As crisp, cool air approaches, there's an undeniable magic that shifts our summer taste buds from wanting juicy, garden-fresh flavors to craving the comfort of sweet and spiced with baked freshness.

Whether it's sipping warm apple cider or indulging in caramel-dipped treats, the fall season and apples go hand-in-hand. Fall in love with the idea of adding apples to impact your dishes!

Apples to Apples

The average person eats 65 apples a year — that’s about five apples a month. Imagine how much that number would grow if we added apples as the focus of our meals. With their crisp texture and sweet-tart flavor, apples offer a versatile profile that can elevate any dish. There are more than 7,500 varieties of apples grown worldwide, so choosing the right apple variety for your dish can make all the difference.

Peak® Fresh Produce offers an assortment of varieties that are popular for cooking due to their taste, texture, and how well they hold up to heat.

• Braeburn: With a sweet-tart flavor and firm texture, they are perfect for pies and tarts.
• Pink Lady: These juicy, slightly tart apples are excellent for baking pies, cobblers, and crisps.
• Fuji: These apples hold their shape well when subjected to heat, making them great for baking.
• Gala: Best for applesauce, pressing into cider, or eating fresh with a sweet, mild flavor.
• Golden Delicious: Known as the best all-around cooking apples. They also resist browning, making them ideal for salads and cheese plates.
• Granny Smith: Tart, crisp, and sour all-purpose cooking apples that enhance flavors when paired with sweeter, spicier apples in pies and crisps.
• Honeycrisp: While often enjoyed fresh, in baking, they add a sweet flavor and crisp texture.
• Jonagold: With a balanced sweet-tart flavor, they are excellent for pies, crisps, and sauces.

Feed Your Apple-tite

Consider health appeal: Apples are rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants and are known to support heart health, aid digestion, and boost the immune system. They are very diverse and can take center stage in every course.

Apple apps are in! Add thinly sliced or cubed apples for a refreshing crunch in salads, and pair them with nuts and cheeses like blue cheese or feta. Sweet, creamy, light vinaigrettes or savory components like vinegar, mustard, or herb-based dressings pair best with apple salads that match the apple’s sweet-tangy acidic side. Apples are also great additions to bread appetizers that feature creamy cheeses, spreads, or a sprinkle of something sweet — think cinnamon sugar, maple, or balsamic glaze.

For mains, apples pair exceptionally well with pork. Consider a pork tenderloin with an apple compote or an apple cider glaze. Add diced apples to chicken curry for a hint of sweetness to balance the spices. For a fun twist on a fan-favorite, tackle an apple-tarragon Sloppy Joe — a wholesome version using ground turkey, added sweetness from apples, and aromatic flavor from cloves and tarragon. YUM!

Every entrée needs its sides, and apples step up to the plate. To hit all your food groups, create a tangy slaw with julienned apples, cabbage, and a cider vinegar dressing, or roast apples alongside root vegetables for a sweet-savory side dish. Feeling spicy? Dice up an apple jalapeno salsa that’s perfect for tacos or as a topping for grilled meats. Add comfort pork stews and cheddar soups and include apples to level up these creamy, hearty dishes with their sweetness.

To prevent browning at any stage, toss sliced apples in a mixture of water and lemon juice to keep them moist. It’s recommended to add apples towards the end of cooking for a crunchy texture or cook them longer for a softer, more integrated flavor.

Sweet as Apple Pie

Indulge in a lineup of desserts that promise to challenge apple tradition. Start with a classic apple pie or crumble, but don't stop there — experiment with different apple varieties for a unique twist on this timeless favorite, or jazz it up with toppings — candied bacon crumbles add a savory-sweet crunch, a drizzle of a spiced rum caramel sauce elevates the spices with a boozy kick, lavender ice cream adds a unique floral flavor with herbal notes that complement the sweet, tart filling.

If you're feeling adventurous, try a playful dessert sandwich with an apple pie panini featuring cinnamon raisin bread, Granny Smith apples, and creamy honeyed mascarpone. For a comforting treat, dip crispy apple fries into a cheesecake or chocolate dip, blending the sweetness of apples with the creamy richness.

Whether apple dumplings, fried pies, torts, muffins, cakes, pies, or scones, these apple desserts promise to please every palate. By incorporating apples into your dishes, you can delight diners with their crisp texture and sweet-tart flavor, bite by bite. Embrace the apple’s potential and let this humble fruit shine in your kitchen.