Our best apple desserts bake fall's favorite fruit into glorious apple cakes, loaded breads and multi-layered bars that are a textural treat.
1/45
Apple Crisp
From the Recipe Creator:
I live in apple country, and making a delicious apple crisp is one way to use the fruit. This treat doesn’t take a lot of time to assemble. —Gertrude Bartnick, Portage, Wisconsin
2/45
Easy Apple Cobbler
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a common dish from where I was born and raised in Pennsylvania. It's a classic Dutch-style apple cobbler recipe—easy, quick and delicious. Who wouldn't love this golden brown delight? —Andrea Robson, York, Pennsylvania
3/45
Easy Apple Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
After testing many apple cake recipes with fresh apples, I found this old-fashioned easy apple cake that is moist, dense and down-home delicious. Even better, it's quick to fix, and when it's served warm with whipped cream or a dollop of frozen custard, it's one of my family’s very favorites. —Sherry Ashenfelter, Waterville, Ohio
4/45
Apple Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
I remember coming home sullen one day because we'd lost a softball game. Grandma, in her wisdom, suggested that maybe a slice of hot apple pie would make me feel better. She was right. —Maggie Greene, Granite Falls, Washington
5/45
Caramel Apples
From the Recipe Creator:
Who doesn’t love a good gooey caramel apple? Make a double batch because these treats always go fast! —Karen Ann Bland, Gove, Kansas
6/45
Apple Cider Doughnuts
From the Recipe Creator:
Apple doughnuts remind me of family trips to South Dakota. We’d stop at Wall Drug for a dozen or so before camping in the Badlands. Share a batch with friends and family who appreciate a hot, fresh apple cider doughnut. —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
7/45
Air-Fryer Apple Fritters
From the Recipe Creator:
These air-fryer apple fritters are healthier than old-fashioned fritters, yet they are still just as delicious. They're a quick and easy dessert that includes a scrumptious brown butter glaze! —Alyssa Castriotta, North Scituate, Rhode Island
8/45
Apple Peanut Butter Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These apple peanut butter cookies are great for fall gatherings. They're crisp on the outside and soft inside. —Marjorie Benson, New Castle, Pennsylvania
9/45
Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce
From the Recipe Creator:
This apple bread pudding with caramel sauce has been in my life for a long time. It's a family fave and always on my buffet when I put together a brunch. It's also special enough for dinner dessert. —Cleo Gonske, Redding, California
10/45
Apple Spice Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
I am a healthy eater most of the time, but this apple spice cake is worth the splurge! Every year I treasure the opportunity to make my own birthday cake, and I choose this. You can add a cup of raisins to the batter before baking if you'd like. —Jennifer Owen, Louisville, Kentucky
11/45
Apple Fritters
From the Recipe Creator:
This is an old southern apple fritter recipe. When we got home from a trip through the South years ago, I found the recipe among the brochures I brought back. I’ve been making these easy apple fritters ever since. —John Robbins, Springdale, Pennsylvania
Psst! Learn how to make apple roses too.
