Fall Apple Guide: The Best Varieties to Bake, Cook, Blend, and Eat

Don’t look now, but it’s apple season! With over 7,500 apple varieties grown across the entire world, it’s difficult to remember which apples are in-season, which make the best pies, and which are best eaten raw. To help you out, we’ve listed some popular apples in the United States, when they’re in season, and how you can use them. Let’s get cooking!

There’s nothing better than a slice of warm apple pie topped with some vanilla ice cream. It’s okay to let your mouth water a little bit. 

When baking, you need to pick an apple with the appropriate texture. Spending time on perfecting a fall apple dish only to take a bite of mushy apple is, to say the least, quite a disappointment! To avoid this, make sure that you pick an apple that is crisp enough to withstand the oven, and that has a good balance of sweet and tart taste. 

Remember, you can also mix multiple types of apples to create a variety of flavors — it never hurts to experiment a little! Before starting that new recipe you’ve been wanting to try, put on a trusted pair of reading glasses to help you see the measurements correctly. 

Recommended Apples — 

• Granny Smith 
• Golden Delicious 
• Honeycrisp 
• Cortland 
• Empire 
• Jonathan 

One of our favorite parts about fall is when we see cider hit the stands in the grocery store. The sweet and spicy combination that’s unique to apple cider is the perfect companion to a crisp fall day. This year, we challenge you to make a batch of your own! 

To get all the right flavors for a balanced cider (sweet, bitter, sharp), apple cider typically requires a blend of apples. This chart shows a standard ration of the three flavors to use when making a hearty cider. If it’s your first time making cider, try this simple recipe. 

Recommended Apples — 

• Gala 
• Fuji 
• Winesap 
• McIntosh 
• Cortland 
• Honeycrisp 

You can really use any apples you would like when making applesauce, but for convenience we recommend soft apples. Not only will they be easier to cut, but they’ll also cook faster than harder apples. 

Applesauce is one of our favorite fall treats because you can adjust your recipe as needed, adding more cinnamon here, a little nutmeg there. Make a big batch, refrigerate, and enjoy! 

Recommended Apples — 

• Cortland 
• Jonagold 
• Winesap 
• Fuji 
• Granny Smith

There’s nothing worse than biting into a subpar apple. Although fall is the time in which apples are in season, some are tastier when eaten raw, whereas other apples might be better in an applesauce or pie. 

The first thing to remember is that certain apples are in season during certain months. So, for the freshest taste, pick apples that are at their peak. Having trouble reading the apple names from the produce stickers? Reading glasses can make sure you’re not getting your Fujis and Galas confused.   

Recommended Apples — 

• Honeycrisp 
• Braeburn 
• Fuji 
• Gala 
• Golden Delicious 
• McIntosh 
• Empire 

Have trouble reading the apple names from the produce stickers? Reading glasses can make sure you’re not getting your Fujis and Galas confused.  

We all know that apples are in season in the fall, but what some might not know is which part of fall. Some varieties are best in late August, whereas others are at their peak in November. Below are different apple varieties, organized by when they’re in season. 

Summer Apples (poor storage apples) — 

Earligold 

• In season: mid- to-late-July 
• Flavor: tart 
• Must refrigerate 

Hawaii 

• In season: mid- to-late-July 
• Flavor: tart 
• Must refrigerate 

Rambo 

• In season: mid- to-late-July 
• Flavor: tart 
• Must refrigerate 

Akane 

• In season: late July to late August 
• Flavor: tart 

Mollie’s Delicious 

• In season: mid-August to mid-September 
• Flavor: sweet 

Fall Apples (good storage apples)

Gala 

• In season: mid-August to late October 
• Flavor: sweet 

Honeycrisp 

• In season: mid-August to late September 
• Flavor: sweet + tart 

Empire 

• In season: late August to mid-October 
• Flavor: sweet 

Jonathan 

• In season: early September to mid-November 
• Flavor: tart 

Cortland 

• In season: early September to mid-November 
• Flavor: sweet 

Red Delicious 

• In season: mid-September to mid-November 
• Flavor: sweet 

Jonagold: 

• In season: mid-September to mid-November 
• Flavor: sweet 

Winter Apples (best storage apples)

Melrose 

• In season: mid-September to late October 
• Flavor: tart 

Ida Red 

• In season: mid-September to mid-November 
• Flavor: tart 

Turley Winesap 

• In season: late September to mid-November 
• Flavor: tart 

Mutsu 

• In season: late September to late October 
• Flavor: sweet + tart 

Stayman Winesap 

• In season: early October to mid-November 
• Flavor: sweet + tart 

Fuji 

• In season: early October to mid-November 
• Flavor: sweet 

Granny Smith 

• In season: early October to mid-November 
• Flavor: sour 

Black Twig 

• In season: early October to mid-November 
• Flavor: tart 

Whether you’re enjoying apples raw or in some type of baked good, do so with a cup of tea and your favorite book! Readers.com has a wide variety of styles and prescription strengths to fit your personal needs and preferences, so you can enjoy a sweet treat and a good story with ease.