I am often asked about my best apple dessert recipes so I created this list for exactly that purpose. My favorite apple recipes now have a home together on one page. Just in time for fall harvest and apple picking, I’m sure you’ll find a delicious recipe on this list.
One of the reasons I love fall so much is for all the amazing seasonal desserts. I love baking with ingredients like pumpkin, maple syrup, and of course, apples. Don’t get me wrong, I love summer desserts, too, like cherry pie and chocolate cookie ice cream sandwiches (I’m an equal opportunity dessert lover), but ’tis the season for warm and cozy treats. So bring on the apples!
Here are my top favorite easy apple dessert recipes on the blog. They’re simple to make and perfect for all of the fall and winter holidays, or really whenever you have a craving for something sweet and comforting.
1. Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
This exquisite apple upside down cake is made with a bottom layer of gooey, caramel apples that becomes the top after baking. It’s incredibly moist, decadent, and always a showstopper due to the beautiful pattern of apples that adorns the top. It’s one of the BEST apple dessert recipes and perfect for impressing guests this holiday season!
2. Baked Apple Cider Donuts
These taste just like the apple cider donuts you ate at the pumpkin patch as a kid! They’re one of my favorite apple desserts, are soft and incredibly tender. Made with concentrated apple cider for amazing apple flavor, they’re dipped in melted butter and coated in a sugar spice mix after baking which makes them irresistibly good. Here’s a pro tip: always make an extra batch – they go quick!
3. Caramelized Apple Blondies
This is one of most highly requested desserts from friends during the fall – they really are that good! These chewy, decadent blondies have caramelized apples and yummy autumn spices baked in that come together for a moist and delicious bite of heaven. I love this recipe because it is so incredibly simple to make, yet absolutely delicious.
4. Apple Pancakes
Take breakfast to new heights with these fluffy apple pancakes! They’re perfect for chilly fall mornings and lazy weekends. Topped with sweet, buttery, and tender pieces of apple for added flavor and crunch, these are one of my seasonal go-tos when I’m craving something sweet for breakfast (or let’s face it, sometimes dinner).
5. Caramel Apple Pie
You can’t post about the best apple dessert recipes without including apple pie! But this is not your average apple pie. No, this apple dessert calls for cooking and caramelizing the apples before you fill the pie shell, so they’re extraordinarily soft and gooey once the pie is baked. Made with a perfect flaky, buttery pie crust, this apple pie is over-the-top delicious. I highly recommend serving it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
6. Apple Toffee Cupcakes
I love a cupcake, and these apple toffee cupcakes perfectly embody so many scrumptious fall flavors. The cake is moist, tender and baked with apples and the toffee frosting is rich and velvety smooth. Bring them to a holiday party, the office, or simply make a batch and save them for yourself. You won’t regret it!
7. Caramel Apple Scones
Scones are one of my all-time favorite pastries, and these caramel apple scones are a true winner. They’re buttery and crumbly the way scones should be, baked with apples and topped with gobs of caramel sauce. Eat one for breakfast, dessert, or really, anytime of day. Need I say more?
8. Caramel Apple Rolls
This is one of my favorite dessert-for-breakfast meals. If you want your kitchen to be filled with a truly amazing smell, try making these caramel apple rolls. Fluffy, tender, and filled with sticky apple caramel filling, they are an absolutely delicious addition to your holiday dessert repertoire. Made with brown sugar and cinnamon, they are truly irresistible.
9. Easy Puff Pastry Apple Tart
Made with only four ingredients, there’s nothing not to love about this. It’s one of the best apple desserts I bake when I’m in a hurry. Made with flaky puff pastry and baked with apples and sugar, this tart is perfect when you need a dessert on the fly. Feel free to customize this one as you like: add cinnamon, slivered almonds, even raisins. Top it with a dash of powdered sugar and of course, a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
10. Apple Crumble
The holidays would not be complete without apple crumble! In my mind, this apple dessert is a seasonal staple. Juicy and tender apples are tossed in cinnamon and sugar and baked with crunchy streusel on top, creating an amazing aroma in the kitchen as it bakes. You can also mix it up by adding cranberries or raisins, but either way, everyone is going to love this dessert.
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11. 5-Ingredient Individual Apple Crumbles
Similar to my apple crumble recipe but in individual portion sizes, these apple crumbles look divine served in ramekins. They’re a great way to spruce up dessert during the holidays and taste amazing. You can also individualize ice cream pairings for each guest based on what they prefer: a scoop of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, or pumpkin ice creams are all perfect accompaniments. The only hard part is choosing which one you want (I personally go for a bit of each)!
12. Caramel Apple Bread
Not quite a bread, not quite a dessert, but somewhere in between, this caramel apple bread is moist, tender, and flavorful. It’s baked with apples and topped with a thick and crunchy caramel icing. I love serving this bread at holiday parties because not only does it taste amazing, but it looks absolutely mouthwatering
13. Buttermilk Apple Cake
Words can’t quite describe my love for this apple cake. One of the reasons is for its simplicity – after you’ve cut up the apples, it takes about 5 minutes to make. Once baked, it tastes just like a piece of cake your grandmother would serve. Super moist and bursting with flavor, this apple cake is one of my go-to favorites. Serve with creamy vanilla sauce.
14. Apple Crumb Muffins
Desserts with complementary textures and flavors are always amazing, and these apple crumb muffins fit the bill. These moist, soft muffins are baked with juicy apples in the batter and topped with crunchy, buttery streusel that’s baked right in. They make a great grab-and-go fall breakfast treat or are perfect served alongside a holiday meal.
15. Applesauce Bread
If you’re looking for a perfect quickbread to serve this Thanksgiving, look no further! This inviting applesauce bread is truly delectable. It’s super versatile and can be served alongside a meal, for dessert, or even for breakfast with your morning coffee. Feel free to mix up the add-ins, too, like dried apricots, apples, and raisins or nuts like almonds or walnuts.
16. Apple Pie Bars
Made with layers of crunchy, buttery shortbread crust, caramelized juicy apples, and crispy cinnamon-oat streusel, these apple pie taste just like apple pie but in easy-to-make bar form.
17. Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Made with caramelized apples, buttery cookie crumb crust, and rich, autumn-spiced cheesecake filling, this caramel apple cheesecake is absolutely incredible.
18. Mulled Apple Cider
This classic mulled apple cider is served warm and full of delicious fall spices. It only takes 10 minutes to make and you can even add some red or wine wine if you want to enhance the flavor!
19. Apple Hand Pies
Apple pie is an all American classic but want to really blow it out of the park? Make these darling apple hand pies for your guests! These beautiful little pies are the perfect easy-to-snack-on individual size and great for any gathering!
20. Homemade Applesauce
Applesauce is easy and quick to make at home, and only needs a few basic ingredients. It is a great way to use up your bounty of freshly picked apples! I also have a cranberry apple sauce recipe that’s perfect for the holidays.
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Before you get baking… do you have what you need?
- Apple corer/slicer: This handy tool makes it so much easier to process apples for all of your baking needs. I use this all the time!
- Apple corer: If all you need is to remove the core and prefer to make your own slices, all you need is an apple corer to get the task done much faster!
- 9-inch Pie Pan: A pan for classic pies!
- Springform Pan: This is essential when making delicious cheesecakes!
All of these apple recipes are near and dear to my heart and absolutely delicious! Let me know in the comments which one(s) you made, I’d love to know. Happy baking!
Barb says
May I please have the recipe for the Blondies? The above link takes me to Upside down cake recipe instead of the Blondies. Thanks!
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Hi Barb, thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will fix the issue right away! Here’s the link: Caramelized Apple Blondies