Let me share all you need to know about the best apples for baking! Learn which apple varieties are ideal for baking, and why their texture, flavor, and level of sweetness matters. You’ll find my top choices below, and why I reach for a combination!
It’s no secret that apples are a perennial favorite in a baker’s kitchen.
Apples are undoubtedly juicy and delicious, are easy to come by year round, and they can be used in a variety of sweet and savory recipes, from classic apple pie to sausage & herb stuffing.
Whether you’re whipping up this easy apple cake or apple cinnamon muffins, or something more time consuming like a salted caramel apple pie, you may be wondering…
Which are the best apples for baking?
The Texture of the Apple Matters
You want apples that hold their shape while baking, instead of cooking down into mush. (Use those for making applesauce and apple butter!) Let’s go ahead and compare apples to apples. Literally.
Look for an apple variety that’s known for its crisp, firm texture. On the crisp-crunchy end of the spectrum, you’ll find:
- Honeycrisp
- Jazz
- Pazazz
- Braeburn
- Jonagold
- Pacific Rose
- Pink Lady
- Fuji
- Pinata
- Granny Smith
These are all excellent choices for baking.
You’ll want to avoid soft, mealy, or creamy-flesh apples like Red Delicious, Gala, and McIntosh. They will soften up too quickly in the baking process, and therefore do not provide ideal texture.
For Best Results, Use a Combination of Apples
For depth of flavor, it’s best to bake with a mix of tart and sweet apples. Whether I’m making individual apple crumbles or apple cinnamon bread, I like to use both tart and sweet apples in the recipe.
Best Tart Apples for Baking:
- Granny Smith (in my opinion, this is the best overall apple for baking)
- Braeburn (a sweet-tart variety)
- Jonathan
- Pacific Rose
- Cortland (slightly tart)
Best Sweet Apples for Baking:
- Jazz
- Pazazz
- Honeycrisp
- Pink Lady
- Jonagold
- Fuji
- Rome
Again, using a combination of both sweet and tart apples will give your baked good an interesting depth of flavor. So if you need 4 apples for your recipe, use 2 tart and 2 sweet.
If you only want to grab ONE type of apple, I would recommend Granny Smith.
All of the apples listed above are wonderful for cooking and baking. If I had to highlight a small handful, these would be my particular favorites/top choices:
Granny Smith (Tart)
Granny Smiths are typically my go-to apple for baking, so I’ll always have them on hand during the fall months. Their tart, citrusy flavor make them perfect for sweet baked goods, where there’s sugar in the recipe. I love using these for homemade caramel apples, too.
Braeburn (Slightly Tart)
Braeburn apples have a classic, sharp apple flavor. They’re not as tart as Granny Smith, but they hold their shape very well when cooked.
Honeycrisp (Sweet)
Who doesn’t love biting into a fresh Honeycrisp apple? They’re extra juicy and very crisp with a honey-sweet flavor that translates wonderfully into baked goods. AND they are the star of the show in my Honeycrisp apple sangria.
Pink Lady (Sweet)
These are sweet-tart, crisp, and very firm apples that hold shape beautifully in pies. Because they hold shape so well, I usually use them when I make baked apples. They’re also known as Cripps Pink.
Jazz (Sweet)
These are my favorite sweet apples for baking! They’re crisp and firm, with a mildly tangy flavor. I usually bake apple pies with a mix of Granny Smiths and Jazz or Pink Lady apples.
How to Prep Apples for Baking
If the apple recipe you’re using includes a step for peeling (not all do!), you’ll need an apple peeler.
- Apple Peeler: I use and love this peeler for everyday use. But if you’re planning to bake with a LOT of apples, you may want to invest in a Johnny Apple Peeler, which peels, cores, and slices the apples.
Do you peel around the apple in one long strip, or straight down it in lots of short little strips? True story: Once when we were all baking in the kitchen together, two of my team members actually had a “peel-off” contest to see whose method was faster… and they tied! (Though the long spiraling ribbon was much more beautiful than the little strips, if you’re going for the Prettiest Apple Peel in the Compost Bin award. LOL.)
Some recipes don’t require peeling the apples at all. If a recipe calls for shredded apples—like morning glory muffins—a simple box grater is all you need.
One last tip: Pay attention to whether the recipe calls for slicing the apples or chopping the apples into chunks. For apple pie and apple cobbler, I recommend slices, as uniform as you can make them, about 1/4 inch thick. For apple crisp, I prefer chunks because they easily fit onto a spoon.
Best Apples for Baking: 20 Favorite Apple Recipes
Apple Cinnamon Bread
I make this buttery-moist and cake-like apple cinnamon bread countless times every apple season! Tossing the juicy apples in brown sugar and cinnamon before layering in the pan gives you those sweet pockets of cinnamon-sugar in each bite.
