10 Great Ways To Use Apples This Fall

When autumn arrives, apples are the undisputed star. Nothing quite compares with a trip to a local orchard or farmers’ market where you can find fresh-picked fruit that’s juicy, crunchy and just plain wonderful. Like many seasonal favorites, apples typically fill a few tried-and-true roles in the kitchen. Of course, they’re terrific for eating out of hand, packing a powerful nutritious punch of fiber and Vitamin C. But apples can headline in a variety of uses that demand minimum prep or skill. Ready to take your apple eating to the next level? Check out some of our favorite ways to enjoy orchard-fresh apples.

Make an old-fashioned cuppa by steeping apple peels in boiling water. For one cup of tea, add a cinnamon stick, a few cloves and, if you want a little zing, the zest of one lemon to 8 ounces of boiling water. Steep 10 minutes. Sweeten with honey or your favorite sweetener. This is a delicious cup of tea that’s rich in nutrients, thanks to the peel’s Vitamins A, K and C (peels contain half an apple’s Vitamin C content), folate and quercetin (helpful in lung and brain function). Vary the spices to shift the flavor to hit other notes, like exotic five-spice, allspice or pumpkin pie spice.

Give classic cabbage slaw a sweet twist by swapping out some of the cabbage for thinly sliced apples for an apple slaw recipe. A mix of red and green apples cut into matchstick-size pieces creates a colorful dish. Add green and red cabbage, roasted pistachio nuts and shredded carrots to complete the pretty side salad. Use a traditional coleslaw dressing, or whisk together an apple cider vinaigrette. Remember to toss apple pieces with diluted lemon juice to prevent oxidation or browning.

Don’t toss those apple peels, unless you’re adding them to your compost pile, which is a great idea in fall when dried leaves overwhelm compost with brown matter. Apple peels are versatile in the kitchen, filling roles from salad topper, to pot cleaner (they work wonders on stained aluminum cookware, thanks to the acid they contain), to pancake and waffle ingredient (chop and mix into batter with a little cinnamon—yum!). Or turn apple peels into a can’t-resist snack by tossing with melted butter, cinnamon-sugar mix and a pinch of salt. Spread on a baking sheet and roast at 400°F for 10-12 minutes. Store in an airtight container.