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    Home » Blog » Meal Planning

    20 Best Easy Apple Recipes

    Published: Sep 20, 2019 · Modified: Sep 11, 2023 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    The photo collage shows 4 apple recipes including pork in applesauce, an apple salad, a taffy apple pizza, and apple crumble bars.

    These are the best easy apple recipes for busy families with picky kids. Don't miss these fantastic apple desserts, apple snacks, and apple dinner ideas that help make apples part of every meal.

    A bowl full of Granny Smith apples sits on a table.

    It is one of our family's favorite traditions to go to the pick-your-own apples orchard each fall.

    Our favorite apple orchard happens to be on a gorgeous mountain top in North Carolina. I take dozens of pictures of the kids and the pretty trees and we come home with bags overflowing with delicious fresh apples. 

    We could eat the apples straight-up as a healthy snack or we can use them as the perfect excuse for trying new apple recipes. I'm pretty sure you can guess which way it goes in our house!

    We have a few select favorite recipes that the apples disappear into each fall, but it's always fun to try something new. 

    Jump to:
    • Easy Apple Desserts
    • Freezer Friendly Apple Crisp
    • Fresh Apple Cake
    • Taffy Apple Pizza
    • Apple Slab Pie
    • Apple Crisp Bars
    • Apple Crumble Bars
    • King Arthur's Most Popular Apple Pie
    • Apple Recipes for Dinner
    • Microwave Applesauce
    • Roasted Pork in Applesauce
    • Roasted Sausages and Potatoes with Apples
    • Apple Pear Salad
    • Apples & Cheddar Snack Board
    • Acorn Squash with Apples and Dried Cranberries
    • Carrot Apple Salad
    • Authentic Snicker Salad
    • Easy Apple Snacks
    • Dried Apple Slices
    • Apple Cinnamon Chex Mix
    • Peanut Butter Apple Dip
    • More Fall Baking Ideas
    • 💬 Comments

    Easy Apple Desserts

    From classic apple crisp to an all American apple pie, find the best apple dessert bars and other sweet treats your kids will love right here.

    Freezer Friendly Apple Crisp

    The MOST POPULAR apple recipe on this entire site for the last 10 years. See why readers come back again and again for this top recipe.

    Freezer Friendly Apple Crisp
    This freezer apple crisp will change your holiday baking forever. Make one big batch but split it into two smaller desserts -- one to bake now and one to stash in your freezer for later. Perfect quick and easy Thanksgiving dessert. 
    4.40 from 73 votes
    GET THE RECIPE
    A freezer-friendly metal pan holds an 8x8-inch apple crisp with crumble topping.

    Fresh Apple Cake

    You can make my fresh apple cake with or without the brown butter frosting on top but I think it adds so much flavor, especially when you garnish it with chopped pecans.

    Fresh Apple Cake
    This easy apple cake is bursting at the seams with fresh apples. It’s the perfect way to use your orchard haul this fall. Top it with nutty brown butter frosting or easy cream cheese frosting and chopped pecans for an amazing make-ahead Thanksgiving dessert.
    5 from 39 votes
    GET THE RECIPE
    A square slice of apple cake topped with soft frosting and pecans sits in front of the metal baking pan it came from. A bite is missing.

    Taffy Apple Pizza

    My taffy apple pizza has a sugar cookie crust and a brown sugar and cream cheese sauce to hold all those crunchy fresh apples in place.

    Taffy Apple Pizza
    This ooey-goey caramel apple pizza with sugar cookie crust is such a fun way to use up leftover Halloween candy for a dessert your kids will love. 
    5 from 1 vote
    GET THE RECIPE
    A sugar cookie baked in a pie skillet is topped with fresh chopped apples, chopped snickers candies, and is drizzled with caramel sauce over the top.

    Apple Slab Pie

    This freezer-friendly apple slab pie is perfect for making ahead for the holiday season.

    Apple Slab Pie
    This freezer-friendly apple slab pie is a delicious fresh apple dessert any time of year. The flaky pie crust and juicy apples are great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
    5 from 40 votes
    GET THE RECIPE
    A square piece of apple pie has a fork taking a bite.

    Apple Crisp Bars

    My apple crisp bars recipe has a secret ingredient -- butterscotch chips! Tons of oats help keep the crust nice and chewy.

