Crisp & cozy: 26 Apple recipes for every meal this September

By Calista Boskus

Published on September 10, 2025

The early signs of fall are finally here: cooler air, changing leaves, pumpkin spice lattes everywhere, football season returning, and fall produce appearing in markets. September officially marks the start of fall and apple season in the USA, and to kick off the cozy season, we’ve curated a delightful collection of apple recipes perfect for fall. 

From appetizers and breakfast ideas to sides, salads, main dishes, and decadent desserts, these recipes highlight the best of the apple harvest and invite you to savor the flavors of Autumn with both comforting classics and unexpected twists.

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Appetizers

Apple brie crostinis with hot honey

Warm, melty brie on toasted baguette topped with thin apple slices and drizzled hot honey—perfect for fall entertaining.

Apple crisps with blue cheese

A sweet-and-savory bite where tart apples meet the bold punch of blue cheese and a crunchy topping.

Prosciutto-wrapped apples with brie and balsamic

A fancy finger food that takes just minutes—salty prosciutto hugs crisp apple and creamy brie with a balsamic drizzle.

Honey whipped goat cheese with apple slices

Spreadable, creamy, and lightly sweet—serve with sliced apples for an easy dip or crostini topping. 

Slow cooker apple butter 

Let apples, spices, and a hint of brown sugar simmer all day into a thick spread—perfect on crackers, toast, or cheese boards.

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Breakfast

Apple cinnamon rolls

Soft, gooey rolls filled with cinnamon-spiced apples.

Dutch baby with sautéed apples and cranberries

This puffy oven pancake is an autumn showstopper—topped with sautéed apples and tart cranberries.

Cinnamon apple yogurt bowls

A quick, protein-packed breakfast with warm apples, Greek yogurt, raisins, and walnuts. 

Apple spice donut muffins

Baked like muffins, finished like donuts—cinnamon sugar and apple flavor in every bite.

Cinnamon apple streusel pancakes with spiced maple syrup

Fluffy pancakes layered with apple streusel and served with warm maple syrup infused with fall spices.

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Sides & salads

Bacon, apple, and caramelized onion brussels sprouts

Crispy Brussels get a sweet-savory twist with apples, bacon, and deeply caramelized onions.

Harvest salad

A hearty fall salad with apples, pears, bacon, feta cheese, and a cider vinaigrette—it’s like autumn in a bowl.

Honeycrisp quinoa kale salad

Crunchy apples and tender kale are balanced with nutty quinoa and a tangy apple cider vinaigrette.

Shaved brussels sprout salad with apples and cranberries

Thinly sliced sprouts and tart apples tossed in a light dressing—fresh, bright, and surprisingly addictive fall side. 

Apple slaw salad

A crunchy, refreshing slaw made with apples, cabbage, and a vinaigrette-style dressing—great with BBQ mains.

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Mains

Pulled pork sandwiches with apple slaw

Sweet meets smoky in this satisfying sandwich, topped with a crisp apple slaw for crunch and balance. 

Roasted harvest bowls with apple cider vinaigrette

A colorful, wholesome autumn bowl loaded with roasted veggies, maple turmeric chicken, apples, and a cider vinaigrette. 

Prosciutto apple and sage chicken with cider pan sauce

Elegant and cozy—juicy chicken wrapped in prosciutto with apples and a buttery cider pan sauce.

Sausage and apple flatbread pizzas with goat cheese

Rustic flatbreads topped with savory sausage, apples, and creamy goat cheese—perfect for fall pizza night.

Copycat Panera turkey apple sandwich

A deli-style sandwich layered with roasted turkey, cheddar, and crunchy apples on cranberry walnut bread.

Pork chops with apple and sage

An easy weeknight main for Autumn—juicy pork chops paired with tender apples and fragrant sage for a warm, balanced dish.

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Desserts

Apple crostata

A rustic, free-form tart that looks bakery-worthy but comes together with minimal effort.

Apple dumplings

Whole apples wrapped in crescent rolls, baked until golden and bubbling in spiced syrup—comfort food at its best.

Old fashioned apple crisp

Juicy baked apples with a buttery oat crumble topping—serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Baked apples

Cored apples filled with cinnamon, pecans, and brown sugar—simple, nostalgic, and naturally gluten-free.

Caramel apple turnovers

Buttery puff pastry wrapped around soft apples and rich caramel—flaky, golden, and ready in under an hour.

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With apples in peak season and crisp weather around the corner, there’s no shortage of reasons to cook and bake with this iconic fall fruit. These apple forward recipes are just the beginning; once you start tossing apples into your salads, sauté pans, and baked goods, you might never stop.

What are some of your favorite apple recipes? Let us know in the comments! 

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