September is peak apple-picking season, so you may have ventured out to an orchard in the last month to stock up on the early fall fruit. When you store them properly, your fresh apples will last for a few weeks, but time is already ticking. If you want to make sure none of the fruit you picked goes to waste, you’ll have to figure out something to do with it—and soon. I’ve created this list of some of my favorite fruit-centric ideas, ranging from the commonplace to the less-usual. Take a look at whatever you already have in your fridge and pantry, and give the corresponding apple ideas a try. You may just find your new favorite fruit recipe.
1. Apple pie
If you don’t make an apple pie, did you really even go apple picking? Apple pie may just be one of the most iconic dishes of the season, and because it utilizes so much fruit, it’s an ideal way to use up all that leftover fruit you have on hand. Your best bet is to make a few at a time. You can share the leftovers with friends or simply freeze the extras to enjoy later in the season.
2. Applesauce
When the idea of coming up with yet another fruit-focused recipe feels like too much to bear, just make apple sauce. Cook your fruit down and add some warming spices into the mix, and you’ll have an easy fruit side or topping that you can keep in the fridge. I personally love adding a dollop of applesauce to pork chops or enjoying some on the side of a hearty weekend breakfast.
3. Apple muffins
Maybe you don’t want to go through the grueling process of making an apple pie from scratch—I can’t blame you. Put your fruit to good use by baking it into muffins instead. They’re easier and less finicky to make than pie, and you can make a huge batch without a ton of extra effort. Pass them out to friends and neighbors, and freeze the rest for easy early morning breakfasts.
4. Apple stuffing
You may not be used to adding fruit to your stuffing, but it’s a delicious addition that can add a zip of acidity and a subtle sweetness to the dish. You’ll likely want to bake the fruit down a bit before adding it to the stuffing mixture to ensure it’s not too hard, but feel free to capitalize on that celery-like crunch if you’re going for a more textured stuffing.