Apple-y Ever After: 20 Best Apples for Baking
Find out which apple varieties are best for baking, ensuring your pies, crisps, and other treats are bursting with flavor and texture.
Apples are the MVPs of countless dishes, bringing warmth, flavor, and a dash of nostalgia to everything from applesauce to apple pie. But with so many delicious varieties, navigating the world of apple varieties can feel like you're wandering through an orchard maze. But don’t worry!
We’ve harvested the 20 best apples for baking and desserts. Whether you enjoy sweet, tart, crisp, or juicy, there’s an apple variety for every occasion!
Bonus: Read on for our roundup of the 15 best apple desserts and baked apple treats. 🍎
Image Credit: furo_felix/Getty Images
20 Best Apples for Baking
Whether crafting a classic tart or diving into a daring new dessert, knowing which apples to choose can make all the difference. Here’s a quick rundown before we sink our teeth into the juicy details:
Honeycrisp Apples
Granny Smith Apples
Gala Apples
Fuji Apples
Jonagold Apples
Braeburn Apples
Golden Delicious Apples
Cortland Apples
McIntosh Apples
Red Delicious Apples
Empire Apples
Pink Lady Apples
Ambrosia Apples
Crispin (Mutsu) Apples
Pacific Rose Apples
Cameo Apples
Winesap Apples
Arkansas Black Apples
Opal Apples
Ginger Gold Apples
1. Honeycrisp Apples
Image Credit: MMarieB/Getty Images
Honeycrisp is the ultimate snacking apple if you crave a balance of sweet and tart with a crisp bite.
Highlights:
Crisp texture
Sweet-tart balance
Ideal for pies and crisps
Honeycrisp apples are exceptional for baking due to their unique firmness and flavor. Their sturdy texture ensures they hold their shape during cooking, preventing them from turning mushy—a common issue with softer varieties. This characteristic is particularly advantageous in pies and crisps, where you want distinct apple slices that provide a satisfying bite.
Additionally, Honeycrisp apples offer a delightful sweet-tart flavor that enhances the overall taste of baked goods. The balance of sweetness and acidity helps create a rich depth of flavor, complementing spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Their natural juiciness also contributes to a moist filling without making the crust soggy, resulting in perfectly baked desserts.
2. Granny Smith Apples
Image Credit: bhofack2/Getty Images
Granny Smith is the baker's go-to for tartness that holds up well under heat.
Highlights:
Tart, firm, and crisp
Perfect for pies, tarts, and crisps
Maintains flavor and shape when heated
Granny Smith apples are a favorite in the baking world. They are known for their bright green color and tart flavor. Their firm texture makes them ideal for pies, tarts, and crumbles. They hold up well during cooking, maintaining their shape and providing a satisfying crunch.
The tartness of Granny Smith apples creates a beautiful contrast to the sweetness of sugars and spices typically used in baked goods. This balance enhances the flavor profile, making desserts more complex and enjoyable. Additionally, their low sugar content can help prevent baked goods from becoming overly sweet, allowing other flavors to shine.
3. Gala Apples
Image Credit: JPrescott/Getty Images
Are you looking for a sweet, crisp apple that works in various dishes? Gala is the GOAT.
Highlights:
Crisp and juicy
Sweet and mild flavor
Adds natural sweetness to cakes and muffins
Gala apples are cherished for their mild sweetness and crisp texture, making them an excellent choice for snacking. Their subtle flavor is versatile, allowing them to enhance a variety of baked goods without being overpowering. Gala apples provide natural sweetness and moisture when used in cakes, muffins, and breads, enriching the flavor profile.
Their juiciness contributes to a tender crumb in baked goods, while their vibrant color adds visual appeal. Gala apples can also be paired with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, enhancing their flavor in autumnal recipes. Whether you’re enjoying them fresh or incorporating them into your favorite desserts, Gala apples bring a delightful sweetness that complements a range of culinary creations.