12/45
Easy Apple Crisp
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's an easy apple crisp! This is a delicious dessert perfect for young cooks to prepare. It's super simple to make since there's no crust—just a crumbly topping. Plus, with apples and oats, it's a wholesome treat. —Sheri Hatten, Devil's Lake, North Dakota
13/45
Apple Bread
From the Recipe Creator:
I got this apple quick bread recipe a long time ago and with a few changes it's become one of our favorites. Everyone who's ever tasted this apple bread has asked for the recipe! —Phyllis Herlocker, Farlington, Kansas
14/45
Apple Crumb Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
This has been a favorite apple bar recipe of mine for many years. I've made these apple crumb bars for parties and for family, and they're always a hit. —Barbara Pickard, Union Lake, Michigan
15/45
Apple Coffee Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
I wish I could give credit where it's due, but I don't remember where this recipe originated. It seems as soon as this coffee cake is out of the oven, my family has it eaten! —Beverly Williams, Woodland, Michigan
16/45
Oatmeal Caramel Apple Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe for caramel apple cookies is a fun twist on traditional oatmeal raisin. These treats are hard to resist! —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia
17/45
Oatmeal Cookie Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
These bars make an excellent fall dessert. We like to warm individual servings in the microwave and serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The recipe quickly became a family favorite; maybe it'll become one of your family's faves too. —Carol Stuber, Osawatomie, Kansas
18/45
Apple Slab Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
Apple slab pie is a terrific contribution to a covered-dish supper, picnic or potluck. It’s baked in a large 15x10x1 baking pan so it’s easy to make and tote too. But be prepared—people always ask for a copy of the recipe! —Dolores Skrout, Summerhill, Pennsylvania
19/45
Apple Monkey Bread
From the Recipe Creator:
For a fun sweet treat that's certain to satisfy, try this recipe. Drizzled with icing, each finger-licking piece has a yummy surprise filling of apples and pecans. It's well worth the bit of extra effort. —Carolyn Gregory, Hendersonville, Tennessee
20/45
Apple Pie Cupcakes
From the Recipe Creator:
These apple pie cupcakes are always a hit! They are so easy to make and the flavor just screams fall. Of course, they're equally delicious any other time of year. —Jennifer Stowell, Deep River, Iowa
21/45
Cinnamon Apple Cider Monkey Bread
From the Recipe Creator:
I use the cold-weather staple apple cider—plus apples and more cinnamon—to turn plain cinnamon rolls into monkey bread. My boys love the sticky sweetness. —Kelly Walsh, Aviston, Illinois
22/45
Swedish Apple Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
This decadent Swedish apple pie serves up homemade flavor in every bite. This is a perfect snack with coffee or as an after-dinner treat. —Sarah Klier, Grand Rapids, Michigan
23/45
Apple Dumplings with Crescent Rolls
From the Recipe Creator:
I received this recipe for baked apple dumplings with Mountain Dew from a friend of mine, then tweaked it to suit my family's tastes. The soda is definitely the secret ingredient in this rich apple dessert. —Chris Shields, Monrovia, Indiana
24/45
Dutch Apple Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
Everything about this Dutch apple pie recipe (especially the crumble!) makes it the top request at our family gatherings. The oat crust reminds me of a cookie, and the tart apple filling just can't be beat during harvest time. —Brenda DuFresne, Midland, Michigan
25/45
Apple Pie Bites
From the Recipe Creator:
These apple pie bites are fun for kids to make. Simply wrap strips of pastry around apple wedges, shake on some cinnamon-sugar and bake. Then watch them disappear! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
26/45
Dutch Apple Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and I came to Canada from Holland more than 40 years ago. This traditional Dutch recipe is a family favorite and has frequently gone along with me to potluck suppers and other get-togethers. —Elizabeth Peters, Martintown, Ontario
27/45
Sour Cream Apple Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
A cool, creamy version of the original, this delicious dessert is the perfect finish to a satisfying summer meal. Its crumbly topping and smooth apple filling are crowd-pleasers! Be prepared to serve seconds. —Sharon Bickett, Chester, South Carolina
28/45
German Apple Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother made this German apple cake for my brothers and me when we were kids. It's an excellent choice for a Christmas potluck or a gathering any time of year. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
29/45
Glazed Apple-Maple Blondies
From the Recipe Creator:
My 6-year-old son and I conjured up this recipe to use the last of the apples we picked from the local apple orchard. Each bar goes beautifully with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine
30/45
Apple Streusel
From the Recipe Creator:
Many people don't think of using a slow cooker to make dessert, but I like having this hot, scrumptious apple treat waiting to be served when we finish up our dinner. I start it in the morning and don't think about it all day. —Jacki Every, Rotterdam, New York
