Apple desserts are a fall favorite, filling the air with sweet scents like warm, delicious baked apples and cinnamon, the crisp scent of fresh apples and gooey caramel, and more. If you’re searching for the best apple dessert ideas this fall, you’re in luck! We’ve curated this collection of delicious apple desserts, such as:
- Apple strudel
- Chocolate Covered Apples
- Caramel apple bread pudding
- Caramel apples
- Apple donuts
- Apple cherry fruit cobbler
- Apple cinnamon bread
- Apple pie
- Apple cheesecake
- Apple dumplings
- …and more!
What are the Best Apple Dessert Ideas?
Whether you’re looking for incredible apple dessert ideas for Thanksgiving, you’re just getting into the fall spirit, or you’re simply craving the delicious taste of fresh or baked apples, there are plenty of decadent classic apple desserts and fun and new twists on traditional apple dessert ideas.
Consider an apple-inspired bundle that includes a delightful fruit arrangement featuring our incredible chocolate dipped apple wedges paired with a bag of gourmet popcorn in a sweet and savory apple pie a la mode flavor. Or, opt for a fruit arrangement topped with a few of our incredible Edible® Donuts. They’re made with Granny Smith apple slices hand-dipped in real, gourmet semisweet chocolate and topped with colorful glaze and sprinkles.
Looking for an apple dessert that combines fresh apple flavors with rich, gooey salted caramel? Choose a fall-themed fruit arrangement featuring our exquisite salted caramel chocolate dipped apple wedges. Or, go all in with a party platter packed with salted caramel chocolate dipped apple wedges and other flavors of fall, paired with a fruit arrangement filled with fall favorites like leaf-shaped pineapples, juicy orange slices, and more.
When you shop with Edible Arrangements®, there’s an endless variety of delectable done-for-you apple desserts at your fingertips.
Favorite Apple Dessert Ideas
For more delicious apple dessert ideas you might want to try, we put out a call for ideas and curated responses below. (Note: Edible Arrangements® is not endorsing any of the companies or ideas discussed below, but we asked for suggestions to get some different perspectives.) Keep reading to find out what the contributors who responded to our query had to say about their favorite apple desserts.
Kirsten McKinley
Kirsten McKinley is the founder of Weddings & Brides, an online magazine that features high-quality wedding content, providing tools and tips for everything wedding-related, from planning to attending.
“My favorite apple dessert is Apple Strudel.
It’s a lot easier to make than it seems, and I find that it makes for a perfect dessert when guests are over or when I’m feeling a little fancy. You can store-buy the dough to make the process a lot easier and faster, and then you use apples for the filling. I also like adding some lemon zest and some cinnamon for that extra flavoring.”
Vera Kutsenko
Vera Kutsenko is a nature enthusiast, garden design expert, and founder and CEO of Neverland, an online home garden and lawn marketplace that connects buyers with thousands of SMBs across the USA.
“Caramel apples are fall’s greatest gift. They are very easy to make. Not only that, these sweet, delicious treats allow for complete personalization. This means you can top them with anything.
Maybe you’re a big fan of melted chocolate; it makes an amazing addition to the already sweet and sticky caramel apples. Some people like to dip the already decorated apple in nuts. All in all, these treats are one of the most iconic desserts associated with the arrival of fall. You can follow the traditional recipe or add your own touch.”
Jenna Moran
Jenna Moran is the CEO of Whimsy and Spice, an online culinary hub dedicated to providing a wealth of knowledge and information for any and all aspiring amateur chefs and home cooks.
“Apple donuts are delicious, simple to create, and bound to please a crowd.
They are even better when dusted with some cinnamon sugar straight after they have been cooked! I love cooking apple donuts during the fall/winter time because the sugar and spice flavors are so warming for the coldest months of the year.”
Melanie Underwood
Melanie Underwood has worked as a Culinary Educator for 25 years, teaching at The Institute of Culinary Education in NYC before founding Gather Culinary. Her book, Making Artisan Cheesecake, was published in 2015 (Quarto Books), and she has contributed to numerous cookbooks. Melanie is working on her next book, Rule Breaking Baking — Baking without Recipes.
“My favorite apple dessert is Caramel Apple Bread Pudding:
Yield: 1 (9-inch) baking dish
Ingredients:
- ½ pound bread, brioche (or other bread) torn in to 1-inch pieces, toasted until dry or left out overnight
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup cooled caramel sauce (see recipe below) or jarred caramel sauce
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- ½ stick (4 tablespoons) butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar for sprinkling on top
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325º F.