Classic Apple Crisp Recipe
Back to the basics with pure and simple apple crisp! Featuring warm, gooey cinnamon apples and a brown sugar oat topping, this comfort food classic takes half the time and effort of traditional apple pie.
Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Cups
Who says baking with apples is just for dessert? Using a few simple ingredients like oats, applesauce, milk, and cinnamon, throw together these incredibly easy and healthy baked oatmeal cups for a wholesome breakfast or snack.
Easy Apple Cake
Soft and tender with a stick-to-your-fork moist crumb and juicy apples in every bite, this fresh apple cake is delicious plain, topped with buttery brown sugar glaze, or even a quick dusting of confectioners’ sugar. Simple elegance at its finest!
Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Fall breakfast has never tasted so good—or indulgent! This is my recipe for warm and gooey apple cinnamon rolls topped with a delicious caramel icing. The aroma as they bake will get even the sleepiest of sleepyheads down to the breakfast table.
Perfect Apple Pie
My all-time favorite dessert recipe—yes, out of the thousands I have published! This perfect apple pie features layers and layers of delicious apple slices within my popular buttery flaky pie crust.
Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins
My ideal, go-to apple muffin recipe! You can enjoy them plain or top them with a sweet crumb topping and smooth vanilla icing for an extra special fall morning treat.
Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
Made with a shortbread crust, spiced apple filling, streusel topping, and homemade salted caramel, apple pie bars are just as delicious as apple pie, but much simpler to make.
Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
What I love most about this recipe—besides the unbeatable flavors—is that there’s no fancy decoration required. The buttery caramelized apples become the built-in decoration on this supremely moist fall cake!
Brown Butter Apple Blondies
These brown butter apple blondies are a reader-favorite recipe every fall. Soft and chewy, these handheld bars combine cinnamon-spiced apples, brown sugar, and flavorful brown butter… and are topped with brown butter icing.
Caramel Apple Cinnamon Scones
Caramel apples for breakfast, anyone? These caramel apple scones are buttery and moist with crisp crumbly edges and soft flaky centers. Enjoy them as-is, or you wont regret a generous drizzle of salted caramel on top.
Apple Hand Pies
What’s more fun than traditional apple pie? Mini apple hand pies, of course! This recipe pairs my homemade buttery flaky pie crust and a juicy cinnamon apple pie filling.
Glazed Apple Bundt Cake
Meet your new favorite cake for the crisp fall weather. This tender and moist homemade apple Bundt cake is smothered in a buttery brown sugar glaze and is perfectly acceptable for breakfast or dessert.
Individual Apple Crumbles
If you’re on the hunt for an easy no-fuss recipe for your fall surplus of apples, try my 7-ingredient individual apple crumbles. Prep is uncomplicated and quick, and the crumbles bake in just over 30 minutes.
Apple Crumb Cake
Delicious New York-style crumb cake… with a fall twist! Warm cinnamon apples, buttery crumb topping, and sweet icing come together in this breakfast favorite.
Apple Galette
Galettes are equally as delicious as pies, but require a fraction of the work. This apple galette is so easy and flavorful, you’ll find yourself making it any time you have a few extra apples on hand. Don’t forget a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of salted caramel!
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies
These soft and chewy apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies are exploding with sweet apple spices, loaded with applesauce and apple chunks, and topped with a creamy maple frosting. Talk about an apple-lover’s dream cookie!
Apple Cinnamon Babka
One bite and you’ll see why it’s impossible not to love this apple cinnamon babka. It features sweet apples and a thick cinnamon filling twisted inside a rich and buttery yeasted dough. A brown sugar cinnamon crumble topping adds the perfect finishing touch.
Baked Apples Recipe
Like individually portioned apple crisp, baked apples are great for when you need a smaller dessert option. The recipe can easily be halved or doubled, and it couldn’t be easier to prepare. Simply core your apples, fill with a buttery brown sugar cinnamon crumble, and bake.
Apple Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting
Some of fall’s favorite flavors come together in a cupcake wrapper! Smooth salted caramel frosting serves as the perfect topping—and if you’re up for accessorizing, go ahead and add a drizzle of salted caramel sauce.
These are such great recipes. I really appreciate the extra help your a blessing
I prefer Haralson apples for baking. I was surprised to not see this one on the list.
I love apples! Have you ever tried a Cosmic Crisp apple? I’m curious of your opinion.
Hi Sally, I may have tried one in recent years, but they are very hard to find in my area!
My good friend recently introduced me to your recipes and I haven’t stop checking them out. We made the apple galette and oh my goodness it was amazing. Question for you is what do you think about Gravenstein apples? I don’t hear much mention of them anymore, either in the grocery stores or anywhere else. We went to an Gravenstein apple fair . It’s what we used on the galette and also made really good applesauce. Heading to Apple Hill this weekend. Thank you for the great recipes!
