recipes with apples
Desserts,  Low Cal,  Lunch & Dinner,  Mediterranean,  Vegan - Vegetarian

7 Sweet and Savory Recipes with Apples You’ll Love To Try Now!

Apples aren’t just for snacking! From desserts to side dishes, these recipes with apples prove that this fruit is a simple ingredient that makes wonders in any kitchen.

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The Magic of Apples in Cooking

Apples are a true kitchen hero, offering natural sweetness, crisp texture, and endless versatility. With a flavor spectrum that ranges from tart green apples to sweet red varieties, apples pair beautifully with both sweet and savory ingredients.

In desserts, they shine as the star ingredient in pies, crumbles, and cakes, while in savory dishes, they add a refreshing contrast to rich meats or hearty salads.

Apples are ideal for comforting baked treats, but also for preparing a balanced dinner side. Below, we’ve compiled seven recipes—five sweet and two savory—that highlight everything apples have to offer.

7 Stunning Recipes Featuring Apples

These are some of my favorite recipes that you can easily prepare at home if you have a few spare apples!

1. Classic Apple Crumble

Ingredients:

  • 4 red apples, peeled and sliced
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup flour
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Preparation:

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • Arrange apple slices in a baking dish.
  • In a bowl, mix oats, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon.
  • Add melted butter and combine into a crumble.
  • Sprinkle over the apples and bake for 30-35 minutes until golden.

2. Green Apple and Honey Cake

Ingredients:

  • 3 green apples, grated
  • 1½ cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ cup honey
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Preparation:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Grease a cake pan.
  • Combine flour, baking powder, and cinnamon in one bowl.
  • In another bowl, whisk honey, eggs, and melted butter.
  • Mix in grated apples.
  • Combine wet and dry ingredients, pour into the pan, and bake for 40-45 minutes.

3. Red Apple Galette

Ingredients:

  • 2 red apples, thinly sliced
  • 1 sheet puff pastry
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Preparation:

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  • Roll out puff pastry on a baking sheet.
  • Arrange apple slices in overlapping circles.
  • Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
  • Fold the edges of the pastry over the apples and bake for 25-30 minutes.

4. Green Apple and Walnut Salad

Ingredients:

  • 2 green apples, thinly sliced
  • 4 cups mixed greens
  • ½ cup walnuts, toasted
  • ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Preparation:

  • Arrange mixed greens, apple slices, walnuts, and blue cheese in a bowl.
  • Whisk together olive oil and apple cider vinegar.
  • Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss gently.

5. Red Apple and Cinnamon Muffins

Ingredients:

  • 2 red apples, diced
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ cup vegetable oil

Preparation:

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • Line a muffin tin.
  • Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon.
  • In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, and oil.
  • Add to the dry ingredients.
  • Fold in diced apples and divide the batter into the muffin tin.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes.

6. Pork Chops with Green Apple Compote

Ingredients:

  • 4 pork chops
  • 2 green apples, peeled and diced
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • ½ tsp cinnamon

Preparation:

  • Season pork chops with salt and pepper.
  • Cook in a skillet until browned on both sides and cooked through.
  • In another pan, melt butter and sauté apples with brown sugar and cinnamon until softened.
  • Serve pork chops topped with apple compote.

7. Caramelized Red Apple Tart

Ingredients:

  • 2 red apples, sliced
  • 1 sheet puff pastry
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp butter

Preparation:

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • Place puff pastry on a baking sheet.
  • In a skillet, caramelize apple slices in butter and sugar.
  • Arrange caramelized apples on the pastry.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Tips for Cooking with Apples

  • Choose the right apple: Use tart green apples for baking or savory dishes and sweet red apples for desserts.
  • Prevent browning: Toss sliced apples with lemon juice to avoid turning brown.
  • Cook evenly: Slice apples uniformly for consistent cooking in baked or sautéed recipes.
  • Use the skin: The skin of apples adds color, texture, and extra nutrients to your dishes—don’t discard it unless necessary.

Apples are an incredibly versatile ingredient that can shine in sweet and savory dishes.

You can make comforting cakes and elegant salads. And a lot more!

As you can see, these recipes highlight how apples can add flavor, texture, and a hint of natural sweetness to your meals. So, if you’re in the mood for dessert or want to elevate a main course, apples have you covered. Give these recipes a try, and let this humble fruit surprise you!

Pin for Later!
7 Delicious Recipes Featuring Apples You’ll Love!

Gabi Ancarola
Gabi is a travel writer who has lived in Crete for over a decade. Through her blog, Crete Insider, she has helped travelers uncover local experiences. Passionate about food and Cretan cuisine, she now attends Greek cooking lessons to bring the island’s flavors straight to your kitchen!

>> Interested in learning to cook in Crete, or discovering all of the top spots to eat in Chania and around the island? Book a food tour or plan your trip with me.

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