The variety of an apple really matters when you are planning to cook or bake with it, perhaps more than any other type of fruit. Whether you're at a farm stand or the grocery store, there are so many to choose from—and you've got to choose wisely when picking baking apples.
An apple that tastes great eaten as a snack might break down in the oven and become too mushy for a pie filling, for example. Or perhaps given the low-sugar content of a particular recipe, a super tart apple isn't the best choice, and a sweeter variety might be the way to go.
Here are our Test Kitchen's best apple picks for whatever dish you're making.
![Apple Cinnamon Roll Pie](https://www.southernliving.com/thmb/bl9Mu6DttmxgVx9DTfZpoOGSQT0=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/apple_cinnamon_roll_pie_0_0-2000-78ef0522dd5e40629902bf148dafb781.jpg)
Best Apples for Savory Dishes
Although Golden Delicious apples are often overlooked, their mild flavor complements grilled cheese sandwiches, roasted proteins like pork and chicken, and green salads. This type of apple will also hold its shape fairly well, making it a nice addition to roasted vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and fennel.
![Skillet Pork Chops with Apples and Onions](https://www.southernliving.com/thmb/ezwMcueICDZ_PY7bx28MI65l4bw=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/skillet_pork_chops_with_apples_and_onions_2262401_qfsja_320_0_0_0_1-8354162fac07430a9acb202e309d42a5-2c87c25314c24740aaeebac204859250.jpg)
Becky Luigart Stayner
Best Apples for Pies
Typically, we like to use a mix of apples in an apple pie filling for a more complex flavor and nice amount of texture. But if the Test Kitchen were to choose just one type, they'd pick Granny Smith apples. This tart variety tastes great with brown sugar and warm spices like cinnamon and ginger, and has a firm texture won't break down during longer cook times.
![Old-Fashioned Apple Pie](https://www.southernliving.com/thmb/fi3aPea-dRvahcmk42j0M-hoKc4=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/2589601_mailb_mailbox_apple_pie_003_0_0-2000-de5c23bb4c4e433fb6d5547d19cb3bcd-e219a711b4b94df792dcd2c8fd997d6a.jpg)
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Best Apple For Baking Whole
True to their name, Honeycrisp apples are crunchy and sweet and will also hold their shape when cored and baked. Fill them with brown sugar, chopped nuts, apple pie spice, and butter for a fantastic fall treat.
Best Apples For Baked Applesauce
If you've never turned roasted apples into applesauce, you're really missing out. Roasting will caramelize the apples, bringing out their natural sweetness. We recommend McIntosh apples for applesauce, whether you make it in the oven or stovetop. When cooked, this variety has a smooth, almost creamy texture that's ideal for sauces and purées.
The Best Apples For Baking By Variety | ||
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Apple Variety | What To Use It For | Recipe To Use It In |
Granny Smith | Use this variety in pie fillings, crisps, and any other recipe where you want the apples to keep their shape. It's also great used in combination with a sweeter variety for a balanced apple flavor. | Granny Smith Apple Pie |
Honeycrisp | Crisp, juicy, and sweet-tart, this is a great all-purpose apple. When baked, the skin of this variety maintains its rosy hue, making it a great option for desserts where the apples are on prominent display, like tarts. | Buttery Apple-Almond Cake |
Braeburn | Braeburns pair well with warm spices and stay firm when baked, so this is a great apple for pies, crisps, and cobblers. | Easy Skillet Apple Pie |
Jonagold | This sweeter apple holds its shape well and pairs nicely with tart apples to create perfectly balanced baked goods. | Big-Batch Apple-Cinnamon Pancakes |
Pink Lady | Tarter than Honeycrisp apples, but just as crisp, these apples are great used in sweeter batters or doughs. | Auntie's Apple Cake |
Golden Delicious | This apple may lack the acidic punch of a Granny Smith apple, but its well-rounded sweetness makes it a great choice for both sweet and savoy applications. | Golden Delicious Sticky Buns |
McIntosh | When cooked, this creamy-fleshed apple breaks down and becomes very soft, so it's best used in applications where you want super tender apple pieces or want to create an apple puree or sauce. | Instant Pot Applesauce |
Gala | The thin skin on this apple means it can be enjoyed unpeeled in desserts, adding a pop of red color to apple tarts, pies, and more. On the sugary side, it also pairs well with lemon juice and zest. | Apple Dumplings With Bourbon-Caramel Sauce |
Fuji | A sweeter apple like Fuji is best paired with assertive flavors like ground cloves or cinnamon. Grated into recipes, this juicy apple also adds a lot of moisture to baked goods. | Apple Spice Cake |