Hi Kathy, it’s been years since I baked with these. They are very hard to find. But they’re an apple I would consider tart, and if you can have them, they would be excellent to use in baking as a tart apple.
Hi Sally, you should try Swedish Apple Pie, it is a great alternative sometimes.
Absolutely true & much easier than baking an apple pie….as much as I love them, also.
Here in New England we have access to many different kinds of apple. Early season I use Duchess of Oldenburg (tart), Gravenstein, and Williams Pride for pies, breads, and crisps and brown bettys. Gravenstein and Williams Pride are semi-tart. I often use several kinds in one recipe. Later in the season I use R.I. Greening, Northern Spy, Cortland and/or Baldwin. Williams Pride is also a great eating apple. Macoun is a great eating apple, but also works well mixed with one of the tart ones in pies. My local apple orchard grows over 50 kinds. So the choice is outstanding.
I found the recipe (muffins) I was looking for to take to a block party. I also read all the reviews, tips, etc. and want to add a “favorite apple” comment. Surprised I didn’t see yellow delicious on any list. I know they are probably not as crisp, but have a wonder flavor. My favorite pie apple!
Just received your best apples for Fall baking newsletter. Hard to believe I have received all the wonderful images along with delicious sounding recipes … for free. What a gift! I look forward to trying out many of your wonderful creations. Thank you!
Happy baking, Jacqueline!
Would love to receive this too! How do I get it?
Hi Deb, if you sign up for our email list, you’ll get everything!
I love all your recipes!! All the tips and do’s and don’t. I read every recipe, whether I’m going to bake or cook them. I have learned so much about baking and cooking from you. Thank you so very much for all the help you have given me! Donna B
Hi Donna, thank you so much for the kind comment! And thank you for reading, and trusting my recipes!
Have you been able to try the new u of minnesota KUDOS apples in baking it is a cross between honeycrisp and Zestar I think.just curious , as I have been trying to find them in stores inn atlanta.
I haven’t tried those before!
Have you ever made a pie with Macintosh apples? I have had success with Spy apples before but my favourite is by far the standard Macintosh apples, cut into chunks with 1 cup sugar & 2 Tbsp flour. I found a small basket of Macintosh at the local fruit market. They had a sign saying – Good for making applesauce. There were 5 huge bins of other apples, the only ones appealing to me were Ginger Gold. Why is Macintosh getting the snub? My apple muffins are delicious too. It’s important to remember some of the best things in life were favourites from our youth.
Hi Lindsay! Honestly, Macintosh apples aren’t as available as the other varieties I’ve listed above. Maybe they aren’t as popular anymore? I just can’t find them like I used to. They are a wonderful apple, maybe not as crisp as some others so they break down quicker in something like a pie. Definitely great for applesauce, or a soft baked good like muffins or bread.
Spy’s make the best apple pie. Later in the season after first frost. Delicious!
I love your chicken pie recipe! I have made it a few times and my family LOVE! The homemade pie crust put it over the top! Your recipes have become trusted, go-tos! Like Ina Gartin!
You absolutely forgot the BEST apple for baking, the Northern Spy. If you’ve never used them you are missing out on what a real apple pie should taste like. It’s definitely the award winning apple for pies and baking.
Hey there, I make a doz apple pies, lots of cinnamon, every fall for friend and family. Often told best ever had… I ALWAYS use Macs, so discount them as wrong for pies,
If you can get your hands on some Russets, they’re perfect for baking, hard and tart.
Our go to is Macintosh apples! Only during the season too! We’ve already got a bag of them this season and am looking forward to pies. We’re a huge mac family, I’d highly recommend trying!
Thanks for these comments. How about Rome and Cortland apples? Where I live, I see them sold a lot in the fall.
Hi Cat! Cortlands are great. They’re juicy and slightly tart. I like using them with sweeter apples. Rome apples are great too, though I do find that the other varieties listed here hold shape better.
The Mutsu apple(renamed Crispin) is a winner that’s not on this list. They’re large and green with a pale peach blush. Mix ’em up with other apples, if you like. Great for eating, too. Hope you can find them!
Thanks for all of these great apple recipes. I noticed that you didn’t mention stayman apples, which I use for baking and cooking. I wondered what your opinion is when it comes to stayman apples. Thanks!
Hi Linda! I remember tasting Stayman apples a few years ago… delicious! I can’t usually find them locally, but I’ve read they’re excellent for baking. Do you like using them in pie?
The Mutsu apple(renamed Crispin) is a winner that’s not on this list. They’re large and green with a pale peach blush. Mix ’em up with other apples, if you like. Great for eating, too. Hope you can find them!
Have you ever had Haralson apples? They are absolutely the best for pie. You find them in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
I’ve never had them before! I bet they’re wonderful.