    Apple Crisp Bars
    Homemade apple crisp bars with pecans, oats, and the special secret ingredient: butterscotch chips! This delicious dessert bar is the perfect treat for a fall dinner, Halloween, or even an easy Thanksgiving dessert.
    5 from 43 votes
    GET THE RECIPE
    Tiered cake plate serves squares of apple crisp bars with an oat crumble topping and butterscotch chips.

    Apple Crumble Bars

    Buttery apple crumble bars taste great on their own but I love them with a little drizzle of salted caramel sauce over the top, too.

    Apple Crumble Bars
    These deliciously easy apple crumble bars have a light and flaky apple crumble topping that comes together with just three ingredients. Bake these with your kids for a simple Thanksgiving dessert.
    5 from 1 vote
    GET THE RECIPE
    A square of apple crumble bars is served on a white plate with a drizzle of caramel sauce over the top.

    King Arthur's Most Popular Apple Pie

    We fell in love with King Arthur's apple pie filling but I confess sometimes I make it with a store bought pie crust to keep it easy.

    King Arthur's Apple Pie Filling
    Pair this amazing apple pie filling with your favorite crust recipe for the perfect apple pie.
    5 from 1 vote
    GET THE RECIPE
    A deep dish pie pan has pie crust draped over the side and a mound of sliced apples coated in cinnamon and butter.

    Apple Recipes for Dinner

    Make a batch of homemade applesauce as a simple weeknight dinner side dish or family dessert. Then pair it with my easy apple based dinner ideas for a fun fall meal.

    Microwave Applesauce

    Easy microwave applesauce in under 10 minutes. You can leave it chunky or puree it smooth.

    Microwave Applesauce
    This easy applesauce is made right in the microwave in just minutes. Mix in your favorite apple pie seasonings or simply use the brown sugar and cinnamon combination.
    5 from 40 votes
    GET THE RECIPE
    A serving of applesauce with a spoon.

    Roasted Pork in Applesauce

    You can use the homemade applesauce recipe above or a store bought variety for the sweet and savory pork in applesauce.

    Roasted Pork in Applesauce
    This sweet and savory pork tenderloin is browned on the stove top but finished in the oven. It is wonderful served with mashed potatoes or your favorite fall side dishes.
    4.50 from 4 votes
    GET THE RECIPE
    Two pork tenderloins in a dutch oven.

    Roasted Sausages and Potatoes with Apples

    Roasted sausages with apples is the first fall recipe we make each year! I love pairing it with a few mustards for sampling, including my homemade raspberry mustard dip.

    Roasted Sausages, Potatoes & Apples
    This fall comfort food classic is a hit with kids and parents alike. The easiest weeknight dinner with some fresh apples and spicy sausages from the market.    
    5 from 45 votes
    GET THE RECIPE
    A baking dish is filled with roasted sausages, potatoes, and apples. A jar of mustard and a platter of baked pretzels are in the background.

    Apple Pear Salad

    Perfect for serving as a salad for Rosh Hashanah with a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds, a lovely Thanksgiving side dish with dried cranberries, or at home on your Christmas dinner menu, we love this festive apple pear salad.

    Apple Pear Salad
    This festive salad features sweet and crispy red and green fruits and toasted almonds with a mustard vinaigrette dressing. Perfect for serving for Christmas or Thanksgiving as a festive holiday salad.
    5 from 1 vote
    GET THE RECIPE
    A platter of prepared apple and pear salad.

    Apples & Cheddar Snack Board

    Slice up a bunch of raw apples in different varieties and add them to the ultimate cheddar snack board.

    Cheddar Snack Board
    This delicious snack board is inspired by the Ultimate Cheddar Snack Board from Stunning Spreads by Chrissie Nelson Rotko.
    5 from 1 vote
    GET THE RECIPE
    A round snack board has sliced green apples, spreadable cheese, slices of cheese, ruffled slices of various meats, and a bowl of fresh blackberries.

    Acorn Squash with Apples and Dried Cranberries

    Slowcooker acorn squash and apples is a perfect side dish for fall, I love it as an easy Thanksgiving side dish because it cooks by itself while I'm busy with the rest of the dinner prep.

    Slow Cooker Acorn Squash with Apples and Raisins
    This easy side dish is perfect for Thanksgiving or other fall dinners. Pop the acorn squash and apples into the crockpot and enjoy a sweet side dish with turkey or pork.
    5 from 33 votes
    GET THE RECIPE
    A sliced open acorn squash has been filled with red dried cranberries and a spoonful of brown sugar.