- Place bread in a large bowl. Pour heavy cream and milk over and toss. Allow to soak 15 minutes or until almost all the liquid is absorbed by the bread.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla. Set aside.
- When all milk is absorbed by bread, gently stir in egg mixture. Swirl in caramel sauce. Set aside.
- Pour butter into a 9-inch baking pan. Add in bread pudding mixture. Top with sliced apples and sprinkle with the 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden on top and no longer liquid in center. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.
Caramel Sauce:
Ingredients:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup heavy cream
Directions:
In a large saucepan, combine the sugar and water and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Increase the heat to high and continue cooking, without stirring, until the caramel is a deep amber color. Remove from heat and carefully add the butter and heavy cream. Whisk until smooth.”
Richard West
Richard West is the Founder of PuppyHero. At Puppy Hero, they are committed to helping individuals and families find the perfect family pet.
“Apple is an excellent fruit to use in desserts. One of my favorite desserts with apples is a French apple tart. It’s a classic patisserie item, one that we all love looking at as much as eating. I tend to go with a classic recipe. An apple sauce filling topped with neatly arranged sliced apples. A simple trick I use is to caramelize the topped apples to give them that extra kick of flavor.”
Ashley Schuering
Ashley Schuering is the blogger behind Confessions of a Grocery Addict, a food blog designed to share money-saving tricks, time-saving tips, and easy grocery hacks to make being the CFO (Chief Food Officer) of your family a little easier. She is also a full-time freelance writer, food nerd, SEO ninja, and food justice activist. She lives in Nashville, TN with her super awesome husband and two 70-lb lap dogs.
“Here are a few of my favorite apple desserts:
If you’re looking for something sweet to share with your honey tonight, look no further than this delicious and healthy apple crisp. With less than two tablespoons of sugar per serving and loaded with whole grain oats, wheat germ and fresh apples, you could even eat this dessert for breakfast!
Easy & Adaptable Apple Cherry Fruit Cobbler
When you’re in need of a super fast, somewhat healthy dessert, look no further than this recipe for an easy (and adaptable) Apple Cherry Cobbler using protein pancake mix. With just 10 minutes of active time, you can have this semi-homemade, 100% delicious fruit cobbler ready to serve. Bonus points if you serve it warm from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
This easy Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread is made using refrigerated biscuit dough and fresh fall apples. It is reminiscent of a bear claw, but the pull-apart mini rolls are made for easy sharing. Quit monkeying around and make this for your weekend brunch!”
Lisa Lotts
Lisa Lotts is the owner and publisher of Garlic and Zest, a food and cooking website launched in 2013. She develops the recipes, takes the photos and does the dishes. Her work has been featured in online publications such as Oprah Daily, HuffPost, Men’s Fitness, Shape and Better Homes and Gardens.
“My favorite apple dessert is a modern twist on an Apple Brown Betty.
This homestyle dessert is a cross between an apple crisp and an apple pudding with fall spices and rye bread that puffs and crisps as it bakes. Best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.”
Deepanshu Bedi
Deepanshu Bedi is the Marketing Director at Holistapet. He is a 28-year-old entrepreneur who used digital marketing skills he developed over the years to acquire and create brands
and also has a portfolio of direct-to-consumer eCommerce brands generating over $50M in annual revenue.
“My favorite apple dessert idea is crisp apple bars.
They are basically apple pies with brown sugar and oat topping. The bars are crunchy and
chewy, and the apples are cooked in super flavorful caramelized sugar. The apples are soft, while the topping is crunchy. It’s a perfect mix.
Another favorite is apple pudding. It has a nice light consistency and a hint of nutmeg and is made with fresh apples. It is also a delicious, easy-to-make, and healthy dessert.
Apple pudding is a perfect dessert because it’s low in calories and sugar. It is a dessert that will make your day because of its comfort and sweetness.”
Isla Zyair
Isla Zyair is a Nutritionist and Blogger at Obesity Controller Association.
“One of my favorite apple desserts is apple crepe.
You can mix and match its flavors with any of your favorite toppings. I like to use a little bit of butter, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg then spread the apple crepe on a grill and place a thin layer of cream cheese on top before filling it with apple slices and grilling it until the cheese is melted.
Another delicious apple dessert is fresh apple tart with vanilla bean ice cream and an apple caramel sauce.
