10+ Apple Dessert Recipes to Sweeten Your Day
Apple desserts offer a sweet way to use fresh fruit. You’ll find something for any mood—quick snacks or cozy treats for sharing.
There are plenty of easy and delicious apple dessert recipes out there to suit your taste and skill level.
Using apples in desserts brings out a natural flavor and texture. They pair really well with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Whether you love pies, cakes, or crisps, there’s an apple recipe here that’ll brighten your day and hit that sweet spot.
Ingredients
- Apples (any variety)
- Sugar
- Flour
- Butter
- Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg)
- Lemon juice
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Wash, peel, and slice the apples.
- Toss apples with sugar, flour, lemon juice, and spices.
- Prepare your topping or crust.
- Place apples in your baking dish and add the topping.
- Bake for 30–45 minutes, until apples are tender and the top is golden.
1) Classic Apple Pie with flaky crust
You just can’t beat a classic apple pie with a buttery, flaky crust. It’s filled with tender apple slices, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar.
The crust should come out golden and crisp, adding that satisfying crunch.
Making the crust yourself keeps it light and flaky. The filling stays juicy without turning watery, so the pie holds together nicely.
This recipe is a lovely way to enjoy a homemade dessert that’s both simple and a little bit special.
Ingredients
- 6 to 7 cups peeled and sliced apples
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 pie crusts (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Toss apple slices with sugars, spices, flour, and lemon juice.
- Roll out one pie crust and place it in a 9-inch pie pan.
- Add the apple mixture to the crust.
- Top with the second crust, seal the edges, and cut a few slits.
- Brush the top crust with beaten egg.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, until the crust is golden and the filling bubbles.
- Let it cool a bit before serving.
For a detailed guide, check this easy apple pie recipe with flaky crust.
2) Warm Apple Crisp topped with vanilla ice cream
A warm apple crisp is always a hit. Tart apples like Granny Smith give it a nice balance.
Slice the apples thin and toss them with cinnamon and sugar to bring out their flavor.
The topping uses oats, brown sugar, flour, and butter. It bakes up crunchy and golden.
Serve the apple crisp warm, and top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The ice cream melts into the crisp, making every bite creamy and comforting.
Ingredients
- 6 cups thinly sliced Granny Smith apples
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup butter, softened
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- Vanilla ice cream for serving
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Toss apples with half the cinnamon and brown sugar in a baking dish.
- In a bowl, combine oats, flour, remaining cinnamon, salt, and brown sugar.
- Cut in the butter until the topping is crumbly.
- Spread the topping over the apples.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the top is golden and the apples are bubbly.
- Let it cool a bit, then serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
3) French Apple Cake with a hint of rum
French apple cake is a simple, tasty dessert you can whip up at home. It’s got soft chunks of tart apples baked into a buttery cake.
A splash of rum brings a subtle warmth, but it’s not overpowering.
The cake stays moist inside and gets a little crisp on the outside. It’s lovely for dessert or with a cup of tea or coffee.
Try using a mix of sweet and tart apples for a balanced flavor. You can throw this cake together in about 10 minutes, then bake for around 40 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
It serves about eight people, so it’s perfect for sharing.
Ingredients:
- 3 apples (a mix of tart and sweet)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbsp rum
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
Cooking Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Peel and chop apples into chunks.
- Whisk eggs and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add melted butter and rum, then mix.
- Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Fold in apple chunks gently.
- Pour batter into a greased cake pan.
- Bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let it cool a bit before serving.
4) Easy Apple Cobbler with cinnamon spices
Making apple cobbler is easier than you’d think. The apples turn soft and juicy while the top bakes into a golden crust.
The cinnamon works well with ginger, vanilla, and maybe a little cardamom if you like.
You can toss in other fall spices like nutmeg or cloves to switch things up. The cobbler bakes in under an hour, and you’ll know it’s ready when the apple filling bubbles around the edges.
Serve it warm, maybe with vanilla ice cream or a splash of cream. For a full recipe, check out this easy cinnamon apple cobbler recipe.
Ingredients:
- Fresh apples, peeled and sliced
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground ginger
- Vanilla extract
- Cardamom (optional)
- Sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Milk
- Butter
Cooking Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Toss apples with cinnamon, ginger, sugar, and vanilla.
- Put apples in a baking dish.
- In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
- Stir in milk and melted butter to make a batter.
- Drop batter over apples.
- Bake for 45–50 minutes, until the crust is golden and the filling bubbles.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
5) Apple Cider Bundt Cake with Honey Glaze
Apple cider bundt cake is moist and packed with flavor. You can use apples like Honey Gold or MacIntosh for some variety.
The apple cider gives it a warm, fruity kick that really shines with the honey glaze.
The glaze is simple but adds a sweet finish. It’s a cozy dessert for fall or whenever you want something comforting.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup apple cider
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups chopped apples (mixed varieties)
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tbsp butter
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.
