Pumpkin Spice gets all the hype during fall, but don't overlook apples! Most apple varieties reach peak season as summer fades into fall, and what fruit is more all-American than the apple? Beyond being healthy (think "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!"), apples work beautifully across the culinary spectrum—in beverages, appetizers, entrees, and desserts.

With seemingly endless varieties available, choosing the right apple for your recipe can make all the difference. Here's your complete guide to apple varieties and how to use them.

Popular Apple Varieties: A Complete Comparison

Best Apples for Raw Eating and Salads

Fuji Apples
Fuji apples are perennial favorites with a mild, sweet flavor that won't overpower other ingredients. They're perfect for eating raw, adding to salads, or incorporating into slaws like our Apple Kale Salad.

Envy Apples
These round, ruby-red beauties are super sweet and crunchy—perfect for snacking and cheese boards.

Top Baking and Cooking Apples

Gala Apples
Similar in taste to Fuji apples but hold up better during cooking and baking, making them ideal for pies and crisps.

Granny Smith Apples
Like many grannies, these green beauties are sassy! They resist browning and their tart flavor pairs beautifully with sweeter varieties in recipes. Perfect for our Apple Bourbon Crisp.

Honeycrisp Apples
These cross-pollinated apples are sweeter, juicier, and crunchier than most varieties. They're excellent for juicing apple cider and hold their shape well in baking.

Lesser-Known Apple Varieties Worth Trying

Specialty Apples for Unique Recipes

Opal Apples
Golden, almost orange in color, these apples are both tangy and sweet. The best feature? They won't brown—not even a little! Perfect for salads and cheese boards.

Cosmic Crisp Apples
The new "it" apple! Super crunchy with a perfect sweet-tart balance, and slow to brown. Ideal for salads and entertaining.

Smitten Apples
Beautiful bi-color apples with complex flavor that hold up incredibly well in baked desserts.

Jazz Apples
A cross between Gala and Braeburn with delicate pear undertones. Perfect when you want to "jazz" up any recipe—sweet or savory.

Delicious Apple Recipes to Try This Fall

Now that you know your apple varieties, here are some curious ways to use them:

Sweet Apple Creations

• French Apple Tart - Inspired by Parisian culinary traditions, featuring French apple brandy
• Apple Hand Pies - Simple Southern nostalgia in every bite
• Apple Bourbon Crisp - A perfect fall dessert with a spirited twist

Fresh and Healthy Options

• Apple Kale Salad - The perfect fall salad that hits all the marks: easy, delicious, and healthy

Elevate Your Fall Cocktails with Apples

No In The Curious Kitchen post would be complete without cocktail inspiration! Take your apple beverages to the next level:

Signature Apple Cocktails

• Bourbon Spiked Apple Cider - Perfect warm or cold, enhanced with our Bourbon Apple Butter
• Bourbon Apple Brandy Cocktail - Features a curious thyme simple syrup infusion

Pair these cocktails with our Boozy Cherries® – Bourbon Cocktail Cherries for the ultimate fall entertaining experience. These handcrafted Kentucky bourbon cherries add the perfect Southern touch to any autumn gathering.

Your Fall Apple Adventure Starts Here

With so many apple varieties available, there's no excuse not to experiment this fall season. Whether you're baking your first apple crisp or crafting the perfect bourbon cocktail, choosing the right apple variety will elevate your culinary creations.

Fall is here, and apple season is in full swing!

Cheers!

MK