Hello, fall! After weeks of record-setting heat, I am officially ready for fall to begin! And, when I think of fall, I immediately think of all the things I can make with apples. Below, I have compiled some of our best apple recipes for fall cooking – and baking – and drinking …
Apples on A Cheese Board
Apples are so versatile! My kids love them for a snack – all by themselves or part of an epic cheese board. Epic cheese boards are perfect for after school snacking – or, ahem – dinner, or a party. I love to gather up an assortment of things from my refrigerator and pantry and lay them all out on a large cutting board. Nuts, crackers, dried fruit, fresh fruit, cheese (of course!), deli meat if you have any – salami, prosciutto, etc. If I make a big enough cheese board after school, my kids aren’t even hungry for dinner. Click here for some more ideas for making a perfect cheese board.
Oven-Dried Apple Chips
Years ago, my friend brought me some dried apple chips. I had to learn how to make them for myself. These oven-dried apple chips are a great way to get your kids involved in the snack time process. My children love to peel the apples for me before I thinly slice them on my mandolin. You don’t need to use a mandolin! A sharp knife will work well, too. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon and cook at 200 degrees for about an hour. Click here for the full recipe.
Apple Sauce and Apple Butter
Low and slow! When I think of fall, I immediately think of slow cooked apple sauces and apple butters. I just started making apple butter last winter and I can’t believe I waited so long to make it myself. Making apple sauce and apple butter is easy. I love to make both of them in my slow cooker. Apples, cinnamon, maybe honey or molasses – you really can’t mess up either recipe.
One of my favorite recent recipes for apple sauce includes orange juice. Yep. Orange juice. I chopped 8 to 10 apples (no skin), filled my small crockpot, and added 1/4 cup honey, 2 cinnamon sticks, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, and 3 tablespoons or so orange juice. Cook on low. (Click here for the full recipe.)
One of the beautiful things about apple butter is that you put EVERYTHING into the pot. Everything. Core, seeds, skin. Everything. Here’s a quick version of my apple butter recipe: 12 apples, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup molasses, 3 T apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon.
Combine everything in a slow cooker and cook for 24 hours. Trust me. There isn’t much more to it than that, but for the specifics, you can find the complete recipe here.
Apples For Breakfast
Have you ever made oatmeal in your rice maker? If you haven’t you should. And, also, you should be putting apples on top. This recipe is my hands-down most popular recipe on Pinterest. The photo isn’t very flattering, but people know a good thing when they see it. Oatmeal in your rice cooker and overnight oats are two of my favorite fall breakfast items – topped with apples, of course!!
Apples For Dessert
When you think apples for dessert, I am sure you think APPLE PIE!! True. Apple pie is a standard fall dessert. But, honestly, apple crisp and an apple galette are so much easier to make!
For our apple crisp, I spread peeled and sliced apples in the bottom of a square glass pan and top with oats, flour, cinnamon, nuts, and butter all crumbled together. That’s it. Serve with ice cream if you have any on hand! An apple galette is basically a flat pie. Make one pie crust, roll it out, layer apples on top. Done. Click here for the recipe.
Apples In Cocktails
Apples can be great in cocktails, too. My favorite fall cocktail is sparkling apple cider sangria. It’s so good!! It’s perfect for a brunch or an evening party. Make a pretty sugar rim and wow your friends. To make this sparkling apple cider sangria, combine 2 cups apple cider, 1/2 cup elderflower liqueur, 1 sliced apple, 1 handful of cranberries, and 1 bottle of prosecco. CHEERS!
In addition to these family favorites, I have a few other tried and true favorite apple recipes from the interwebs:
Southern Living Apple Cider Doughnuts
Pinch Of Yum Cinnamon Apple Cake
If you missed any of my apple recipe links above…
Slow Cooker Apple Butter With Molasses
Chunky Slow Cooker Apple Sauce
Kids Cook Monday: Apple and Honey Galette
Slow Cooker Cinnamon Applesauce
Apple Cinnamon Mini Donuts (Gluten Free!)
