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What to do with apples this fall? 9 easy recipes to make as a family
Fall is here, the leaves are starting to drop, and apples are back… It’s the perfect season to make delicious homemade treats, enjoy an afternoon snack as a family, and introduce kids to the joy of cooking.
Wondering what to do with apples besides eating them as a snack? Here are 9 easy recipes to make the most of this seasonal fruit!
Before you cook: a family apple-picking outing
What if the recipe began before you even stepped into the kitchen? In the fall, some farms and orchards offer apple picking. It’s a lovely chance to get some fresh air, learn about fruit trees, and let the kids choose the apples that will end up on their plates. Take the opportunity to introduce them to different varieties: it’s a great way to spark their curiosity and make them eager to taste what they’ve picked. Once you’re back home, all that’s left is to put on an apron and get cooking!
9 easy apple recipes to try this fall
1. Homemade applesauce
Ingredients:
- 6 apples
- A little water
- A little cinnamon or vanilla, if you like
Preparation:
Peel the apples, remove the seeds, and cut them into pieces. Put them in a saucepan with a little water and cook over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once the apples are very soft, mash them with a fork for chunky applesauce or blend them for a smooth texture. Add a little cinnamon or vanilla if you like.
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2. Moist apple cake
Ingredients:
- 3 apples
- 150 g flour
- 100 g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 80 g melted butter
- 1 packet baking powder
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 180 °C. In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugar, then add the melted butter. Stir in the flour and baking powder before adding the apples, peeled and cut into small pieces. Pour the batter into a greased pan and bake for about 30 to 35 minutes. Check for doneness with the tip of a knife: it should come out clean.
Family tip: Let the kids mix the batter and arrange the apple pieces. And if a few pieces disappear, we’ll call it quality control!
3. Cinnamon baked apples
Ingredients:
- 4 apples
- 4 small pats of butter
- 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar
- A little cinnamon
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Wash the apples and carefully remove their cores with an apple corer. Place them in a baking dish, then put a small pat of butter inside each apple, along with a little sugar and cinnamon. Add a little water to the dish and bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the apples are tender.
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4. Puff pastry apple roses
Ingredients:
- 1 sheet of puff pastry
- 2 apples
- 2 tablespoons of applesauce
- A little cinnamon, if you like
Preparation:
Cut the apples into thin slices. Cut the puff pastry into strips, spread on a thin layer of applesauce, and arrange the apple slices along the upper half of each strip, overlapping them slightly. Fold the lower half of the pastry over the apples, then gently roll up each strip to form a rose. Place them in muffin cups and bake at 180 °C for about 40 minutes.
Family tip: Kids can arrange the slices on the pastry and help roll it up. Cutting the apples and handling them while hot are jobs for grown-ups.
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5. Apple muffins
Ingredients:
- 2 apples
- 200 g flour
- 80 g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 10 cl milk
- 1 packet baking powder
- 60 g melted butter
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Mix the eggs and sugar, then add the milk and melted butter. Stir in the flour and baking powder, then the apples cut into small cubes. Divide the batter among muffin cups and bake for 20 minutes.
Family tip: Everyone can help mix the batter or fill the muffin cups. For an afternoon snack, tuck a few muffins into a snack box so you can take them anywhere.
6. Apple fritters
Ingredients:
- 2 apples
- 100 g flour
- 1 egg
- 10 cl milk
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- A little cinnamon for those with a sweet tooth
Preparation:
Mix the flour, egg, milk, and sugar until you have a smooth batter. Peel and core the apples, then cut them into rings. Dip each ring in the batter, then cook for a few minutes until golden on each side in a lightly oiled skillet. Place the fritters on paper towels and let them cool slightly before eating.
Family tip: Kids can make the batter and dip the apple rings. Cooking with oil or at the stove must be done by an adult.
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7. Apple crumble
Ingredients:
- 4 apples
- 100 g flour
- 80 g cold butter
- 80 g sugar
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Peel the apples, cut them into pieces, and spread them in a baking dish. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and cold butter cut into cubes, until the mixture is crumbly. Scatter it over the apples and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. The top should be golden and the fruit soft and tender.
Family tip: this is the perfect recipe for letting kids get their hands into the mix! They love crumbling it with their fingers. Serve the crumble warm, on its own or with a little yogurt.
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8. Baked apple chips
Ingredients:
- 2 apples
- A little cinnamon
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 100 °C. Cut the apples into very thin slices. Arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, without overlapping them. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon if you like. Bake for about 1½ to 2 hours, turning the slices halfway through. Let them cool: they’ll become crispier as they cool.
9. Quick apple turnovers
Ingredients:
- 1 sheet of puff pastry
- 2 apples
- 2 tablespoons of applesauce
- 1 egg yolk for brushing
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Peel the apples, cut them into small cubes, and cook them in a skillet for a few minutes until tender. Let them cool, then mix them with the applesauce. Cut the puff pastry into squares. Place some filling on one half of each square, fold the pastry over, and seal the edges with a fork. Brush with egg yolk and bake for 20 minutes, until the turnovers are golden.
A few tips for cooking with apples and kids
Cooking as a family is about enjoying time together above all, not making the perfect recipe! Depending on their age, kids can wash the apples, mix the batter, or decorate the cakes. Get the ingredients and utensils ready ahead of time and, to avoid stains, dress your little chefs in a school smock or a Petit Picotin kitchen apron. To keep the fun going on an outing, pack some muffins or apple turnovers in a snack box!
What to do with apples this fall? It’s up to you!
Homemade applesauce, moist cake, crumble, baked apples, or little treats to take along: apples offer endless delicious possibilities all fall long.
The best part? These recipes are also a chance to spend time together, let the kids join in, and make happy memories in the kitchen. So which recipe will you try first?
Things your little ones say
“Mom, does the baby have its own fridge for food?”
– Albane, age 6
“I want applesauce without any pieces of fruit in it.”
– Camille, age 3
“Mom, my tummy is making hungry noises.”
– Victoire, age 3
AUTHOR
Hello, moi c’est Capucine ! J’espère que cet article vous a plu. Passionnée par la rédaction et spécialisée dans les contenus autour de la petite enfance, je fais partie de l’équipe éditoriale de Petit Picotin. Au fil du blog, j’explore les questions du quotidien des familles pour vous partager conseils, idées et inspirations, en m’appuyant sur des recherches, des sources spécialisées et l’expertise de notre équipe.
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