, cut in half, seeds removed
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cups diced yellow onion
2 celery stalks, diced
3 cups diced apple, cored and seeds removed (about 2 large apples)
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1⁄3 cup water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch each of salt and black pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Place acorn squash halves face down on a rimmed sheet pan or baking dish and add 1/2 inch of water to the pan. Bake squash for 40 minutes.
While the squash is baking, heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and sauté for 5 to 10 minutes until soft. Add the apples, cranberries, maple syrup, water and cinnamon; stir well and cook another 5 to 10 minutes until the apples begin to soften. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
After the squash has baked for 40 minutes, remove from the oven, turn them cut side up, and fill each with the apple stuffing. Place back into the oven and bake another 15 to 20 minutes until the squash is tender. Serve warm.
Recipe and photo adapted from Co+op
Homemade Slow Cooker Maple Apple Butter
Whether you go apple picking or just get a good deal on some apples here at the Co-op, it's really easy to end up with more apples than you know what to do with.
If you find yourself in that position, try out this maple apple butter recipe!
Spread this homemade apple butter on an English muffin, some pancakes, or add a dollop to oatmeal.
Apple Cider Doughnut Loaf Cake
If you love those little apple cider donuts that they sell at the corn maze or pumpkin patch, this recipe is calling your name!
Here, those flavors are all tossed together into a decadent loaf cake!
This cake is perfectly sweet and delicious on its own, but spreading a bit of the apple butter from above would make it even better, or you know, adding real butter.
Skillet Baked Oats with Maple Glazed Apples
If you want to savor the best apple flavors of the season, consider this simple, yet elegant apple skillet.
All this recipe requires is for you to do is slice up some apples, add some oats and seeds, toss in some water and maple syrup, and wait.
Enjoy this skillet as a sweet breakfast or as a healthy dessert.
Smoked Sausage, Apple, & Potato Soup
You might not attribute apples with soup, but here, they're combined with smoked sausage and potatoes to create a slightly sweet and smoky soup that's cozy and filling.
Full-fat coconut makes this super creamy, but feel free to sub in heavy cream instead.
Serve your smoked sausage soup with extra pepper and a piece of crunchy bread.
Cinnamon Apple Puffed Pancake
Sometimes the best breakfasts are those that are really desserts, and this is definitely one of those recipes.
Whether you call it a puffed pancake or a Dutch baby, this airy, fluffy pancake is extra sweet and full of that delicious cinnamon-apple flavor that's so reminiscent of fall.
Enjoy this puffed pancake for a Sunday brunch or top it off with a scoop of ice cream for a fall dessert.
Apple-Herb Stuffing for All Seasons
Here's a recipe that proves that stuffing isn't just for Thanksgiving.
Apples are combined with torn pieces of bread, onion, celery, sage, parsley, and thyme to create a stuffing that's a far cry from the boxed stuff.
Obviously, this is a great recipe for the holiday season, but it would also be delicious as a brunch side with a fried egg on top.
Apple Turkey Picadillo
Traditionally, this Latin American dish is made out of ground meat, tomatoes, raisins, and olive, but here, it gets a healthier (and sweeter) twist with ground turkey and apples.
This is a quick weekday dish that can be tossed together in just under 30 minutes.
Serve it as is, in a bowl, or add it atop brown rice or wrapped up in a tortilla.
Spiced Roast Pork With Fennel and Apple Salad
This recipe is here to prove that roasted pork doesn't have to be dry and bland!
Pork shoulder is rubbed with a variety of spices that pair well with apples including anise, fennel, coriander, cumin, and cloves.
A quick and easy salad of apple, fennel, lime zest, Thai chiles, and cilantro is served along aside to act as a cooling element.
Roasted Pumpkin Salad with Kale, Apples, and Maple Pecans
If ever there was a salad recipe designed for in-season fall produce, this is it.
Between the roasted pumpkin, kale, and apples, this salad is a great way to eat all the fall flavors in one sitting.
Serve it as a main dish on its own, or toss in some grilled chicken for an extra bit of protein.
Prosciutto Apple and Sage Butter Chicken with Cider Pan Sauce
Sweet, salty, and herby, this one-pan, 30-minute meal is a delicious way to savor local apples.
Chicken breast is covered in apple butter and crumbled cheese before being wrapped with Proscuitto and baked with shallots, apple, garlic, and thyme.
Everything is then cooked in a wine and cider mixture to add rich apple flavor.
Find the full recipe at Half Baked Harvest
More Apple Recipes to Try
Brined Pork Chops with Gingered Apples from Welcome to the Table
Naked Apple Tart from Bon Appetit
Farro with Vinegar-Glazed Sweet Potato and Apples from Food & Wine
Warm Lentil Salad with Sausage & Apple from EatingWell
10-Minute Caramel Apple Baked Brie from Gimme Some Oven
Apple-&-Leek-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin from EatingWell
Cumin-and-Jaggery-Glazed Apple Pie from Food & Wine
Pumpkin Patch Punch from Half Baked Harvest
Curried Carrot & Apple Soup from EatingWell
Caramel Apple Breakfast Cobbler from Bon Appetit
Apple Spinach Salad from Gimme Some Oven
French Onion and Apple Grilled Cheese from Half Baked Harvest