9 Amazing and appetizing uses for apples

Have you noticed? The summer heat has retreated just a bit and that means APPLES!!! Fall is prime apple time…loads of varieties, great sale prices…move over pumpkin spice, it’s time for 9 amazing and appetizing uses for apples!

I didn’t care much for apples initially…not when I only knew about Red Delicious and Granny Smith varieties. (Red Delicious…hmmmm don’t agree with that name) But when pregnant with my son, I discovered Golden Delicious! Wow! And now I love Gala, Honey Crisp, and MacIntosh, too.

These signs in my local Sprouts helped me make sense of some of the varieties (although they disagree on a couple as do I with their placement), but more keep cropping up. How do you know which one to buy? Try a new one now and again; then make note of your favorites.

The easiest amazing and appetizing use for apples – straight up snacking!

I’d stick to the sweeter side of the spectrum to just eat ‘em plain. And if you love crunch, Honey Crisp is the best! But all are great to dip in nut butters; their juice makes it easier to clear the yummy (but thick and sticky) nut butter from your teeth and the back of your throat. Granny Smiths are perfect paired with nut butter to soften that tart “bite.”

Best way to cut an apple?

Cut down one side of the core, down the opposite side of the core and then take the two short sides off. Leave that skin on as it has some of the vitamins and definitely a lot of fiber, too. You can cut the larger pieces into 3 parts as well.

If you aren’t eating ‘em right when you cut ‘em, dip the cut sides in lemon or lime juice, re-assemble your apple (like the photo above), wrap with a rubber band and store in an airtight container or baggie. This will keep it from getting too brown and mushy. (This won’t work nearly as well without the peel.)

Cutting a bushel of apples?

You’ll want an apple corer/peeler/slicer. Lots of options out there. I happen to have one from Pampered Chef that was a gift from my husband some years back. When cutting a lot of apples like this, you’ll want to soak the cut pieces a couple of minutes in lightly salted water, so they don’t turn while you cut more. I don’t get this out unless I’m needing to peel and cut a LOT of apples as there is some significant cleanup involved.

More amazing uses for apples

(Disclaimer…only options followed by an * are Whole 30 compliant!)

• Sauté in a skillet with butter and sugar for fried apples
• Stick ‘em in the InstantPot with AirFryer Lid to airfry apple chips (single layer 10 minutes at 400 degrees) or dehydrate slices (10 hours on dehydrate with the same AirFryer top) – the thin apple slices from the peeler/corer/slicer worked great for both of these (I’m sure this option would work in a regular Airfryer as well)*

• The Whole30 book has a great pork chop and spiced applesauce recipe (page 258) *
• They’re great chopped and added to chicken or tuna salads – leave the skin on for color *
• They could go in overnight oats with cinnamon…again soak them but then add a little extra honey to overcome the salt OR simply make sure they get covered by the milk and yogurt so they don’t turn brown
• Crockpot applesauce
• Apple dumplings
• Baked oatmeal or crockpot oatmeal

Still got apples left?

There are loads of ideas and recipes here. What amazing and appetizing things do YOU do with apples? Tell us your favorite ideas (or which of my ideas you’ve tried) in the comments below.

Want my very favorite apple recipes? Check those out here!

• What if your favorite fall flavor is apple?

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