It is the perfect combination of textures and flavors. The tart is crisp and has a light, flaky crust. The ice cream is creamy and cold. The apple caramel sauce is sweet but not overly so and creates a nice contrast with the tart.
Another tasty apple dessert idea is apple pie with a layer of cream cheese and a layer of brown sugar.
The cream cheese layer would be a different color than the apple pie because it would be made with cream cheese, which has a different taste than the apples. But the brown sugar layer would be the same color as the apple pie. It would have the same taste, just not the same texture.”
Marjory Pilley
Marjory is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer for Dinner-Mom.com, an online resource for recipes, meal planning, and organization tips. Many recipes are from the two make-ahead meal assembly stores that she created and operated for several years. Her mission is to make dinner easy, healthy, and fun.
“If I had a few good apples, I would thinly slice them and make apple nachos.
This a quick and easy idea that’s healthy and presents beautifully. The topping ideas are endless from drizzled caramel, nut butters, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, granola, pomegranate seeds, and more.”
Thomas Wright
Thomas Wright is a medical professional at The Lipo Group.
“For a delicious apple dessert, try baking apple pies.
All you need are some tart apples, butter, sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Add the butter and sugar to a bowl and cream it together until it is light and fluffy. Add the cinnamon and flour and mix until well combined.
Divide the dough into two equal parts and roll each into a ball. Place the balls in greased muffin tins and press them flat with your fingers so that they are about 3/4 inch thick. Now top each pie with a scoop of apple pie filling and bake for about 20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.”
Lisa Richards
Lisa Richards is a nutritionist and author of the Candida Diet. She has been featured on Today, US News, Women’s Health
magazine, Huffington Post, Healthline, the San Francisco Chronicle, Reader’s Digest, Lifehack, Insider, and Well+Good, among others. Through her website, she explains the benefits of a low-sugar, anti-inflammatory diet.
“My favorite apple dessert is Apple Galette.
My Apple Galette recipe is an excellent apple dessert for the fall that you can trust to be allergen free and a healthy alternative to sugar-laden apple pie. It is gluten-free and uses Granny Smith apples that are low in sugar.”
Isabella Flint
Isabella Flint is the founder of Fanatically Food, a culinary website that aims to prove that you don’t have to be a gourmet chef to make gourmet meals and provides all of the knowledge you need to make simple food taste amazing.
“I am a huge fan of Apple and Cinnamon Cheesecake, mostly because it is such a tangy and different flavor from what you get in your usual cheesecake.
The apple adds a tangy punch that is enhanced by the spices of the cinnamon, if you then use goat’s cheese for the actual cheesecake, then you have the soft tang complementing the apple’s tang for a wonderfully different cheesecake.”
Laurice Constantine
Laurice Constantine is the Digital Managing Editor at Forbes Middle East, ex-executive producer at CBNC Dubai, and founder of Casadar.
“What’s the best way to use a bunch of apples? Cook with them.
Whether you have a bushel of apples or just a few from your local store, apples make the tastiest dessert.
I enjoy French apple tart, apple dumplings, and apple strudel. They’re quite spectacular without requiring a lot of effort to create.”
Sharon Dylan
Sharon is the Co-Founder and Career Coach of Management Help LLC.
“My favorite apple dessert is Granita Apple Pie.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup sugar
- Ground allspice
- 3 cups apple juice
- Freshly grated nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
Directions:
- Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan.
- Cook over moderate heat while stirring until the sugar is dissolved. This usually takes about 3 minutes.
- Pour into an 8-inch square glass baking dish. Let it cool down.
- Freeze until icy around the edges.
- Using a fork, scrape the icy shards into the center.
- Continue freezing while occasionally stirring.
- Scoop into bowls and serve.”
Dr. Staci Holweger
Dr. Staci Holweger is the Founder and Dr. of Regenerative medicine at Lifepatches.
“Just take six to eight apples and cut them up into bite-sized pieces.
Then, get out a baking sheet, open the windows, and put it in the oven for about two hours. Then, take it out and put the apple pieces into a strainer to drain all the liquid. That takes care of the apples.
Now you have to prepare the sauce. You’ll need some cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, some vanilla, and a big bowl. Mix it all together. You’ll need to add some flour and water too to get the right consistency.
When it’s all mixed up, stir in the apples and put it all in a big pan. Now you’re ready to cook! Just let it simmer for an hour. You can serve it warm or cold, alone or with some vanilla ice cream — it’s delicious either way!”