31/45
Cinnamon Apple Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
Cinnamon apple pie baked in a cast-iron skillet is a real stunner. This beauty, with its flaky, tender crust, also works in a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. —Renee Schettler Rossi, New York, New York
32/45
Apple Crostata
From the Recipe Creator:
Like an apple pie without the pan, this scrumptious tart has a crispy crust that cuts nicely and a yummy caramel topping. —Betty Fulks, Onia, Arkansas
33/45
Apple Dumpling Roll-Ups
From the Recipe Creator:
A family friend gave me a simple way to make apple dumplings without lots of steps. I love the sticky cinnamon topping. —Jenny Leighty, West Salem, Ohio
34/45
Apple Strudel
From the Recipe Creator:
This gorgeous strudel has just what you crave this time of year: thin layers of flaky crust and lots of juicy apples. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
35/45
Apple Bavarian Torte
From the Recipe Creator:
A cookie-like crust holds the sensational filling of cream cheese, apples and almonds. This comforting apple torte will be a welcome addition to a bake sale or potluck. —Sheila Swift, Dobson, North Carolina
36/45
Apple Kolaches
From the Recipe Creator:
A fellow home cook shared this recipe for a sweet, fruit-filled pastry. My son, who isn’t a dessert fan, was disappointed when he came home to find his dad had polished off the last kolache in the batch. —Ann Johnson, Evansville, Indiana
37/45
Apple Brown Betty Recipe
From the Recipe Creator:
This apple brown betty can be whipped up in hardly any time. It costs little to prepare, but it's big on flavor. —Florence Palmer, Marshall, Illinois
38/45
Caramel-Apple Skillet Buckle
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandma made a version of this easy apple dessert for me when I was a little girl—and fresh apples from a tree in her backyard added an extra-special touch. I’ve adapted her recipe because I love the combination of apple, pecans and caramel. —Emily Hobbs, Springfield, Missouri
39/45
No-Bake Apple Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
We always have an abundance of apples in the fall, so I like to make this easy pie. My husband has diabetes, and this recipe fits into his diet, but everyone enjoys it. —Shirley Vredenburg, Ossineke, Michigan
40/45
Apple Cranberry Crisp
From the Recipe Creator:
Apple cranberry crisp is a wonderful dessert for fall, when both cranberries and apples are in season. The fruits are quite compatible in flavor and color, and they help make any table look festive and inviting. —Martha Sue Stroud, Clarksville, Texas
41/45
Caramel Apple Cheesecake
From the Recipe Creator:
This apple cheesecake won the grand prize in an apple recipe contest. With caramel both on the bottom and over the top, every bite is sinfully delicious. —Lisa Morman, Minot, North Dakota
42/45
Apple and Pear Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
When my sister Catherine made her apple cake for me, I knew I needed the recipe. For my version, I added some pears from the trees on our acreage. The resulting apple-pear cake is so moist and tastes so good. Now every time I make it, people want my recipe. —Mary Ann Lees, Centreville, Alabama
43/45
Apfelkuchen
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband’s German family calls this Oma’s apfelkuchen, which translates to "Grandma’s apple cake." They’ve been sharing the recipe for more than 150 years. I use Granny Smith apples, but any variety works. —Amy Kirchen, Loveland, Ohio
44/45
Apple Cornbread Crisp
From the Recipe Creator:
With hearty ingredients and a quick prep time, this warm apple crisp makes a delicious, wholesome dessert for any fall night. It reminds me of the recipe my grandmother would serve after our big family dinners. It's absolutely wonderful topped with ice cream. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
45/45
Apple Pie Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
This is one of many wonderful recipes that my mother handed down to me. With their flaky crust and scrumptious fruit filling, these delicious apple pie bars are the perfect way to serve apple pie to a crowd. —Janet English, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Apple Desserts FAQ
What easy apple recipes can I make for dessert?
Easy apple recipes for dessert include apple crisp, caramel apple dump cake, apple cobbler, apple cake and apple cookies. The hardest part of all these recipes is peeling, coring and cutting the apples. For an easy garnish, stick to store-bought ingredients like the best vanilla ice cream, canned whipped cream or a thawed tub of Cool Whip.
What is the best dessert apple?
The best dessert apples are Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, Cameo, Cortland, Crispin, Granny Smith and Jonagold. These are the best apples for apple pie and any other apple desserts! Always avoid mealy, bland apples like McIntosh or Red Delicious.
What desserts and creative apple treats can I make to use up a lot of apples?
Desserts and creative apple treats that use up a lot of apples include apple pies, candy apples, apple crumbles and apple bars. Usually, any dessert that has an apple filling will use around five or more apples. Homemade apple butter is another apple treat that uses a lot of apples. Our apple butter recipe calls for 5-1/2 pounds of apples, which is about 16 apples!
