An Ode to Apple Recipes on America’s Birthday

Happy 4^th, y’all! I had a bookish post queued up for today and then realized that didn’t feel very appropriate for the 4^th (stay tuned for it, though). It’s a little late to prep crafts (not my thing anyway), and we all know how to turn berries into a flag. But the phrase “as American as apple pie” popped into my head, so here I am with a roundup of apple recipes to celebrate America’s birthday. Johnny Appleseed would be proud.

My Personal History with Apples

Apples, on their own, are a mid-tier fruit, in my opinion. But they have so many great possibilities. And their appeal as a school symbol can’t be beat. We all know that A is for Apple. And when I embarked on my pandemic-era “homeschool preschool” journey thanks to Susie Allison’s Busy Toddler curriculum, our very first unit was on apples. I learned way more than I should have as a fully grown adult from How Do Apples Grow? My kids took to the activities in ways I never expected. After my then-two-year-old spent 45 minutes sticking toothpicks into an apple, Susie had my loyalty forever. It was the win we needed in a tough season.

As pandemic restrictions eased, we met up with some friends to go apple picking. Turns out, we were late to the party on this. I wanted this to be a full-on fall activity. Scarves. Flannel. Boots. And in the South, we’re looking at mid to late October before this is an option. But apple picking season is actually best much earlier. Consider yourself warned. We still had fun, but it was more of an apple hunt through the orchard than a harvest. At least the weather was nice.

So, what to do with the apples once you’ve procured them?

Roasted Apples

This is my favorite trick with apples: quick, easy, and delicious. Preheat your oven to 400. Dice up some apples (about one per person). Toss them in a little fat (melted ghee or butter are great, but you can also use olive oil). Sprinkle with a little salt and your preferred spice. Cinnamon is a classic, but rosemary, thyme, and sage are delicious as well. Pop them in the oven for about 15 minutes. Just keep an eye on them so they don’t burn! Roasted apples are excellent as a side for chicken.

Applesauce

This is my kids’ favorite trick with apples. Over the years, I’ve simplified my applesauce recipe so that it’s not overly sweet, and I can make it with ingredients I always have on hand. This recipe uses four apples, but that’s usually not enough for my family. Adjust as needed! Peel, core, and dice four large apples (Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, and Braeburn are great options) and add to a large pot with 1/3 cup water, 1/4 cup sugar (I usually use a little under this amount), 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and a dash of salt. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat slightly. Cook for 30 minutes. Keep an eye on it because if the heat is too low, the apples won’t soften in time. Aim for a robust simmer. When the apples are soft, mash until you’re happy with the consistency. A potato masher works great for this. I like to eat mine piping hot, but the kids usually like their bowls popped in the fridge for a few minutes.

Cider Pumpkin Waffles

Ok, these waffles from Half-Baked Harvest have apple cider in them, not whole apples, but I’m sharing them here because they changed my life forever. Here’s why. My middle kid, who was 6 at the time, really wanted to make them. By herself. So I let her. Now, I did the stuff that needed a stove. Step one is browning some butter, so I did that and added it to a bowl for her. The last step is cooking the waffles in a waffle iron. I did that too. But she did all the intermediate steps, including measuring approximately one million spices, herself. And they turned out great. She’s been helping me in the kitchen for years, and this was the first time I saw the results of that training in the form of her baking independently. It was magical.

(Side note: With all due respect to Half-Baked Harvest, you can skip making the salted maple butter. Just slap some butter, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt on them when you serve them.)

Overnight Cinnamon Apple Baked French Toast Casserole

I’ve been on record that breakfast is the best meal of the day, so here’s a breakfast recipe with actual apples. I have a favorite French toast casserole recipe for every season, and this one is my go-to for fall. The recipe calls for sourdough bread, which I think is the right choice. I like to be extra and make my own, but if that’s not your journey, see if there are any local bakers selling loaves at farmers markets near you so that you’re not getting all the extra junk that’s in grocery store bread (*steps down from soapbox*). This recipe also suggests adding a wild amount of additional toppings, but it’s plenty sweet on its own between the apples and streusel topping! Just pair it with a great cup of coffee and maybe some breakfast sausage.

Apple Grilled Cheese

While you’re making sourdough, you might as well make an extra loaf for some grilled cheese. Thinly sliced apple is amazing on grilled cheese. Pair it with cheddar, bacon, and a little Dijon. Or try brie, arugula, and balsamic vinegar (plus more bacon). My favorite way to get the perfect grilled cheese is to put both softened butter and a little mayonnaise (I like Sir Kensington’s or Primal Kitchen) on the outside of the bread.  

Apple Pie

Just kidding, I wouldn’t dare try to tell you to make anything other than your grandma’s recipe. But have you tried saving a little of the filling and a little of the pie dough to snack on together while the pie bakes? Because it’s delicious.

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Do you have go-to apple recipes? What’s your favorite pie, and why is it apple? Let me know in the comments!

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