Choosing the Best Apples for Baking, Cooking, and Snacking

At our orchard, we grow a wide variety of apples, each with its own unique flavor, texture, and best uses. Whether you’re planning a crisp fall pie, a savory apple sauce, or just a healthy snack, understanding which apple to choose can make all the difference. Here’s a helpful guide to some of our most popular apple varieties, organized by their ideal uses.

Tips: 

• When selecting apples, consider their flavor, texture, and how you plan to use them. For snacking, look for crisp, juicy varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala—they stay fresh longer and are naturally sweet, making them perfect for lunchboxes, salads, or a quick healthy snack.

• For baking, firm and tart apples such as Northern Spy, Jonathan, or Cortland hold their shape well in pies, crisps, and tarts, while softer apples like Macintosh or Ruby Macintosh add moisture and depth of flavor when combined with firmer varieties. Mixing sweet and tart apples often results in the most flavorful desserts.

• For cooking, choose apples that soften nicely when heated, like McIntosh, Ginger Gold, or Paula Red. These varieties are ideal for applesauce, baked apples, compotes, and apple butter. Remember to adjust sugar levels depending on the apple’s natural sweetness, and consider adding complementary spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice to enhance the flavor.

• Storing apples properly is also key: keep them in a cool, dry place or in the fridge to maintain crispness and prolong freshness. With the right apples and a few simple tips, you can elevate everyday recipes into truly delicious fall treats.

 

 

Apple Variety	Best for Snacking	Best for Baking	Best for Cooking	Notes / Tips
Honeycrisp	✓ Crisp, juicy, sweet			Great for salads and fresh snacking
Gala	✓ Mildly sweet, tender			Ideal for lunchboxes and fruit platters
Fuji	✓ Extra sweet, crisp		✓ Can be baked lightly	Sweetness reduces need for sugar
Paula Red	✓ Soft, sweet with tartness	✓ Good for pies when mixed	✓ Perfect for sauces	Early season favorite
Ida Red	✓ Crisp, slightly tangy			Works well with cheese
EverCrisp	✓ Sweet & crisp			Hybrid of Fuji & Honeycrisp, great all-purpose snack
Northern Spy		✓ Firm & tart	✓ Holds shape in pies	Pair with soft apples like Macintosh
Jonathan		✓ Tart, firm	✓ Great for muffins & pies	Adds tang to desserts
Jonagold		✓ Sweet-tart		Excellent for pies & crisps
Cortland		✓ Tender yet firm	✓ Softens well	Resists browning, good for baked rings
Empire		✓ Balanced sweetness	✓ Works for baked apples	Good for crisps & cobblers
Macintosh		✓ Soft & slightly tart	✓ Ideal for applesauce	Blend with firmer apples for pies
Ruby Macintosh		✓ Soft & tart	✓ Applesauce & compotes	Similar to Macintosh, slightly deeper flavor
Golden Delicious		✓ Sweet, mild	✓ Holds shape for cakes	Great for pies, tarts, and baked desserts
Ginger Gold			✓ Mildly tart, softens	Excellent for applesauce & baked dishes
Mutusu Crispon			✓ Rich flavor	Perfect for apple butter and spiced dishes

 

Visit our orchard to taste and pick from a wide range of apples: crisp snacking favorites, baking classics, and cooking stars. Find the perfect apple for every recipe and enjoy the freshest flavors straight from the tree! Check out our apple schedule to see what varieties you can expect at our farmstand.