25 Amazing Apple Recipes
Whether your fave is the tart Granny Smith, juicy McIntosh, or sweet Golden Delicious, there's nothing better than biting into a fresh, crisp apple.
And few foods can rival the apple when it comes to health benefits. Rich in fiber, vitamin C, and relatively low in natural sugars, a medium-sized apple is only about 90 calories.
Here are 25 recipes you can use to wow friends and family with apple deliciousness.
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Apple Havarti Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Try this recipe: Apple Havarti Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Grilled cheese isn't just for kids anymore! Adding Havarti and arugula to this lunchtime classic lends it a touch of maturity.
Ingredients: Dijon mustard, multigrain bread, Honeycrisp apple, Havarti cheese, unsalted butter, arugula
Calories: 409
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Apple-Broccoli Salad
Try this recipe: Apple-Broccoli Salad
Using pre-made broccoli slaw saves a ton of prep-time—just toss all the ingredients together. And feel free to add some grilled chicken if you're looking for a bit more lean protein.
Ingredients: apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, shallot, kosher salt, black pepper, olive oil, Gala apples, broccoli slaw, golden raisins, almonds, fresh chives
Calories: 258
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Roasted Apples, Cauliflower, and Root Vegetables
Try this recipe: Roasted Apples, Cauliflower, and Root Vegetables
Roasting apples brings out their natural sweetness and adds a perfect blast of fall to you plate.
Ingredients: Honeycrisp apples, cauliflower, butternut squash, carrots, parsnips, olive oil, fresh thyme, kosher salt, black pepper
Calories: 157
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Slow-Cooker Applesauce
Try this recipe: Slow-Cooker Applesauce
Apple sauce may seem like something to toss into your kid's lunchbox, but this take is perfect for spicing up your oatmeal or topping a juicy pork chop.
Ingredients: pure maple syrup, unsalted butter, lemon juice, kosher salt, cinnamon sticks
Calories: 140
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Apple Tarte Tatin
Simple and sweet, this French treat couldn’t be easier to make. Other versions call for anywhere from one-half to an entire stick of butter—ours uses only 2 teaspoons, so you can dig in guilt-free.
Ingredients: Apples, frozen puff pastry dough, butter, brown sugar
Calories: 201 per slice
Try this recipe: Apple Tarte Tatin
6 of 30
Apple Sangria
Ingredients: apples, apple juice, apple-cranberry juice, Calvados, seltzer, dry white wine
Calories: 195
Try this recipe: Apple Sangria
7 of 30
Apple-Spinach Chicken
Try this recipe: Apple-Spinach Chicken
The tart flavors of the Granny Smith apples blend with the bitter spinach to make a tender chicken recipe. It's a little low on fiber, so add a piece of multigrain toast to complete the meal.
Ingredients: Vegetable oil, boneless chicken breast, garlic, spicy brown mustard, apple cider, Granny Smith apples, baby spinach
Calories: 202
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Updated Waldorf Salad
Use low-fat mayo mixed with apples, grapes, dried cranberries, celery, and walnuts for this chunky salad that renews a classic and curbs mid-afternoon hunger.
This dish delivers a serving of low-purine nuts and fruits. Plus, apples, grapes, and cranberries all contain malic acid, which may counter gout-promoting uric acid in your body.
Calories: 153
Try this recipe: Updated Waldorf Salad
9 of 30
Caramelized Pork Loin With Apples
The tartness of Granny Smith apples is the perfect contrast to this spicy pork. And you can get all the flavor for only 7 grams of fat.
Ingredients: Brown sugar, cumin, ground red pepper, garlic, pork loin, onions, balsamic vinegar, butter, Granny Smith apples, Rome apples
Calories: 199
Try this recipe: Caramelized Pork Loin With Apples
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Baked Apple Fritters
Ingredients: Dough: active dry yeast, 1% low-fat milk, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, honey, butter, teaspoon salt, egg Filling: butter, apple, apple juice, ground cinnamon Glaze: powdered sugar, honey, apple juice, ground cinnamon
Calories: 214
Try this recipe: Baked Apple Fritters
11 of 30
Apple-Mascarpone Parfaits
Mascarpone is a soft, creamy cheese with a distinct, rich flavor. This recipe combines it with cottage cheese to cut down on fat, and the cheese mixture enhances the tartness of the Granny Smith apples while still bringing the dessert together with its smooth texture.
Ingredients: Butter, Granny Smith apples, brown sugar, lime juice, ground ginger, cottage cheese, mascarpone, sugar, vanilla extract
Calories: 265
Try this recipe: Apple-Mascarpone Parfaits
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Apple Slaw
Try this healthy version of coleslaw for a sweet and crunchy side. At only 2 grams of fat and 10 grams of carbs per serving, it's the perfect complement to any barbecue dish.
Try this recipe: Apple Slaw
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Warm Apple and Rum Raisin Topping
This delish dessert is super easy to make. Just saute apples and butter in a skillet over medium heat, along with cinnamon and lemon juice. Add rum and golden raisins. Cool, and serve over vanilla ice cream or yogurt, or even on pancakes!
Ingredients: rum, golden raisins, butter, Cortland or McIntosh apples, cinnamon, lemon juice, vanilla ice cream or yogurt
Try this recipe: Warm Apple and Rum Raisin Topping
14 of 30
Cheddar and Apple Melt
A great way to enjoy apples, and a snack even the kids will love!
