Apples never let me down. They show up year-round, they smell incredible when they bake, and they somehow make my kitchen feel like a cozy bakery with almost zero effort. If you love apple dessert recipes as much as I do, you’re in the right place.

I’ve tested a ridiculous number of apple sweets over the years. Some flopped. Some turned into “just one more bite” situations at midnight. Today, I’m sharing 17 apple dessert recipes that actually deserve your time. Ready to make your house smell amazing? Let’s go. 🍎

1. Classic Apple Pie

You can’t talk about apple dessert recipes without starting here. Apple pie feels nostalgic, comforting, and slightly dramatic when you pull it out of the oven bubbling like lava.

Ingredients

• 2 prepared pie crusts
• 6 cups sliced apples (Granny Smith + Honeycrisp work great)
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp butter

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Toss apples with sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice.
3. Place one crust in a pie dish and fill with apples.
4. Dot with butter, top with second crust, and seal edges.
5. Bake for 50–60 minutes until golden and bubbly.

Pro tip: Let it cool before slicing. I know it’s hard. Trust me.

2. Easy Apple Crisp

When I feel lazy but still want something impressive, I make apple crisp. No crust drama. Just fruit and crumble.

Ingredients

Filling:

• 5 cups sliced apples
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Topping:

• 1 cup oats
• ½ cup flour
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup butter (cold, cubed)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix apples with sugar and cinnamon. Spread in baking dish.
3. Combine topping ingredients until crumbly.
4. Sprinkle over apples.
5. Bake 35–40 minutes until golden.

Serve warm with ice cream. Because obviously.

3. Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Cheesecake plus apples plus caramel? That’s not a suggestion. That’s a requirement.

Ingredients

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• ½ cup melted butter
• 16 oz cream cheese
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups diced apples
• ½ cup caramel sauce

Instructions

1. Press graham crumbs and butter into a pan.
2. Beat cream cheese, sugar, and eggs. Spread over crust.
3. Add diced apples.
4. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 35–40 minutes.
5. Cool and drizzle caramel.

These bars disappear fast. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

4. Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Need breakfast that feels like dessert? These muffins handle that beautifully.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup diced apples

Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients.
2. Stir in wet ingredients and apples.
3. Fill muffin cups ¾ full.
4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 18–22 minutes.

They freeze well. Not that they’ll last that long.

5. Apple Turnovers

Store-bought puff pastry saves the day. I love shortcuts that still taste fancy.

Ingredients

• 1 sheet puff pastry
• 2 cups diced apples
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 egg (for egg wash)

Instructions

1. Cook apples, sugar, and cinnamon for 5 minutes.
2. Cut pastry into squares.
3. Spoon filling inside, fold, and seal.
4. Brush with egg wash.
5. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes.

Golden, flaky, and totally Instagram-worthy.

6. Apple Bread

Apple bread feels like banana bread’s cooler cousin. IMO, it tastes even better the next day.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup oil
• 1½ cups chopped apples

Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients.
2. Stir in wet ingredients and apples.
3. Pour into loaf pan.
4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 50–60 minutes.

Slice thick. Add butter. Smile. 🙂

7. Apple Crumble Bars

Think apple pie, but easier to slice and share.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup butter
• ¾ cup sugar
• 3 cups sliced apples
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Mix flour, butter, and sugar into crumbs.
2. Press half into pan.
3. Add apples with cinnamon.
4. Sprinkle remaining crumbs.
5. Bake 40 minutes at 350°F.

They taste amazing chilled too.

8. Baked Apples

Want something simple and cozy? Baked apples feel like a hug.

Ingredients

• 4 apples (cored)
• 4 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 4 small butter cubes

Instructions

1. Stuff each apple with sugar and cinnamon.
2. Top with butter.
3. Bake at 375°F for 30–35 minutes.

They smell unreal. Ever wondered why simple desserts feel so comforting?

9. Apple Galette

A galette looks fancy but takes less effort than pie. Win-win.

Ingredients

• 1 pie crust
• 4 cups sliced apples
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Roll crust on baking sheet.
2. Place apples in center.
3. Fold edges over filling.
4. Bake at 375°F for 40 minutes.

Rustic desserts always impress guests.

10. Apple Dump Cake

Yes, it’s called dump cake. Yes, it works.

Ingredients

• 2 cans apple pie filling
• 1 box yellow cake mix
• ½ cup melted butter

Instructions

1. Spread pie filling in pan.
2. Sprinkle cake mix evenly.
3. Drizzle butter on top.
4. Bake 45 minutes at 350°F.

No mixing. No stress. Just results.

11. Apple Fritters

These taste like bakery-level magic.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup diced apples
• Oil for frying

Instructions

1. Mix ingredients into thick batter.
2. Drop spoonfuls into hot oil.
3. Fry until golden.
4. Drain and glaze.

They disappear in minutes. FYI.

12. Apple Tart

Sleek. Elegant. Slightly dramatic.

Ingredients

• 1 tart crust
• 3 apples (thinly sliced)
• ¼ cup sugar
• 2 tbsp apricot jam

Instructions

1. Arrange apple slices neatly.
2. Sprinkle sugar.
3. Bake 35 minutes at 375°F.
4. Brush with warmed jam.

Looks like you trained in Paris.

13. Apple Pancake Bake

Weekend brunch just leveled up.

Ingredients

• 2 cups pancake mix
• 1½ cups milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups diced apples
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients.
2. Pour into greased dish.
3. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.

Drizzle syrup generously. No regrets.

14. Apple Hand Pies

Portable happiness.

Ingredients

• Pie crust dough
• 2 cups diced apples
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Cut dough into circles.
2. Add filling.
3. Seal edges.
4. Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.

Perfect for parties or late-night cravings.

15. Apple Cobbler

Soft topping, juicy filling, zero complaints.

Ingredients

• 5 cups sliced apples
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup butter

Instructions

1. Melt butter in baking dish.
2. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, milk.
3. Pour batter over butter.
4. Add apples on top.
5. Bake 40–45 minutes at 350°F.

Magic happens in the oven.

16. Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Yes, you can improve cinnamon rolls. Just add apples.

Ingredients

• 1 batch cinnamon roll dough
• 1 cup diced apples
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Roll out dough.
2. Sprinkle apples, sugar, cinnamon.
3. Roll and slice.
4. Bake 25 minutes at 350°F.

Top with cream cheese frosting. Obviously.

17. Apple Ice Cream

Fresh, creamy, and surprisingly simple.

Ingredients

• 2 cups apple puree
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Blend ingredients.
2. Pour into ice cream maker.
3. Churn according to instructions.
4. Freeze until firm.

It tastes like fall in frozen form.

Why Apple Dessert Recipes Always Win

Apples bring natural sweetness, texture, and balance. They work in pies, cakes, bars, and even ice cream. You can bake them, fry them, or freeze them. They adapt to whatever mood you’re in.

Plus, apple dessert recipes feel nostalgic without feeling boring. That’s a rare combo.

Final Thoughts

These 17 apple dessert recipes prove one thing: apples never get old. You can keep it classic with pie or get creative with cheesecake bars and ice cream. Either way, your kitchen will smell incredible.

So tell me— which one will you bake first? Or will you “accidentally” make two? I won’t judge. Grab those apples and start baking. 🍏