    Carrot Apple Salad

    This vinegar based carrot apple salad makes a perfect barbecue side dish if you're planning to serve a spicy pulled pork or Crockpot bbq chicken thighs.

    Carrot Apple Salad
    Easy carrot apple salad is a vinegar based slaw that tastes amazing with savory barbecue dishes or grilled meats. Use it to top a pulled pork sandwich or spoon some over spicy barbecue chicken. This is a great side dish to bring to a potluck!
    5 from 1 vote
    GET THE RECIPE
    Colorful shredded cabbage, carrots, cilantro, and green onions are mixed in a bowl.

    Authentic Snicker Salad

    This classic Minnesota salad is filled with crisp fresh apples under all that creamy goodness. Is it a dessert or is it a dinner side dish? Only you know . . .

    Snicker Salad
    Snicker salad is right at home on your holiday table. Is it a side dish or is it a dessert? No one knows for sure, but no matter what it is a tasty part of your holiday meal.
    4.79 from 33 votes
    GET THE RECIPE
    A bowl of Snicker Salad next to marshmallows and green apples.

    Easy Apple Snacks

    Apples make such a wonderful after school snack just by themselves but try these easy snack recipes, too:

    Dried Apple Slices

    These easy dried apple slices make an excellent easy apple snack for after school.

    Dried Apple Slices
    These sweet crispy oven dried apple slices are the perfect fall snack to bake with the kids. Use them in a snack mix, to top a salad, or to make a fall yogurt parfait.
    5 from 2 votes
    GET THE RECIPE
    A baking pan has thinly sliced apple circles sprinkled with cinnamon ready for baking.

    Apple Cinnamon Chex Mix

    Once you've got the dried apple slices, break them up and add them to my apple cinnamon Chex mix with yogurt covered raisins and fresh apple cider.

    Apple Cinnamon Chex Mix
    This sweet Chex Mix has all the flavors of a classic hot apple pie with dried apple chips and yogurt covered raisins mixed with cinnamon Chex baked with apple cider.
    5 from 1 vote
    GET THE RECIPE
    A pan of apple pie chex mix has yogurt covered raisins mixed in with a wooden spoon next to a green striped towel.

    Peanut Butter Apple Dip

    Dunk crisp fresh apples into this creamy peanut butter apple dip topped with honey roasted peanuts and a few salted pretzels on the side.

    Creamy Peanut Butter Apple Dip
    This fluffy and creamy peanut butter dip is the perfect after school snack with fresh crispy apples and salty pretzels.
    5 from 1 vote
    GET THE RECIPE
    A serving bowl has creamy peanut butter apple dip and is topped with salted peanuts. There are green apple slices in the dip and on the plate with pretzels.

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      20 Hot Honey Recipes You Have to Try
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      30 Fresh Cherry Recipes
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      30 Easy Ways to Use Zucchini
    • A bowl that says "Thankful" is filled with fresh cranberries.
      20 Fresh Cranberry Recipes
    The photo collage shows 4 apple recipes including pork in applesauce, an apple salad, a taffy apple pizza, and apple crumble bars.

    More Meal Planning Tips and Lists

    • The photo collage shows a breakfast buffet set up on a table next to three photos of breakfast recipes included on the list.
      40 Breakfast Ideas for a Crowd
    • A brown bowl filled with raw baby spinach leaves.
      30 Tasty Baby Spinach Recipes
    • A German woman in traditional dress holds two steins of beer next to 3 photos of traditional German foods including sauerbraten, pretzels, and roasted sausages.
      20 Oktoberfest Food Ideas
    • The photo collage shows 4 Rosh Hashanah recipes including apricot chicken, apple bars, wild rice pilaf, and acorn squash with pomegranate seeds.
      30 Rosh Hashanah Recipes for a Happy New Year

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    1. LeAndra

      September 26, 2019 at 5:40 pm

      I love this roundup! Such a fun selection of recipes to choose from!

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. This freezer friendly easy apple crisp will change your fall baking forever says:
      August 31, 2020 at 2:26 pm

      […] All the easy apple recipes you’ll ever need for fall […]

      Reply
    2. This caramel apple pizza can be made in just minutes says:
      November 11, 2019 at 2:51 pm

      […] All the easy apple recipes you’ll ever need for fall […]

      Reply
    3. This Snicker Salad will make you wish you were from Minnesota says:
      September 21, 2019 at 10:07 am

      […] Don’t miss 30+ fresh apple recipes for your family this […]

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for women.

    More about me →

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