What Are The Best Apples For Baking?

When Fall hits, it’s time to start baking…with apples! But then the question gets raised, what are the best apples for baking? Well that’s what we are answering today in this post! Learn what varieties are the best apples to use and which kind of desserts they are best used for.

Apples are apples right? Just pick up some juicy red ones and break out that pie plate. Unfortunately it’s not that simple.

Some apples are best for baking. Some are best for eating. Some are best for pies. You get the idea.

And if you ever made a pie and had your filling turn to mush. Then you  know that not all apples are created equal.

First of all, when its comes to apples what kind of apples are we looking for? Well we want a balance of sweet, tart, and we don’t want them to break down into basically applesauce on us in the oven. 

These are my 5 Go To Baking Apples….

1. Jonagold or Jonathan

Both Jonathan and Jonagold are very similar. Jonathan is a sweet and tart apple. Jonagold is a little bit on the sweeter side. They behave the same though while baking. Being a crisp, juicy sweet and tart you can see why they are a popular choice for baking. And they hold up well when baking which is what we want!

2. Honeycrisp

These are available in early Fall, and are one of the sweetest apples around.  They are juicy, crisp these won’t break down much when you bake with them. They are as the name suggests – sweet and crisp. Honeycrisp are also very easily available as well. And they hold up well when baking, so I love using this variety in all my apple recipes. Especially pies!

3. Granny Smith

These are those beautiful green apples in the store. They are crisp, tart and tangy. I always recommend peeling this variety because of the firm flesh.  But these are the classic apple to use for pie because they hold up so well. I like to balance these out by using a sweeter apple like Honeycrisp or Cortland.

4. Cortland

By far this is one of my favorite apples to not only snack on but also bake with. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a small town called Cortland. They are a bright red apple (sometimes with a green blush) and bright white flesh. It’s softer in texture, but it still holds up well when baking. I love the sweetness of this apple for baking.

5. Braeburn:

This is an all purpose apple, and texture that remains firm after it’s baked. Braeburn is actually part Granny Smith, so it brings that tartness to the table, but with more sweetness. With a sweet tart flavor it makes it ideal for pies and tarts.

Those are my 5 Favorite varieties that I bake with all the time. But the list doesn’t have to stop there!

More Apple Varieties To Try When Baking

Depending on where you live, and when during September and October there may be other varieties you come across that are also great for baking. Check out one of these varieties to bake with if you come across them:

• Winesap
• Northern Spy
• Rome Beauty (mild in flavor so try mixing with another variety)
• Golden Delicious (if you want a softer sweeter texture)
• Gala (great sweetness, so may want to try if reducing sugar)
• Pink Lady
• Crispin (or Mutsus)

Apple Recipes To Try:

Now that we know what the best apples are for baking let’s get to baking something delicious!

• Cinnamon Apple Scones
• Homemade Apple Pie
• Salted Caramel Apple Layer Cake
• Gooey Apple Pie Bars
• Apple Walnut Crostata
• Caramel Apple Cupcakes
• Salted Caramel Apple Crumb Bars
• Caramel Apple Crisp

If you like this post, let me know and leave me a commen and star rating! Happy baking!