Turn a basket of freshly picked apples into the kind of warm, easy recipes that make coming home from the orchard almost as fun as the picking itself.
There's something about an apple-picking day that feels like fall at its best. Crisp air, rows of colourful trees, baskets that somehow get heavier with every stop and, if you're picking with kids, at least one apple that gets eaten before making it back to the car.
Then you get home and face the inevitable question: what are we going to do with all these apples?
Luckily, a full basket is a pretty good excuse to spend a cozy afternoon in the kitchen. From a warm apple crumble fresh from the oven to homemade apple cider, these easy apple recipes are just the thing to make after a day at the orchard.
1. Easy Apple Crumble
Warm, buttery and best served with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, apple crumble is a classic for a reason. It's also one of the easiest ways to put a big batch of freshly picked apples to good use.
Ingredients
- 6 medium apples, peeled, cored and sliced
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
Toss the sliced apples with the brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and flour.
Spread the apples evenly in a greased baking dish.
In a separate bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Work in the softened butter until the mixture becomes crumbly.
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden.
Serve warm, preferably with ice cream.
Make it extra cozy: add a drizzle of maple syrup just before serving.
2. Maple Apple Cake
If your apple-picking haul is destined for weekend baking, this simple apple cake deserves a spot on the list. Apples keep every slice tender while maple syrup adds a little Canadian sweetness.
Ingredients
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored and diced
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch cake pan.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
In another bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
Mix in the maple syrup, eggs and vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk, and mix until just combined.
Fold in the diced apples.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Let cool slightly before slicing.
Serving idea: enjoy it as-is, dust it with icing sugar or add a spoonful of whipped cream.
3. Cinnamon Baked Apples
For the days when you want dessert without committing to a whole cake, baked apples keep things simple. Kids can even help prepare the filling before the apples head into the oven.
Ingredients
- 4 large apples
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp softened butter
- 2 tbsp chopped walnuts or pecans, optional
- ½ cup water
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
Carefully remove the core from each apple, leaving the bottom intact.
Mix the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and nuts, if using.
Spoon the mixture into the centre of each apple.
Arrange the apples in a baking dish and pour the water into the bottom.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the apples are soft but still holding their shape.
Serve warm.
Two ways to serve: add vanilla ice cream for an easy dessert, or a spoonful of yogurt for an afternoon snack.
4. Homemade Applesauce
Sometimes the simplest recipes are the ones worth making every fall. Homemade applesauce requires only a handful of ingredients and makes an especially good use of softer apples or any that got a little bumped around on the journey home.
Ingredients
- 8 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
- ½ cup water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 to 2 tbsp maple syrup, optional
Directions
Add the apples, water, lemon juice and cinnamon to a large saucepan.
Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once the apples are very soft, mash them with a potato masher for a chunkier sauce or blend until smooth.
Taste and add maple syrup if you'd like a little extra sweetness.
Let cool before storing in the refrigerator.
Ways to use it: enjoy it on its own, spoon it over oatmeal or pack it into lunches for an easy fall snack.
5. Warm Spiced Apple Cider
After a chilly afternoon outside, there are few better ways to warm up than with a mug of apple cider. Letting it simmer on the stove also has the added benefit of making the whole house smell like fall.
Ingredients
- 6 cups apple cider
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 star anise, optional
- ½ orange, sliced
- 1 apple, thinly sliced
Directions
Add all the ingredients to a large saucepan.
Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
Strain out the spices and fruit.
Pour into mugs and serve warm.
For little ones: let the cider cool to a comfortable temperature before serving.
Which Apples Are Best for Baking?
If your basket contains several varieties, even better. Mixing sweeter and more tart apples can give baked desserts a more balanced flavour.
Firm apples such as Honeycrisp, Cortland and Granny Smith hold their shape particularly well in crumbles and baked desserts. Softer varieties can be put to work in applesauce, cakes and other recipes where perfectly shaped slices matter a little less.
And if you don't know what variety you brought home? Don't overthink it. The best apple for an after-orchard recipe is usually the one already sitting in your basket.
From the Orchard to the Kitchen
Apple picking may be the main event, but coming home with more apples than you know what to do with is part of the fun.
Keep things classic with a warm crumble, get the kids involved with baked apples or put a pot of cider on the stove while everyone settles in after a day outside. However you use your haul, these easy recipes give you one more reason to look forward to apple-picking season every year.