4. Fuji Apples
Image Credit: Promo_Link/Getty Images
Want sweetness that intensifies when baked? Fuji’s your answer.
Highlights:
Very sweet, with a hint of honey
Caramelizes beautifully when baked
Perfect for pies, turnovers, and baked desserts
Fuji apples are celebrated for their remarkable sweetness and crisp texture, making them an ideal choice for baking. Their high sugar content caramelizes beautifully during baking, transforming into a rich, golden hue that visually appeals to pies and turnovers. This caramelization enhances their natural flavor, creating a luscious, sweet filling that perfectly complements buttery crusts.
In addition to pies and turnovers, Fuji apples are versatile enough to shine in tarts, crisps, and cakes, where their juiciness adds moisture and depth. Their sweetness balances them well with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, creating a harmonious blend of flavors. Whether baking a traditional dessert or experimenting with new recipes, Fuji apples provide an irresistible sweetness that elevates baked goodies to a new level of deliciousness.
5. Jonagold Apples
Image Credit: barmalini/Getty Images
Jonagold is an excellent choice if you love apples with both sweetness and a hint of tart.
Highlights:
Sweet, tart, and juicy
Versatile for snacking and baking
Adds depth of flavor to pies and cakes
Jonagold apples are popular for their sweet-tart flavor and crisp texture. A cross between the Jonathan and Golden Delicious apples, they offer a delightful balance of sweetness and acidity that makes them versatile in the kitchen.
Jonagold apples excel in baked goods, holding their shape well while providing a rich flavor to pies, crisps, and tarts. Their sweetness enhances desserts without making them overly sweet, allowing for a harmonious blend of flavors when combined with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
6. Braeburn Apples
Image Credit: EzumeImages/Getty Images
For a balanced flavor and crisp texture that can handle any recipe, Braeburn is an ideal pick.
Highlights:
Refreshing for fresh snacking
Holds up well in pies and crisps
Crisp texture with sweet-tart flavor
Braeburn apples are celebrated for their crisp texture and complex flavor, which strikes a delightful balance between sweet and tart. Originating from New Zealand, these apples have a unique taste profile that includes hints of spice and citrus, making them versatile for various culinary uses.
Braeburn apples shine in bakes because they hold their shape while providing a rich, flavorful filling for pies, crisps, and tarts. Their balanced sweetness enhances baked goods without overpowering other flavors, making them an excellent choice for recipes that feature spices like cinnamon and ginger.
7. Golden Delicious Apples
Image Credit: cosmonaut/Getty Images
If you prefer a mild, buttery apple for both snacking and baking, Golden Delicious is a solid choice.
Highlights:
Mild sweetness
Tender and aromatic
Ideal for pies, tarts, and cakes
Golden Delicious apples are renowned for their sweet, mild flavor and smooth, golden-yellow skin. Their tender flesh is crisp and juicy, making them a favorite for snacking and versatile in cooking and baking.
Golden Delicious apples hold their shape well in baking, making them an excellent choice for pies, tarts, and crisps. Their sweetness enhances desserts without being overly sugary, allowing them to beautifully complement spices and other flavors. They are particularly good in recipes that feature caramel, vanilla, or custard, as their natural sweetness balances these rich ingredients.
8. Cortland Apples
Image Credit: Fudio/Getty Images
Need an apple that stays white after slicing and holds up in baking? Cortland has your back.
Highlights:
Slightly tart and juicy
Stays white after slicing
Great for pies, tarts, and salads
Cortland apples are a delightful variety known for their crisp texture and balanced sweet-tart flavor. Developed in New York, they are a cross between the Ben Davis and the McIntosh apple varieties. Cortlands are easily recognizable by their reddish-purple skin, often with a touch of green, and their juicy white flesh, which resists browning when cut.