- Beat eggs, sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
- Stir in apple cider and oil.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Fold in chopped apples.
- Pour into a greased bundt pan.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Melt honey and butter together for the glaze.
- Drizzle glaze over the cooled cake.
For more details, check the Apple Bundt Cake with Honey Glaze recipe.
6) Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake with crunchy topping
Cinnamon sugar apple cake is soft and loaded with fresh apples. The crunchy cinnamon sugar topping makes every bite extra good.
It’s a straightforward cake and comes together quickly.
Mix simple ingredients like brown sugar, eggs, and apples, then sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top before baking.
The crunchy top gives it a great texture. The cinnamon really pops with the sweet apples inside.
Eat it plain or with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream—either way, it’s a treat.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 cups chopped fresh apples
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (for topping)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (for topping)
Cooking Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- In another bowl, beat brown sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla.
- Add buttermilk, alternating with the flour mixture.
- Fold in chopped apples.
- Pour batter into a greased pan.
- Mix granulated sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle over the batter.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let it cool before slicing.
7) Apple Walnut Cake with glossy finish
Apple walnut cake is moist, spiced, and packed with chunks of apples and crunchy walnuts. The caramel glaze on top adds a shiny, sweet finish.
Bake the cake at 350°F (175°C) for about 50 to 60 minutes. The caramel glaze is easy and spreads smoothly over the cooled cake.
This one’s a solid pick for a cozy fall dessert.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 cups peeled and chopped apples
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream
For the caramel glaze:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Cooking Instructions
-
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch cake pan.
-
In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and walnuts.
-
In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar until it looks light. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla.
-
Stir in the sour cream. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
-
Fold in the apples. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 50-60 minutes.
-
Check if it’s done with a toothpick.
-
For the glaze, melt butter and brown sugar in a pan. Stir in cream and cook until smooth.
-
Pour the glaze over the cooled cake. Let it set before serving.
Try this tasty recipe for your next apple dessert! You’ll find more details here: apple walnut cake with caramel glaze.
8) Apple Fritter Bread perfect for breakfast
Apple fritter bread just hits the spot for breakfast. It’s soft and moist, with bits of fresh apple and a swirl of cinnamon.
The flavor lands somewhere between a donut and a coffee cake. If you like a little crunch, toss in some pecans or walnuts.
Some folks go wild and add cream cheese between the layers or on top as icing. This bread warms up nicely and makes a great snack too.
When it bakes, the smell of cinnamon and apples fills the kitchen. It’s so easy to throw together, you might find yourself making it more often than you planned.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 ½ cups diced fresh apples
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Cooking Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
-
Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.
-
In a separate bowl, beat eggs with sour cream and oil.
-
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones. Stir gently just until combined.
-
Fold in apples and nuts if you want.
-
Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan.
-
Bake for 50-60 minutes. Stick a toothpick in—if it comes out clean, you’re good.
-
Let it cool for about 10 minutes before slicing.
9) Caramel Apple Nachos with sweet drizzle
Caramel apple nachos are a fun, easy twist on the classic fall treat. Slice crisp apples thin and lay them out like nachos on a plate.
Drizzle warm caramel sauce over the apples. If you’re feeling fancy, add melted marshmallows, chocolate chips, or even crushed graham crackers.
This dessert comes together fast and is easy to share. It’s one of those snacks that’s almost too simple, but always a hit at parties.
Ingredients
- 2 apples (one green like Granny Smith, one red like Gala)
- 1/3 cup caramel sauce, warmed
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup mini marshmallows or crushed graham crackers (optional)
Cooking Instructions
-
Wash and thinly slice the apples.
-
Arrange the slices on a big plate.
-
Warm the caramel sauce until it’s smooth.
-
Drizzle caramel over the apples.
-
Sprinkle on chocolate chips and marshmallows or graham crackers.
-
Serve immediately. Don’t wait too long or the apples might brown.
10) Apple Dumplings wrapped in buttery dough
Apple dumplings wrap whole apples in a rich, flaky dough. You can fill the center with butter and sugar for a little extra magic.
As they bake, the dough turns golden and buttery. The apple inside softens and soaks up cinnamon and other sweet spices.
Bake the dumplings in a syrup made from brown sugar and butter. The syrup thickens in the oven and makes a sauce that’s honestly good enough to eat with a spoon.
These are warm and cozy—just what you want on a chilly day, or honestly, whenever you’re craving something sweet.
Ingredients
- 4 whole apples, peeled and cored
- 1 package of crescent roll dough or homemade dough
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Cooking Instructions
-
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
-
Set an apple on each dough square.
-
Drop a small piece of butter into the center of each apple.
-
Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon right inside the core and a bit around the apples, too.
-
Wrap the dough around each apple, pinching the edges to seal them up.
-
Place the dumplings in a greased baking dish.
-
Pour melted butter over the dumplings and toss a bit more sugar on top.
-
Bake for about 45-50 minutes, or until everything looks golden and bubbly.