When it comes to baking, choosing the right fruit is just as important as finding a good recipe. This "Best Apples for Baking" Guide will answer all your questions on how to choose the right apple variety for baking apple crumble, cakes, crisps, applesauce and pies!
Choosing the right apples to bake can make a huge difference in your finished product. The texture and consistency of the apple is just as important as its taste.
Whether you like your apple sweet, crisp, tangy or juicy (or all of the above), there is an apple for you and your next baked good.
This article will tell you all about the right apples for the right recipe. And by right apple, I mean right apple for you! We will look closely at the best apple varieties for:
- Apple Cakes, Crumble and Crisps - or any baked goods with apples in them
- Applesauce
- Apple Pies and Tarts
A quick warning though: when it comes to baking, some recipes will work for you better than others. It's just like choosing the best type of apples: sometimes, the recommended ones are not the ones that you prefer or usually use. So as always... do what works best for you!!
1. Best Apples for Apple Cakes, Crisps and Crumbles
When it comes to choosing the right Apple for baking a crumble, apple Crisp or a cake, you want to pick an apple that is firm to hold its shape while baking.
You can pick either a crisp and tart apple or go for a sweeter variety. The best way to create a nice balance is to simply mix two variety of apples, one tart and one sweet!
Crisp Apples
- Granny Smith: firm, juicy and tart
- Honeycrisp: crisp and aromatic, lightly sweet
- Braeburn: very firm, juicy and crisp with a spicy flavour
- Cortland: juicy and lightly tart with finely grained flesh
Sweet Apples
- Golden Delicious: firm and crunchy with a mild sweet flavour
- Jazz: juicy, sweet and crunchy
Crisp and Sweet
- Fuji: spicy, crisp and sweet
- Pink Lady: crunchy, sweet and tart
- Jonagold: large, firm and sweet yet lightly tart
My favourite Baked Apples Recipes
- Easy French Apple Cake
- Upside-Down Apple Cake
- Apple Cinnamon Baked Donuts from Kidgredients
- Pear and Apple Crumble
- Gluten-Free Apple Cake
- Individual Apple Crisps from Cook it Real Good
- Caramel Apple Cupcakes from The Cooking Collective
- Easy Apple Loaf Cake
2. Best Apples for Applesauce
When choosing the right apple to make applesauce, you want to pick a variety that will easily get soft and mushy. A great way to make applesauce without sugar is to use a sweet apple.
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You can also pick an apple that is more crisp for a more tart applesauce flavour. Again, feel free to mix different variety to create different taste!
Crisp Apples
- McIntosh: very juicy and crisp
- Honeycrisp: crisp and aromatic, lightly sweet
Sweet Apples
- Red Delicious: sweet with a mild flavour
- Gala: sweet with a mild flavour
Crisp and Sweet Apples
- Jonathan: sweet with a touch of acidity
- Jonagold: large, firm and sweet yet lightly tart
Check out my easy Stovetop Applesauce recipe that is ready in less than 1 hour!
3. Best Apples for Apple Pie & Tarts
Just like for making Apple Crisps, you want to pick an apple that will stay firm when baked. Once again, the choice of tart or sweet apple is completely up to you, and you can absolutely mix two (or more) varieties together!
Crisp Apples
- Cortland: juicy and lightly tart with finely grained flesh
- Granny Smith: firm, juicy and tart
- Braeburn: very firm, juicy and crisp with a spicy flavour
Sweet Apples
- Crispin / Mutsu: very sweet with a delicate spicy flavour
- Golden Delicious: firm and crunchy with a mild sweet flavour
Crisp and Sweet Apples
- Fuji: spicy, crisp and sweet
- Jonagold: large, firm and sweet yet lightly tart
- Pink Lady: crunchy, sweet and tart
The best Apple Pies Recipes:
- Italian Apple Pie from Marcellina in Cucina
- Mini Apple Pies from Sprinkles and Sprouts
- French Apple Tart
- Easy Puff Pastry Apple Tartlets
Angela Giles says
Ahhhhhh! I love love love this! I can now cook/bake my fave desserts with apples. Apples cooked the right way and chosen the right way!
Thank you for this.
A Baking Journey says
Happy you enjoyed this guide, Angela!
Joyce Rosselli says
Apples are my favorite fruit. I found it fantastic that you offered so many different types of ways to bake and cook with apples. Very informative and detailed post. Will come back. Since I pinned it to remind myself.
A Baking Journey says
Thank you so much Joyce, I'm so glad to hear you found this post informative 🙂
Sally says
Such a good guide! I tend to use pink lady apples for everything including cooking and general snacking - they are just the perfect amount of crispy, sweet and tart for my tastes.
A Baking Journey says
It's great to find the one variety that works great for you, doesn't it!? I love to use pink lady as well!
Adrianne says
This is such a great informative post Sylvie! I love how thorough it is. You just can't go past a good old fashioned apple pie!! The caramel apple cupcakes sound good too so now I am torn!! Cheers for another great post from you my friend!
A Baking Journey says
Glad you found it helpful, Adrianne! Apple pie is my all time favourite too 😉
kat says
great and informative! I will definitely come back in fall - the apple pie season 😀
A Baking Journey says
Thanks Kat, I'm happy you found it helpful!
Jenny says
My dad always cooked with apples. He cooked this dessert that he called apple dumplings. He never had recipes, just made it by memory. So, unfortunately, I have no recipe for this. They were so good. Thank you for your inspiration, I’m going to bake some apples! ?
A Baking Journey says
I know what you mean, my grandma would never use a recipe - I have been trying to reproduce some of the things she used to cook for years but have never managed to reach the exact same taste!
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes says
A fantastic and informative post, Sylvie! I have saved, so I can always refer back to this post when baking with apples. Thank you so much for sharing!
A Baking Journey says
Thanks Alex, so happy you found it informative!