When baked, Cortland apples excel because they hold their shape while providing a deliciously tart flavor. They are ideal for pies, crisps, and cobblers, where their tartness complements sweeteners and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Their juicy flesh adds moisture to baked goods, resulting in a tender and flavorful filling.
9. McIntosh Apples
Image Credit: KenWiedemann/Getty Images
McIntosh is a must-try for those who love a softer, nostalgic apple with a tart kick.
Highlights:
Tender and slightly tart
Ideal for applesauce and pies
Soft texture for a smooth filling
McIntosh apples are a classic variety renowned for their tender, juicy flesh, and distinctive tart flavor. These apples are a favorite among apple enthusiasts, as they have a soft texture and a mix of red and green skin. Originally discovered in Canada, McIntosh apples evoke a sense of nostalgia and are widely used for fresh eating and cooking.
Their soft flesh breaks down easily during cooking, making them ideal for creating smooth applesauce, pies, and crisps. While they may not hold their shape as well as firmer varieties, their rich, aromatic flavor adds depth to baked goods, beautifully complementing spices and sweeteners.
10. Red Delicious Apples
Image Credit: pixelshot
Love a mildly sweet apple with a crisp bite for fresh eating? Red Delicious is here for that.
Highlights:
Best for fresh snacking
Mildly sweet and tender
Adds moisture to baked goods
Red Delicious apples are widely recognized for their deep red color and distinctive shape, characterized by thick skin and a rounded bottom. Known for their mild, sweet flavor, these apples are primarily enjoyed fresh due to their appealing appearance and crisp texture.
While Red Delicious apples are not typically used in baking, their sweetness makes them a popular addition to dessert cheese platters. They add a refreshing crunch and vibrant color to fruit salads, enhancing taste and visual appeal.
11. Empire Apples Apples
Image Credit: KenWiedemann/Getty Images
Are you looking for an apple with balanced sweetness and firmness? Empire checks all the boxes.
Highlights:
Firm and juicy
Subtly sweet, slightly tart
Great for snacking and baking
Empire apples are a delicious variety known for their crisp texture and balanced sweet-tart flavor. A cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious apples, Empire apples have vibrant red skin, occasional green streaks, and firm, juicy flesh.
These versatile apples are great for snacking and baking alike. Their sweet yet slightly tart taste enhances various dishes, from salads to pies. When baked, Empire apples hold their shape well, providing a satisfying bite in desserts like crisps and tarts.
12. Pink Lady Apples
Image Credit: Angelika Heine/Getty Images
Pink Lady apples (aka Cripps Pink apples) offer a perfect balance of sweet and tart for a balanced flavor palate.
Highlights:
Crisp and aromatic
Great for pies, tarts, and salads
Sweet-tart flavor adds complexity
Pink Lady apples are highly regarded for their striking pinkish-red skin and crisp, juicy texture. This variety is celebrated for its unique sweet-tart flavor, offering a refreshing sweetness balanced by a hint of acidity, making them ideal for snacking.
Their firmness allows Pink Lady apples to hold their shape well, making them excellent for pies, tarts, and crisps. They pair beautifully with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, enhancing the overall taste of desserts without being overly sweet.
13. Ambrosia Apples
Image Credit: Murphy_Shewchuk/Getty Images
If you want an apple that tastes like a honeyed dream, Ambrosia is the one to try.
Highlights:
Sweet, subtly tart, and aromatic
Holds up well in pies and muffins
Great for adding sweetness to salads
Ambrosia apples are a delightful variety known for their sweet, aromatic flavor and crisp, juicy texture. Characterized by their blush-red skin with yellow undertones, they offer a visually appealing option for snacking and culinary uses.
These exceptionally sweet apples are a favorite for fresh eating. Their natural sugars create a pleasant balance with their slight floral notes, refreshing and satisfying every bite. Ambrosia apples are also versatile in the kitchen; they can be used in salads, adding a touch of sweetness and crunch or paired with cheese and nuts for an elegant snack.
