33 Stunning Heirloom Apple Desserts
Updated: Jan. 5, 2022When you want a classic dessert that's as beautiful as it is delicious, go for apples! There's no rule that says apple pie has to be plain—pull out the stops with these stunning desserts.
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Autumn Surprise Pie
What better way to welcome fall than with a homemade pie? This one calls for apples, pears and raisins flavored with rum extract. —Karen Gauvreau, Portage, Michigan 2 / 33
Spiced Apple Cheesecake
When you live in apple country, you get the privilege of selecting the apples and recipes you want for year-round enjoyment. Granny Smith apples are tart and crisp. Combined with cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg, they make a delightful topping for a cheesecake of the Pacific Northwest. —Grace Hughes, Oroville, Washington
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Apple-Pumpkin Upside-Down Cake
We love the combination of classic fall fruits in this cake. I bake the apples on the bottom to keep them plump and moist, then flip the cake so they're on top. This is best served warm with vanilla ice cream, but we enjoy digging in any time of day. —Christina Yahraes, San Francisco, California 4 / 33
Oma's Apfelkuchen (Grandma's Apple Cake)
My husband’s German family calls this Oma’s apfelkuchen, “Grandma’s apple cake.” They’ve been sharing the recipe for more than 150 years. I use Granny Smith apples, but any variety works. —Amy Kirchen, Loveland, Ohio 5 / 33
Apple Bavarian Torte
A cookie-like crust holds the sensational filling of cream cheese, apples and almonds. This comforting apple torte will be welcomed addition to a bake sale or potluck. —Sheila Swift, Dobson, North Carolina 6 / 33
Apple Cranberry Slab Pie
My husband loves pie, so I made one with apples, raspberries and cranberries. It’s so good, I bend the rules and let the grandkids have it for breakfast. —Brenda Smith, Curran, Michigan 7 / 33
Figgy Apple Brie Tart
Our holiday gatherings often included baked Brie. I transformed it into a dessert that’s savory and sweet. It makes a wonderful appetizer, too. —Kristie Schley, Severna Park, Maryland 8 / 33
Apple Pecan Cheesecake
This dessert definitely represents my area of the country! The recipe is an original that I developed after experimenting and combining parts of several other recipes. So I can claim this recipe as my very own! —Barbara Martin Thompson, Pollock Pines, California 9 / 33
German Apple Strudel
This classic and gorgeous strudel has just what you crave—thin layers of flaky crust and lots of juicy apples. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon 10 / 33
Browned Butter Apple Pie with Cheddar Crust
How do you make good old-fashioned apple pie even better? Enhance the crust with shredded cheddar cheese and stir browned butter into the filling. Wonderful! —Kathryn Conrad, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 11 / 33
Apple Kolaches
A fellow home cook shared this recipe for a sweet, fruit-filled pastry. My son, who isn’t a dessert fan, was disappointed when he came home to find his dad had polished off the last kolache in the batch. —Ann Johnson, Evansville, Indiana 12 / 33
Apple-Walnut Cake with Orange Glaze
I tinkered with a plain apple cake recipe to create this moist, delicious winner. The result: old-fashioned goodness with a heavenly aroma! This cake is the perfect fall treat or holiday dessert, but it’s also great as a special breakfast or brunch item. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida 13 / 33
Apple Dumpling Roll-Ups
A family friend gave me a simple way to make apple dumplings without lots of steps. I love the sticky cinnamon topping. —Jenny Leighty, West Salem, Ohio 14 / 33
Aunt Lou's Fresh Apple Cake
My Great-Aunt Lou made a luscious fresh apple cake recipe that became a family tradition. My mom makes it for our annual beach trip to the Outer Banks. —Cristy King, Scott Depot, West Virginia 15 / 33
Hand-Held Apple Pies
When I was in high school, my best friend's mother baked this mini apple pie recipe every year. I was thrilled when she shared it with me—I finally felt like an adult! —Katie Ferrier, Houston, Texas 16 / 33
Candy Apple Pie
