Tips

6 Best Apples for Baking Pies

It’s the first day of Fall and you may have a trip to the apple orchard on your Fall bucket list!  If you’re anything like me, I have grand ideas of baking all the apples but then when it’s time for pies, you go totally blank on which ones are tart or sweet or which ones actually hold their cut shape instead of mushing up a bit.

I’ve spent a time or two standing in the grocery store looking up the best baking apples for pies and I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen to you!  Here’s a list of my six favorite baking apples for pies.  I’ll say it again that this is just my personal opinion, feel free to use your favorites.  I base my opinions based on past use/success and longest availability.

Jonagolds– This cross between a Jonathon and Golden Delicious is tart with a sweet honey undertone and retain their shape. They’re an awesome pie apple! Just a note, they don’t keep well so only get them in season when you’re planning to use them right away.

Granny Smith– A great tart apple that retains its shape while baking. Pairs well with Gala, Braeburn or even Pink Lady for sweet apples for a balance pie mix.

Rome Beauty– This is a mild apple. While it generally retains it’s shape it’ll get quite soft. Because of this, mix it with another firm apple like Granny Smith or Braeburn depending on your flavor preference. Also good for applesauce.

Winesap– A great, deep cider taste and they keep their shape while baking. Wonderful depth of flavor especially when you get those pie spices in there!

Gala– Mildly Sweet. It keeps its shape but pairs well with another firmer apple for best results in pie. Popular snack apple.

Braeburn– This apple is sweet with a slight citrus spice. It retains its shape while it bakes but does slightly soften. Also great for applesauce or just eating for a snack.

Bonus for those in Michigan:

Northern Spy– Tart & Sweet/Slight Spice/Hard to find (personal favorite)

I’m not in Michigan but when traveling to our favorite vacation spot, Traverse City, no stop is complete without a slice (or four) of apple crumb pie at Grand Traverse Pie Company.  They use Northern Spies and the taste is simply the perfect apple pie in my humble opinion.  These apples are so perfect, I make sure I raid the farm stands and buy a bag or two to take home and make my Thanksgiving apple pies with them for that year.

I’m not expecting you to remember all of that but you can pin or save the quick reference pic below so you don’t have to stand in the apple orchard or grocery store trying to figure out which ones to pick!

Save to your phone for quick grocery store reference!

Need some recipes to put those apples to use?  Here are my faves!

Apple Donuts with Maple Cider Glaze
Apple Scones with Vanilla Chai Glaze
Mile High Apple Crumb Cookie Butter Pie

If you made applesauce, consider making this delicious Applesauce Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting!

Happy Fall everyone!  Feel free to tell me your favorite pie apples in the comments!

Shared with Pieced Pastimes, Nifty Thrifty Things, DIY Show Off, Finding Silver Pennies, Create with Joy, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Mad in Crafts, Creating My Way to Success, Tumbleweed Contessa, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Yesterday on Tuesday, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, Home Stories A to Z, Life Sew Savory,

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Written By

I'm a long time cook/baker that makes food centric recipe videos to help the novice cook or welcome a seasoned cook that wants to focus on the food. I'm passionate about both Christmas and cooking. Once my baking gene gets activated in September, I want to bake all the things. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and come on into my kitchen!

3 Comments

  1. Hi, Mrs. Kringle, such perfect timing! I’m popping by to let you know that I’ve pinned to the Party Board and am Featuring your post tonight on Shoestring Elegance’s What to do Weekends party! Thanks so much for sharing with us. Please keep doing it!
    Best,
    Theresa

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