14. Crispin (Mutsu) Apples
Image Credit: BruceBlock/Getty Images
Crispin apples (aka Mutsu apples) is a solid choice for those who want a crisp apple that’s both refreshing and sweet.
Highlights:
Sweet and crisp
Holds up well in pies and crisps
Great for adding crunch to salads
Crispin apples are prized for their large size, crisp texture, and sweet-tart flavor. Developed in Japan as a cross between the Golden Delicious and Indo apples, Crispin apples are characterized by their greenish-yellow skin, often with a slight blush.
These apples are perfect for snacking, offering a refreshing crunch and a complex flavor profile that balances sweetness with a hint of tartness. Their firmness also makes them an excellent choice for baking. They hold their shape well in pies, tarts, and crisps, providing a satisfying texture and rich flavor in baked dishes.
15. Pacific Rose Apples
Image Credit: Eko Budi Utomo/Getty Images
Pacific Rose is the apple that reaches for a delicate, sweet flavor with a juicy bite.
Highlights:
Sweet and juicy
Great for fresh snacking
Holds up well in pies and tarts
Pacific Rose apples are a delightful variety that brings a sweet and juicy flavor to baking. Their crisp texture allows them to hold up well in pies and tarts, maintaining their shape and adding a satisfying crunch. While they are not as commonly used in baking as some other varieties, their balanced sweetness and slight tartness can enhance desserts, creating a delicious contrast when paired with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
These apples can also be used in apple crumbles and galettes, where their natural sweetness reduces the need for added sugars. The attractive pinkish-red skin adds visual appeal and contributes a unique flavor profile to baked dishes.
16. Cameo Apples
Image Credit: Jitalia17/Getty Images
Cameo apples are a fantastic choice for a sweet, crisp apple, perfect for baking.
Highlights:
Sweet-tart flavor
Great for pies and tarts
Firm and crunchy texture
Cameo apples are a delightful variety known for their crisp texture and well-balanced flavor. Their sweet, honeyed taste combines with a subtle hint of tartness. Their striking red and yellow striped skin makes them visually appealing and easy to spot in the market.
Cameo apples perform beautifully in baked goodies, retaining their shape and firmness in pies, tarts, and crisps. Their balanced sweetness complements spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, enhancing the overall flavor profile of desserts. Cameo apples can also be added to salads for a crunchy texture and sweetness.
17. Winesap Apples
Image Credit: KenWiedemann/Getty Images
A spicy-sweet apple with firm flesh, Winesap apples can add deep flavor to your bakes.
Highlights:
Spicy-sweet flavor
Great for pies and crisps
Adds depth to salads and cheese platters
Winesap apples are a classic heirloom variety cherished for their rich, aromatic flavor and crisp texture. Known for their deep red skin, sometimes with green and yellow streaks, these apples offer a sweet-tart taste profile that makes them unique and versatile.
These apples are excellent for both eating fresh and cooking. Their bold flavor shines in pies, crisps, and cider, providing a complex sweetness that balances beautifully with spices. Winesap apples hold their shape well during baking, ensuring a satisfying dessert texture.
18. Arkansas Black Apples
Image Credit: futurewalk/Getty Images
Arkansas Black delivers a bold and firm apple that intensifies in flavor when baked.
Highlights:
Firm texture perfect for pies
Intensifies in flavor when baked
Sweet and tart with a rich flavor
Arkansas Black apples are a distinctive heirloom variety known for their deep, dark red to almost black skin and firm, crisp texture. With a slightly tart flavor that becomes sweeter after storage, these apples offer a unique taste experience that differentiates them from other varieties.
Ideal for cooking and baking, Arkansas Black apples hold their shape exceptionally well in pies, tarts, and crisps, making them a favorite for dessert enthusiasts. Their robust flavor complements spices like cinnamon and clove, adding depth to baked goods.
