Let's turn those apples on your counter into something delicious. From muffins and breads to cookies, cakes, and pies, these recipes are made with simple ingredients and are easy enough to make any day of the week.

Collage of easy apple recipes including muffins, cinnamon rolls, cookies, cake, pies, and custard pie.

Apple oat cottage cheese muffin on grey rustic plate

Apple Oat Cottage Cheese Muffins

Soft, fluffy apple muffins made with cottage cheese and old-fashioned rolled oats. No mixer needed, and ready in about 40 minutes.

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No Yeast Apple Cinnamon Rolls

These No Yeast Apple Cinnamon Rolls go from prep to baked in under an hour. Soft, golden spirals filled with cinnamon sugar and finely diced apple are topped with a thin glossy glaze that sets without hiding the swirls.

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French Custard Pie - With Apples (Flan Parisien)

French Custard pie with Apples bakes up to a smooth and creamy texture of custard with the delicious sweetness of fresh apples. It's absolutely loved for its simplicity, basic ingredients and great flavors.

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Apple Fritter Butter Cookies

Soft, buttery apple cookies with warm cinnamon flavor. No chilling required, just roll, cut, and bake.

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Cinnamon Apple Cider Loaf

Whether you’re using sparkling or regular apple cider, it’s super easy to make and perfect for any occasion.

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Apple Oat Quick Bread (no yeast)

Loaded with chunks of apple, oats and warm cinnamon flavors, you’ll love how delicious it is without being too sweet.

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Danish Cinnamon Apple cake

Danish Cinnamon Apple Cake, a delicious buttery cake filled and topped with slices of apples and cinnamon sugar.

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Mini Apple Ginger Pies (with a cheddar cheese crust)

Mini apple pies filled with warmly spiced apples and baked in a flaky cheddar cheese crust.

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Best apples for baking

The best apples for baking hold their shape and add plenty of flavor. Here are some of my favorites:

Honeycrisp: Sweet, crisp, and great for muffins, cakes, and pies.
Granny Smith: Tart and firm, perfect for balancing sweeter recipes.
Pink Lady: Sweet-tart with a firm texture that bakes well.
Braeburn: Sweet with a rich apple flavor and great texture for baking.
Fuji: Sweet and crisp, ideal for breads, cakes, and muffins.
Gala: Mildly sweet and a great all-purpose baking apple.

Some of my recipes recommend a specific apple variety because it gives the best flavor and texture. If not, use your favorite baking apple or a combination of two varieties.

Tips for baking with apples

Choose firm apples that hold their shape while baking.
Cut the apples into evenly sized pieces so they bake evenly.
If your apples are especially juicy, pat them dry before adding them to the batter.
For even more flavor, try combining two apple varieties.
If a recipe doesn't specify whether to peel the apples, either option usually works. Leaving the peel on adds a little extra texture.