Apple picking is one of my favorite fall activities to do every year. We always pick WAY too many apples and I end up spending the next few days searching Pinterest for the best apple recipes to use up as many as I can.
We usually like to pick a place that has a festival or event going on with food trucks, live music, pumpkin picking, and/or cider donuts! This year though, because of the pandemic, I wasn’t so sure we would make it out to pick apples. I was worried the farms would be too crowded and it would be hard to keep our distance.
Sweet and savory ways to use up all those apples
We ended up giving it a go and headed to Bauman Orchards in Rittman, Ohio. We arrived slightly on the earlier side to try and beat the crowds but there were still quite a few cars lining the road. I grabbed us some apple cider donuts and Mike grabbed our apple bag for picking while the lines were still short and headed to the field.
Once out in the field, it was pretty easy to socially distance from the other people. They have a large property and there were quite a few varieties available for picking. The only line we encountered was at checkout and it moved pretty quickly. We didn’t stay for the food or any events this year. Just being able to get outside on a beautiful fall day and walk the grounds picking apples was perfect enough for us! A donut or two didn’t hurt either!
I thought I would share a round-up of some of my favorite apple recipes I’ve found on Pinterest in case you’ve got apples to use up as well! And, if you’re looking for a fall activity you can do while practicing social distance, I would suggest going and picking apples!
Apple Recipes – Sweet
- Muffins of any kind are typically a hit in our house but these Glazed Apple Crumb Muffins were a huge hit! They are from Sally’s Baking Addiction blog and are full of yummy diced up apples and fall flavor. The kitchen smelled delicious as I creamed the butter and sugars together and mixed in the cinnamon. I ended up swapping sour cream for yogurt since that’s what we had on hand and it worked perfectly. I also left the icing off because they were sweet enough as is. If you want a bit of extra sweetness, just add the glaze. I think I’ll make another batch of these for the freezer!
- Sally’s Baking Addiction recipes never fail me and her Apple Crumb Cake is next on my list to make. Very similar to her Glazed Apple Crumb Muffins, this should be equally yummy! Everyone knows the crumb topping on cakes is the BEST part of any recipe and this one makes sure there’s plenty! I’ll probably slice the apples a bit thin and double the batch. Popping one in the freezer once it’s done baking.
- Normally, I tend to prefer a crumbly crisp for my baked apples as opposed to a softer, cake-like cobbler. This Caramel Apple Pecan Cobbler caught my eye, though. It sounds super decadent and maybe a bit too sweet. I would probably forgo the extra caramel drizzle on top. I like the idea of the pecans for crunch and will give it a try and let you know what I think!
- Be still my heart! Brown Sugar Biscuit Apple Shortcakes may just be my new favorite dessert brunch recipe. A fluffy, light, warm biscuit with buttery, brown sugary apples and a dollop of whip cream! PURE HEAVEN! Get in my belly, now!
- A great way to use up a lot of apples is to make homemade applesauce. Mike is a big fan of applesauce and I made this a few years ago for him. I love this Easy Homemade Applesauce recipe because it’s simple and no-frills. You can also adjust the sugar type and amount to your liking. Making it less sweet if you prefer.
- Mike has an apple breakfast cake recipe from his home ec days that his family LOVES! It uses apple pie filling with a yellow cake mix and a few other ingredients to get it’s delicious, buttery apple flavor. Rather than buy apple pie filling, I thought I could use up some of our apples and make my own for the freezer. This Apple Pie Filling recipe looks simple and easy to make and would be perfect to use in Mike’s cake recipe.
Apple recipes – Savory
- With the weather cooling off, we’ve been making some of our favorite comfort food recipes. Stuffing is one of those recipes and perfect as a side for weeknight meals. I have some leftover cornbread and we all know I have plenty of apples! This Cornbread and Apple dressing from Country Living sounds like the perfect sweet and savory side dish to accompany some grilled chicken.
- Pork Chops with Apples and Onions is one of my favorite fall dishes to make. I usually make my own recipe up as I go but found this one that sounds delicious. I like that it comes together all in one pot in 30 minutes. The dijon mustard and fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme give this recipe great savory flavor while the apples give it a touch of sweetness. Yummy!
- I love a good app night for dinner and these Apple and Brie Crostinis would be a delicious edition. Simple and easy to make, they’re the perfect little tart but sweet and buttery bite!
- I usually buy a roast chicken every time I go to the grocery store. When I shared our go-to favorite recipes to make while in quarantine, roasted chicken was a key ingredient. It’s great to have on hand for whipping up quick and easy recipes for lunch or dinner. I like this version though by Country Living for a Roasted Chicken with Apples and Sage. It would be perfect to make on a Sunday afternoon for dinner. Leaving leftovers for the next day depending on how big your family is.
These are some of my favorite sweet and savory recipes I’ve found on Pinterest for using up apples. Whether you have just a handful or half a bushel like us, you can’t go wrong with any of these!
What are some of your favorite recipes for using up apples in your home?
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