Samantha Lynn
Samantha Lynn is the Owner of Everyday Family Cooking, provides easy meals with simple ingredients that still pack a lot of flavor. They have expertise in air fryer recipes and make food you will actually want to eat!
“My favorite apple dessert is Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie.
It’s incredibly easy to make too! You just line a layer of prebought cinnamon rolls in a pie
crust, fill it with apple pie filling (you can use storebought or I love to make a homemade filling with fresh apples), and top it with another set of cinnamon rolls and bake in the oven! The best part is after it’s done cooking, you drizzle it with the icing from the cinnamon roll cans.”
Jason Vishnefske
Jason Vishnefske combined his love of chocolates and fitness when he established the Santa Barbara Chocolate Company. He has 30 years of experience as a successful businessman. His expertise extends to anything about chocolates, home bakery, gardening, and a vibrant lifestyle approach.
“Apple is one of my favorite ingredients to work with because of the variety of things you can make with it.
But nothing beats a well-cooked, properly flavored apple pie. And to be more specific, Salted Caramel Apple Pie is an absolute delicacy. The luxurious texture of caramel and the tinge of salt enhances the sweetness of the dessert. It is not very hard to bake either. Just find the right recipe for you and you can make the most delicious apple dessert ever.”
Fred Baker
Fred has been working in the publishing industry for over 15 years. He has held various positions, including travel writer, editor, and content manager. Today, Fred is responsible for the overall editorial direction of Travelness. He works with a team of writers, editors, and photographers to produce compelling content.
“My favorite apple dessert is Apple-Blackberry Crumble with Sour Cream Whip.
This dish is a combination of two classic desserts — apple pie and blackberry cobbler. The apples are cooked with spices until they are soft and tender, then the blackberries are added and cooked until they are jammy. The whole mixture is then topped with a crumble topping and served with a dollop of a sour cream whip. The result is a delicious and comforting dessert that is perfect for any occasion. Serve this dish warm with a scoop of ice cream or some freshly whipped cream. Enjoy!”
Nikki Williams
Nikki Williams is a chef by trade. Nikki works in a busy kitchen and knows the importance of having quick and easy meal options available. She started Top Canned Food to help people easily find the best canned food options available.
“Apple Pie Bars are my favorite apple dessert.
These bars are ideal when you need to create apple pie for a large gathering. They’re significantly simpler to make than a whole pie because they have a simple crust that you press rather than roll. Additionally, the crumb topping is unbeatable. Serve these bars as a unique take on a traditional Thanksgiving dessert or whenever you’re searching for the ideal autumnal treat for sharing.
Ingredients:
For the Crust:
- Frying oil
- 1 cup softened butter
- Granulated sugar, half a cup
- 1⁄4 cup of packed brown sugar
- All-purpose flour, 2 1/2 cups
- Salt, 1/2 teaspoon
For the Filling:
- 6 sliced, cored, and peeled apples
- 1/2 lemon juice
- Packet brown sugar, half a cup
- Ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon
- Pure vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon
- Kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon
For the Finishing:
- All-purpose flour, 1 1/2 cups, and 1 cup of chopped pecans
- 1 cup of brown sugar in bags
- Kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon
- 1 1/2 sticks of melted 3/4 cup butter
- To serve, caramel
Preparation:
- In a pan, oil with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Use a hand mixer to beat the butter and sugars in a sizable bowl until they are frothy and light. Mix just until incorporated after adding the salt and flour.
- Press into pan, about 1/2 up sides. 20 minutes of bright golden brown baking. Apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt should be combined in a big basin. Cover the crust with apples.
- Flour, walnuts, brown sugar, and salt should all be combined in a medium bowl. Add melted butter and stir until clumps of coarse texture appear.
- For about an hour, bake the apples with the crumb topping until the apples are tender and the top is brown.
- Allow it cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting into squares and drizzling with caramel to serve.”
Jessica Randhawa
Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, recipe creator, photographer, and writer behind The Forked Spoon.
“Applesauce is easily one of the most overlooked apple desserts.
Homemade Applesauce can be made with just 5 simple ingredients and is ready in just over 30 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 3 lb apples – approx. 6 medium apples, peeled, cored, quartered and chopped into smaller chunks
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup white sugar (optional)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions:
Place the peeled, cored, quartered and chopped apples in a large pot. Stir in the 1/2 cup of water, lemon juice, sugar (if using), 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Once simmering, reduce heat to low and cover pot with a tight-fitting lid. Maintain a low simmer for 30 minutes or until the apples are completely soft and cooked through.