Ingredients: shredded Cheddar cheese, apples, corn tortillas
Try this recipe: Cheddar and Apple Melt
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Apple-Sesame Chicken
Stir-fry with apples? Yes, please. This tasty dish combines healthy ingredients like apples and chicken with curry powder and sesame seeds for a simple and hearty meal. Tip: Use brown rice and low-sodium soy sauce for an even healthier dish.
Try this recipe: Apple-Sesame Chicken
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Classic Apple Pie
Almost better than mom’s! At less than 300 calories per slice, this delicious take on classic apple pie cuts the sugar and lets the fresh flavors of sweet, tart apples shine.
Try this recipe: Classic Apple Pie
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Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
This creamy soup is light on calories but rich in antioxidants. Serve it in mini pumpkins.
Try this recipe: Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
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Caramel Apple Pie
Tart Granny Smith apples are a nice contrast to the sticky-sweet caramel syrup. Plus, oats add a boost of filling fiber.
Ingredients: Refrigerated pie dough, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, Granny Smith apples, fat-free caramel sundae syrup, flour, brown sugar, butter, oats
Calories: 276 per slice
Try this recipe: Caramel Apple Pie
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Apple-Maple Galette
Ingredients: Crust: all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, salt, cold butter, vegetable oil, apple cider Filling: apples, fresh lemon juice, brown sugar, maple syrup, all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, egg white, coarse sanding sugar
Calories 294
Try this recipe: Apple-Maple Galette
20 of 30
Pork Loin With Apple-Cranberry Chutney
Ingredients: olive oil, boneless pork loin, kosher salt, pepper, reduced-sodium bacon, leek, apples, fresh cranberries, honey, fresh rosemary, lemon juice
Calories: 291
Try this recipe: Pork Loin With Apple-Cranberry Chutney
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Spiced Pickled Apples
Ingredients: apple-cider vinegar, sugar, kosher salt, ginger, allspice berries, whole peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, star anise, lady apples
Calories: 148
Try this recipe: Spiced Pickled Apples
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Spiced Apple Cider
This tangy, fat-free beverage is ready in just 20 minutes. Cinnamon gives this hot drink a fragrant flavor and has the added health benefits of preventing blood clotting and controlling blood sugar. Enjoy as a delicious spirit for a winter party or omit the alcohol and enjoy in the afternoon with the kids.
Try this recipe: Spiced Apple Cider
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Apple-Cranberry Bake With Streusel Topping
The flavors of fall reign supreme in this tart treat. Cranberries are naturally low in calories and rich in fiber, vitamin C, and cancer-fighting antioxidants.
Ingredients: Cranberry juice cocktail, sugar, cranberries, red currant jelly, butter, Rome apples, water, flour, brown sugar, walnuts
Calories: 191 per slice
Try this recipe: Apple-Cranberry Bake With Streusel Topping
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Double Apple Crumble
Worried about pie presentation? Dole out individual servings of this warming fall treat instead. A hint of butter gives this dessert a full, rich flavor without loading up on fat.
Ingredients: Braeburn apples, apple butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, butter, pecans
Calories: 251 per slice
Try this recipe: Double Apple Crumble
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Surprisingly Light Apple Pie
Whip up this versatile version with Winesap, Northern Spy, Golden Delicious, or Braeburn apples. Or use a combination of a few of your favorites to give a better texture to your filling. The result? A slice that's 155 calories lighter than traditional pies!
Ingredients: Flour, sugar, salt, unsalted butter, fat-free shortening, water, apples, honey, lemon juice, cinnamon
Calories: 319 per slice
Try this recipe: Surprisingly Light Apple Pie
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Apple Spice Cake
Spices are a diet-friendly way to enhance flavor without adding calories or fat, and they can even benefit your health. The vegetable oil and low-fat buttermilk in this recipe cut out loads of buttery fat from traditional versions.
Ingredients: Brown sugar, fat-free cream cheese, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, eggs, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, cloves, nutmeg, low-fat buttermilk, Braeburn apples, brandy (optional), powdered sugar
Calories: 205 per slice
Try this recipe: Apple Spice Cake
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Ultimate Apple Pie
Yes, you can eat pie à la mode eve when on a diet! This slice has only 4 grams of fat—15 less than some traditional recipes—and still boasts a tender, flaky crust. A mix of Gala and Granny Smith apples guarantees a perfect filling.
Ingredients: Flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, unsalted butter, reduced-fat cream cheese, water, lemons, Gala and Granny Smith apples, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, egg, low-fat vanilla ice cream
Calories: 260 per slice
Try this recipe: Ultimate Apple Pie
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Lightened Waldorf Salad
By using fat-free mayonnaise and fat-free yogurt, you can cut back on cholesterol and fat. The lighter the dressing, the more you can taste the fruity and nutty flavors.
Try this recipe: Lightened Waldorf Salad
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Warm Apple-Buttermilk Custard Pie
This tasty treat will be a family favorite. Fat-free buttermilk makes a perfect substitution for normal butter-laden pies, and tart Granny Smith apples pack plenty of flavor. The blend of the the buttery streusel and the calorie-conscious filling leaves your sweet tooth satisfied and your healthy diet intact. Plus, this recipe calls for a refrigerated pie crust—perfect for beginner bakers.
Try this recipe: Warm Apple-Buttermilk Custard Pie
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