There are enough types of apples to keep your fall filled with this yummy, versatile fruit! Whether you like them sugary-sweet or lip-smacking tart, we’ve got apples that are perfect for baking, snacking, slicing for salads and sandwiches, and everything in between. Apples are very nutritious, too – they’re packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber and other nutrients.
Here you’ll find some of the most popular apples, ranked from sweet to tart, using our Apple Sweetness Chart, plus easy apple recipes, when are apples in season, and ideas on the best ways to enjoy them (including baking, of course!).
| Types of Apples | Sweetest Level | Best For | Peak‑of‑season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuji | the sweetest apple variety | snacking, applesauce and salads | mid- to late October |
| Gala | highly sweet | snacking, applesauce and salads | late July to early September |
| Golden Delicious | sweet, rich and mild in flavor | snacking, baked apples and applesauce | mid- to late September |
| Red Delicious | sweet-tart mix but very mild in flavor | snacking and salads | mid- to late September |
| Honeycrisp | great balance of sweet and tart, with a rich, aromatic flavor | snacking and salads | September |
| New! Cosmic | very sweet with some tartness | snacking, salads, baking and pairing with wine and cheese | December |
| New! Opal | quite sweet and slightly floral (similar to Honeycrisp) | snacking, salads, baking, appetizers and pairing with wine and cheese | December to March |
| New! Envy | extremely sweet | snacking, salads, cider, mocktails and pork recipes | May to October |
| Jazz | sweet-tart combo | snacking, baking, salads and sauces | early to mid-October |
| Pink Lady | quite tart | snacking, baking, salads, sauces and more | mid- to late October |
| Granny Smith | very tart | baking, salads and baked apples | mid- to late October |
Easy Apple Recipes
When you think of using apples in a recipe, our guess is that Classic Apple Pie is the first thing that comes to mind. The flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg are perfectly matched with sweet, juicy apples. Add a flaky pastry crust and vanilla ice cream for a slice of perfection.
Or, another sweet idea is Easy Apple Crisp. And apples can easily make the switch to savory with One Pan Glazed Pork with Apples or Squash and Apple Cheddar Gratin. Plus, you’ll find so many more delicious and healthy apple recipes in our recipe collection.
Tools & Other Core Essentials
When preparing recipes with apples, it’s helpful to have a good paring knife, apple corer, peeler, a food mill for making applesauce and a pie plate, all of which you can order online or find in-store. Once you have decided which apple you want to eat or use in your recipe, below are tips on how to cut an apple.
For more fall inspiration, visit our Fall Shop. Or for more Easy Apple Recipes, we’ve collected our favorites in one spot.
How to Cut Apples
Learn how to cut an apple and which tools work best for different easy apple recipes.