Once fully cooked, remove from heat. For chunky applesauce, mash the apples directly in the pot using a potato masher. For smooth applesauce, add the apples to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth (if using a blender, work in batches and allow time to cool), or use a hand-held immersion blender and blend directly in the pot. This applesauce is delicious served warm or cold.”
Christel Oerum
Christel Oerum is the founder, CEO, and content director of Diabetes Strong, an online resource for anyone who wants to adopt a healthy lifestyle while living with diabetes.
“Apple crisp is, in my opinion, one of the best apple desserts because it can be added to other ingredients (like ice cream and custard) or eaten on its own depending on how hungry you are after dinner! These little dishes are also incredibly easy to make, and the addition of zucchini and warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg make for a really diverse flavor sensation. This is the recipe I use.”
Paul Kushner
Paul is a professional mixologist and CEO of My Bartender.
“Here is one of my favorites, Spiked Mulled Apple Cider.
Of course, you can make this recipe alcohol-free for a delicious spiced cider from scratch, but a little nip of rum takes it to the next level. It’s soothing, sweet, and warm but won’t leave you stuffed like a full dessert!
Recipe:
- 1 gallon unfiltered apple juice or apple cider
- 1 large orange, cut into 1/4” slices
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 4 star anise
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 tablespoon whole allspice
- 1” ginger root, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups spiced rum
Combine all ingredients (minus rum) in a pot and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to a simmer and cover the pot for 2-3 hours. Remove your fruit and spices, and add your rum before serving in a cozy mug.”
Brian Nagele
Brian Nagele is the CEO of Restaurant Clicks, a blog for restaurant owners, a resource for foodies in the USA, and a former restaurant owner in Philadelphia.
“One of my favorites is a caramelized apple tart.
This tart is made by caramelizing apples and adding them to a pastry dough base before baking it in the oven until it’s done.”
Amy Wallen
Bestselling author of a novel, and a memoir, Amy Wallen teaches writing workshops in California, France, and anywhere she’s invited, usually with pie. She is most recently the author of How to Write a Novel in 20 Pies: Sweet & Savory Secrets of Surviving the Writing Life.
“My favorite apple dessert is Apple Ginger Pie.
Gala and Granny Smiths combine to make a sweet and tart apple flavor for a traditional apple pie, but then I add at least two tablespoons of chopped crystalized ginger to the apple mixture, put it in a crust, and bake. The twang of the ginger and the slight crunch of the crystallized sugar give it a holiday spice and sparkle that any ordinary apple pie can’t measure up to.”
Jeanette Kimszal
Jeanette Kimszal is a Registered Dietitian writing for The Radiant Root. She has found both physical and mental calm by incorporating more nutrient-dense foods into her diet. She loves creating plant-based gluten and dairy-free recipes that nourish the body and soul. They also taste great too!
“For me, it’s all about simplicity. Elaborate apple desserts can be great but when I’m craving something I want it sooner rather than later.
Now that it’s apple season, the best thing to have a tasty dessert is to slice an apple into pieces, stick them on a baking sheet, and sprinkle them with a little cinnamon. Then bake for a few minutes, and you have a really delicious treat that is made in no time at all.
The other thing I really like about this dessert is that it is it doesn’t need any added sugar. The heat makes the apple’s natural sugar come out and taste great. So if you are looking for a low-sugar treat this one won’t be beat. This can work with any type of apple, but my favorite is Granny Smith.”
Bridgette Witte
Bridgette is a chef by trade. In her free time, she runs the website Culinary Debates which answers common questions about popular food.
“Caramel Apple Tart is my favorite apple dessert. Nobody needs to know how insanely easy this dessert with only four ingredients is.
Ingredients:
- 2 cored and thinly sliced apples
- 2 tbsp. hot caramel sauce plus additional for serving
- Ground cinnamon, half a teaspoon
- 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed per the instructions on the box
Directions:
- Set the oven to 400 °F. Combine cinnamon and caramel in an apple salad.
- On the puff pastry, arrange.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, or until pastry is brown.
- Use additional caramel to brush.
- Before cutting into squares, let cool for ten minutes.”
From apple strudel to apple crisp, caramel apples, apple pie, apple tart, apple cider, and more, these delicious apple dessert ideas are sure to get you in the fall spirit. Short on time or simply want to enjoy a decadent done-for-you apple dessert? Shop our incredible collection of fall favorites to have an amazing apple dessert delivered straight to your doorstep.