This is the only apple pie my husband will eat, but that’s all right since he makes it as often as I do. Like a combination of apple and pecan pie, it’s a sweet treat that usually tops off our holiday meals from New Year’s all the way through to Christmas! —Cindy Kleweno, Burlington, Colorado 17 / 33
Apple Cobbler Cheesecake
I call this combination of two classic desserts my “lucky” recipe. It won top honors when I entered the baking contest in my hometown’s annual apple festival. —Jay Hoover, The Villages, Florida 18 / 33
Rustic Caramel Apple Tart
Like an apple pie without the pan, this scrumptious tart has a crispy crust that cuts nicely and a yummy caramel topping. —Betty Fulks, Onia, Arkansas 19 / 33
William Tell's Never-Miss Apple Cake
I bake my family-favorite fall cake to usher in this abundant season. It looks so luscious that eating one piece is nearly impossible. —Jamie Jones, Madison, Georgia 20 / 33
Apple Frangipane Phyllo Tart
An almond-flavored frangipane creates a nutty bottom layer for my apple tart. Golden phyllo dough creates a delicate and crispy melt-in-your-mouth crust. —Jessie Sarrazin, Livingston, Montana 21 / 33
Cinnamon-Sugar Apple Pie
Apple pie baked in a cast iron skillet is a real stunner. This beauty, with its flaky, tender crust, also works in a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. —Renee Schettler Rossi, New York, New York 22 / 33
Gingersnap Rum Apple Crisp
My mother makes incredible apple crisp, and I've added a few twists of my own. We think it's best warm, with ice cream on the side. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada 23 / 33
Caramel-Apple Skillet Buckle
My grandma used to bake a version of this for me when I was a little girl. She would make it using fresh apples from her tree in the backyard. I've adapted her recipe because I love the combination of apples, pecans and caramel. —Emily Hobbs, Springfield, Missouri 24 / 33
Cinnamon-Pecan Apple Dumplings
The sweet dessert dumplings are easy to make and especially delicious. I recommend making extra sauce—people can’t seem to get enough of it. —Cynthia Gonzales, Mercedes, Texas 25 / 33
Caramel-Pecan Apple Pie
You'll love the smell in your kitchen—and the smiles on everybody's faces—when you make this scrumptious caramel apple pie recipe. It takes me back home to Virginia, to my granny's table. —Jean Castro, Phoenix, Arizona 26 / 33
Autumn Apple Torte
During apple season, I always look forward to making this yummy torte. It has a cream cheese layer and apples galore. —Margaret Wilson, San Bernardino, California 27 / 33
Caramel Apple Cheesecake
This apple cheesecake won the grand prize in an apple recipe contest. With caramel both on the bottom and over the top, every bite is sinfully delicious. —Lisa Morman, Minot, North Dakota 28 / 33
Cran-Apple Praline Gingerbread
Start with a spice-rich batter poured atop apples and cranberries in a creamy caramel sauce, then invert when done baking for a topsy-turvy dessert that’s a real beauty. The old-time holiday taste will delight family and friends! —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota 29 / 33
Apple-Spice Angel Food Cake
I dressed up an angel food cake mix with some nuts, spice and applesauce to make an easy and light dessert. I serve it with a dollop of whipped topping mixed with a half cup of sour cream. —Joan Buehnerkemper, Teutopolis, Illinois 30 / 33
Dutch Cranberry-Apple Pie
Fresh cranberries bring tongue-tingling tartness and a bright, lively color to classic apple pie. With orange peel, spices and a crumb topping, this is a favorite with my family. —Jerri Gradert, Lincoln, Nebraska 31 / 33
Dutch Apple Cake
My husband and I came to Canada from Holland more than 40 years ago. This traditional Dutch recipe is a family favorite and has frequently gone along with me to potluck suppers and other get-togethers. —Elizabeth Peters, Martintown, Ontario 32 / 33
Upside-Down Apple Pie
This pie has won eight ribbons at area fairs. People say it looks and tastes like a giant apple-cinnamon bun. I take time off from work around the holidays to fill pie requests from family and friends. The recipe has become everyone's favorite. —Susan Frisch, Germansville, Pennsylvania 33 / 33
Lattice-Topped Apple Pie
You can’t beat my mom’s yummy apple pie. Pretty as a picture, the golden crust is flaky and the filling has just the right amount of spices. —Anne Halfhill, Sunbury, Ohio Originally Published: July 26, 2018
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