This past weekend, my wife and I completed the annual fall rite of passage of taking our kids apple picking. For our 11-month-old twins, this meant looking at apple orchards from their stroller for the better part of two hours. But for our two-going-on-12-year-old, it meant a one-person “who can pick the most apples?” contest. The good news was, he won. The bad news: we quickly became proud owners of over 20lbs of apples. Toddlers – gotta love ’em!
Now, I love apples as much as the next person. They’re delicious, versatile, and pack in some serious nutrition. As much as I love them, I cannot stand food waste. So I set out on an internet journey to find all the ways I could use these apples up. Below are some of my favorites. Happy Fall!
Simple Snacks
Apple and Peanut Butter: A first-ballot snacktime hall of famer. Slice up your apple, grab a spoonful of peanut butter, and be transported back to the after-school snack days. Bonus points – add a sprinkle of hemp seeds to your peanut butter for some extra omega 3’s.
Baked Apple Chips: Easy peasy all purpose snack. Great addition to school lunches or as an alternative to more processed snack foods.
Baked Apples with Raisins: Simple and decadent without a ton of effort. Make a huge batch of these and keep them in the fridge for whenever you want something sweet and a little bit different.
Cinnamon Apple Yogurt Bowls: These are kind of snacky, kind of breakfasty, kind of anytime. Cook the apples in a large batch (you have enough apples, trust me) ahead of time and reclaim your mornings.
Salads and Sides
Slow Cooker Applesauce: The perfect addition to slow cooker Sunday. Let the aromas of apple and cinnamon flow throughout your home all day long. Pro tip: leave out the brown sugar and taste it unsweetened first; if your apples are super ripe, it’s probably sweet enough. If you want to make it sweeter, try adding maple syrup.
The Most Fall Salad There Ever Was: All the fall flavors got together to create this salad. It’s crunchy, tangy, sweet, and tart all at the same time. Note that this salad has a lot of raw cruciferous veggies in it. If those upset your stomach, omit the kale, double up the brussels sprouts, and roast them to make base easier on your gut.
Spiralized Apple and Cabbage Slaw: You’re only 20 minutes away from this yummy side. Pairs perfectly with slow cooker pulled chicken or an early fally BBQ.
Scrumptious Sweets
Apple Crisp: A perfect apple crisp for a crisp fall day. This is insanely easy, but looks incredible. It’s also a great recipe for getting your kids involved.
Apple Oatmeal Cookies with Peanut Butter Glaze: Say it again with me – apples and peanut butter. All. Day. Long. This time in cookie form. Note: if you have a peanut allergy, consider subbing tahini or sunflower seed butter in place of the peanut butter.
Apple Pancakes: These are all-purpose. Call it breakfast. Call it dessert. You can call it any time – and definitely call me when you make them! Break out the blender and whip up these delicious apple pancakes. Make a big batch and freeze them for later. Don’t forget some baked apple-cinnamon wedges on top!
Customize Your Apple Recipes with a Registered Dietitian
Apples are incredibly versatile, but if you want to make the most of them while keeping your nutrition on point, working with a Registered Dietitian (RD) can make all the difference. At Culina Health, our RDs can help you tailor these apple-based recipes (and other recipes!) to fit your dietary needs, whether you’re managing weight, addressing food sensitivities, or optimizing gut health. Get personalized guidance to turn your extra apples into meals that nourish both you and your family. Best of all, your sessions are likely covered by your health insurance, with low or no out-of-pocket cost to you. Book your first session today.
