Our Favorite Apple Dessert Recipes

Whether you’re buying them up by the armload at the supermarket or picking your own at the local orchard, there's no better use for your bounty of fall apples than a sweet and delicious dessert.

September 23, 2021

By: Kristie Collado

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Apple Crisp

When you've got a bounty of fresh-picked apples on hand, there's no better way to use them than in a classic apple crisp. This recipe keeps it simple, using just a handful of ingredients to turn the fruit into a sweet, oven-baked dessert.

Get the Recipe: Apple Crisp

Apple Pie Cupcakes

We borrowed the filling from a favorite holiday pie and baked it on top of a spiced cupcake for these rustic, all-American bites. The tops spread a bit, so use a spoon or a small offset spatula to help lift the cupcakes out of the pan.

Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Cupcakes

Spiced Apple-Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

Food Network fans rave that Giada's easy apple cake is one of the best they've ever made. One reviewer says it's like "having every warm and delicious memory of the holidays" — all wrapped up into one bite.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Apple-Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

Apple Pie Bars

Ina's pie-inspired bars have all the apple-cinnamon flavor you're craving but skip the step of making pie crust. The apples are baked on top of a buttery cookie crust, instead.

Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Bars

Tarte Tatin

This French tart is a beautiful way to eat apples. From-scratch puff pastry is usually out of reach of the home cook, but this technique (made with simply grated butter, flour and water) is an easy cheat.

Get the Recipe: Tarte Tatin

Apple Ring Pies

These adorable hand-held pies don't require any apple peeling. Each round is cleverly filled with one slice of apple and a bit of caramel candy that melts and turns gooey as the pies are baked. The no-fuss prep makes these perfect for any occasion.

Get the Recipe: Apple Ring Pies

Cheesecake-Stuffed Apples

Stuffed with cheesecake and topped with caramel sauce, buttered graham cracker crumbs and walnuts — these upgraded baked apples are the ultimate autumn dessert.

Get the Recipe: Cheesecake-Stuffed Apples

Apple-Pecan-Oat Quick Bread with Cream Cheese Glaze

Mix chopped, toasted pecans into this apple bread, then glaze the whole loaf with a vanilla cream cheese icing for quick bread you'll make all apple season long.

Get the Recipe: Apple-Pecan-Oat Quick Bread with Cream Cheese Glaze

Dutch Apple Pie

There may never be an answer to what a true Dutch apple pie is. Some recipes add cream to the filling. Some call for making a deep-dish pie with a lattice top, and others top it with streusel. After a visit to a Pennsylvania Dutch diner, we decided to go with the streusel for a sweet and crunchy topping.

Get the Recipe: Dutch Apple Pie

Apple Meringue Cupcakes

Golden meringue crowns moist, apple-packed cupcakes for a stunning fall dessert that's easy enough for anyone to make.

Get the Recipe: Apple Meringue Cupcakes

The Best Apple Crisp

If you just went apple picking, here's the perfect recipe to enjoy the fruits of your labor. We've included two varieties of fresh apples, plus warm spices and tangy cider. The sweet, buttery crumble topping is flavored with brown sugar and studded with nutty pecans for the ultimate easy apple dessert.

Get the Recipe: The Best Apple Crisp

Pie Baked Apples

If you're looking for a fun way to reinvent classic apple pie, this is it! Hollowed-out apples are stuffed with pie-spiced apples and topped with a lattice crust for a cozy treat everyone will love.

Get the Recipe: Pie Baked Apples

Apple Pie Thumbprint Cookies

A spiced apple filling tops these buttery cookies, packing all the flavor of an apple pie into a single bite — for a fraction of the work!

Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Thumbprint Cookies

Individual Apple Crumbles

Treat your guests with individual ramekins filled with apples and a crunchy streusel topping of oats, brown sugar and walnuts. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Get the Recipe: Individual Apple Crumbles

Caramel Apple Grilled Mini Monkey Breads

Monkey bread couldn't be easier with store-bought biscuit dough. We made this recipe so you can take it on the go to your next backyard cookout or tailgate party and then pop it on the grill while everyone is eating. By the time they're ready for a sweet treat, it will be done!

Get the Recipe: Caramel Apple Grilled Mini Monkey Breads

Instant Pot Magic Apple Cake

You don't need fancy inserts or special pans to make a sweet and satisfying baked dessert in an instant pot. This easy recipe lets you cook up a warm, spiced apple treat right in the bowl of the machine.

Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Magic Apple Cake

Apple Cobbler for Two

You won't have days and days of leftover cobbler with this perfectly scaled-down recipe. It makes just enough for two!

Get the Recipe: Apple Cobbler for Two

The Best Apple Pie

We love using a variety of apples in our pie; it adds both flavor and texture and makes every bite a little different. Vodka in the pie crust makes the dough easier to work with, and since the alcohol burns off during baking, it doesn't impart any flavor. But feel free to use bourbon or apple brandy instead to complement the filling.

Get the Recipe: The Best Apple Pie

Apple-Oat Cookies

Grated apple makes these quick-and-simple, glazed cookies extra moist and sweet.

Get the Recipe: Apple-Oat Cookies

Smoked Apple Cobbler

Who says you need an oven to make a cobbler? This quintessential fall dessert is even better with the touch of smoke you get from baking it on the grill.

Get the Recipe: Smoked Apple Cobbler

Apple-Honey Baklava

This baklava was created to honor the delicious combination of apples and honey. The syrup is honey-forward and the filling has less nuts than a classic baklava to allow the apples to shine. Breadcrumbs between the bottom layers of phyllo help absorb any excess moisture from the apples and keep the phyllo crisp, even after being soaked in syrup.

Get the Recipe: Apple-Honey Baklava

Fried Apple Hand Pies

The beauty of these pies is that they can be made days, weeks, even months ahead of time and just fried up when you're ready to eat them.

Get the Recipe: Fried Apple Hand Pies

Caramel Apples

A deep, rich caramel makes for a classic shiny caramel apple — and a treat that we'd be happy to enjoy any time of the year!

Get the Recipe: Caramel Apples

Apple-Raisin Cinnamon Bun Pie

There's more than meets the eye in this tricky pie. At first glance, it looks like a pan full of cinnamon buns, but cut into it and there's apple pie filling underneath! Big and little kids can help with measuring ingredients and even rolling out the dough (though parents should be nearby in case they need help).

Get the Recipe: Apple-Raisin Cinnamon Bun Pie

Apple Fritters

What could be better than battered, deep-fried apple slices? How about Giada's easy version, sprinkled with lemon sugar?

Get the Recipe: Apple Fritters

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