19. Opal Apples
Image Credit: bhofack2/Getty Images
If you want an apple that’s sweet, crisp, and naturally slow to brown, Opal is your new best friend.
Highlights:
Sweet and crisp
Resists browning after slicing
Great for snacking and salads
Opal apples boast a sweet, crisp flavor and firm texture. Their ability to resist browning makes them ideal for pies and tarts, ensuring a visually appealing presentation. When baked, Opal apples retain their shape and add a delightful sweetness to desserts, complementing spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
These apples also work well in crumbles and galettes, where their bright flavor adds freshness to the dish. Their vibrant yellow skin can enhance the visual appeal of baked goods, making them a favorite among bakers looking for flavor and aesthetics.
20. Ginger Gold Apples
Image Credit: DerbalWalid Lotfi/Getty Images
Ginger Gold are is a versatile option for a sweet, refreshing apple with mild tartness.
Highlights:
Mildly sweet with a touch of tart
Great for fresh snacking and baking
Holds up well in pies, crisps, and salads
Ginger Gold apples are a delightful variety known for their crisp texture and sweet, slightly tart flavor. With a pale yellow-green skin that often has a hint of blush, these apples are visually appealing and incredibly versatile in the kitchen.
Ginger Gold apples shine in bakes thanks to their firm texture, which holds up well in pies, tarts, and crisps. Their sweet flavor adds a lovely balance to baked goods, making them perfect for recipes that call for a touch of sweetness without being overly sugary. They pair beautifully with spices like cinnamon and ginger, enhancing the overall taste of desserts.
15 Best Apple Desserts and Apple Bakes
Apples are incredibly versatile fruits that shine in various dessert forms, offering a delightful balance of sweetness and tartness. From classic favorites to innovative creations, there’s an apple dessert for every palate. Here are some popular types of apple desserts to indulge in:
Apple Pie: A timeless favorite featuring a buttery crust filled with spiced apple slices.
Apple Crisp: A warm, comforting dessert made with baked apples topped with a crumbly oat and brown sugar mixture.
Apple Tarts: Elegant pastries with a thin, flaky crust, often filled with apple slices and glazed for a glossy finish.
Caramel Apples: Crisp apples dipped in rich caramel, often rolled in nuts or sprinkles for added texture.
Apple Dumplings: Whole apples wrapped in pastry dough and baked with a sweet syrup, creating a delightful treat.
Apple Cake: A moist cake made with chunks of apples, often flavored with cinnamon and served with cream or glaze.
Apple Strudel: A delicate pastry filled with spiced apples, raisins, and nuts, often served warm with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Apple Brown Betty: A layered dessert made with baked apples, breadcrumbs, and spices, creating a warm, comforting treat.
Baked Apples: Whole apples cored and filled with a mixture of sugar, cinnamon, and nuts, then baked until tender.
Apple Galette: A rustic open-faced tart made with a flaky crust and filled with sliced apples, often topped with a sprinkle of sugar.
Apple Muffins: Moist muffins bursting with fresh apple chunks, perfect for breakfast or a sweet snack.
Apple Soufflé: A light and airy dessert made with pureed apples, egg whites, and sugar, baked until puffed and golden.
Apple Ice Cream: Creamy ice cream flavored with apple and often combined with spices like cinnamon for a refreshing treat.
Apple Parfait: Layered desserts with yogurt or whipped cream, fresh apple slices, and granola, creating a delightful combination of textures.
Apple Cheesecake: A rich and creamy cheesecake swirled with spiced apple filling, often topped with a caramel drizzle.
Let’s Recap!
Whether baking a classic apple pie or experimenting with a fun new recipe, choosing the right apple can make all the difference!
From the sweet crunch of Honeycrisp apples to the tangy zing of Granny Smith, these 20 apple varieties have something for everyone.
So, the next time you find yourself at the store or wandering through an orchard, you'll know exactly which apple to pick for your next delicious adventure! 🍏