The apple harvest stands firmly between changing leaves, plummeting temperatures, and shorter days when it comes to a list of the things we associate most with fall. There’s nothing quite like hopping into a hay-lined tractor to drive down a bumpy gravel road and hang out with friends and family harvesting the cutest, perfectly ripened apples you can find. Supermarket apples just don’t stand.
But when you return to your local apple farm from this annual pilgrimage, what should you do with your bounty? Don’t let decision-making fatigue overwhelm you (because we all know how many apple recipes there are) – we’ve compiled a condensed list of the absolute best recipes to top your list when you come home with a bushel of apples . From crunchy salads to soothing soups to decadent desserts, these healthy apple recipes will help you enjoy autumn’s favorite fruit. (Bonus – they’re all secretly healthy!) Read on, and to learn more about how to eat healthily, don’t miss out on the 7 Healthiest Foods You Should Be Eating Right Now.
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
For a tailored version of the most popular apple dessert, we do without the dough crust for a crispy topping of oats, chopped almonds and brown sugar. Not only does it save on calories, but it also spices up this delicious dessert with a flavorful and fun textural counterpart to soft, baked apples.
Get our apple pie recipe.
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Apple Cinnamon Instant Oats is one of the most popular oatmeal flavors out there, but we can all agree that they are seriously lacking in flavor. Throw away the wrapped stuff and turn your favorite oatmeal flavor into high fiber pancakes with a sweet and syrupy topping made from warmed apples.
Get our recipe for oatmeal pancakes with cinnamon apples.
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
If you don’t have the time (or patience) to put together batter for an apple pie, you can still get the warming flavors of this favorite apple dessert by following this apple crumble recipe. Oats and almonds combine to create soft-boiled apples with an inviting crunch.
Get our recipe for an Apple Crumble.
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Enjoy all that apples have to offer by serving them at their best: simply sliced, served with pecans and goat cheese, and served with an unctuous bacon vinaigette.
Get our recipe for spinach salad with goat cheese, apples and a warm bacon dressing.
Kiersten Hickman / Eat this, not that!
Take pizza night to new heights by cracking out a few of the apples you just picked. Cut them into slices and add them to a flatbread (bought in store is great if you want to get dinner on the table faster) with onions, cheese, and a dash of balsamic vinegar.
Get our apple balsamic flatbread recipe.
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Butternut squash soup is another classic fall food, but why is this on our apple recipes list? Very simple: the addition of apple brings a much-needed brightness and sweetness that really makes the pumpkin sing.
Get our butternut squash soup recipe.
Jason Donnelly
Forget about peanut butter and jelly – how about peanut butter and apple? This breakfast toast combines apple slices and peanut butter and spices it up with a light dash of maple syrup and a pinch of cinnamon.
Get our maple cashew apple toast recipe.
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
McDonald’s doesn’t share our recipe for healthy apple turnover. We use puff pastry to make perfectly portioned custom turnovers with fewer calories than you would get from two bites of Warm Apple Crisp from Cheesecake Factory.
Get our recipe for Apple sales.
Read this next:
