You’ve basically got three great options: cook them now, preserve them for later, or use them in fun snacks and savory dishes.

Quick Scoop: Fast ideas for extra apples

1. Super simple “use-them-today” ideas

  • Slice and eat with peanut butter, almond butter, or cheese for a quick protein snack.
  • Chop into oatmeal with cinnamon and a drizzle of honey.
  • Add thin slices to grilled cheese or turkey sandwiches for a sweet crunch.
  • Toss into green salads with nuts and a tangy vinaigrette.

2. Easy big-batch recipes (great for a lot of apples)

  1. Applesauce (freezer-friendly)
    • Roughly chop apples (no need to peel if you don’t mind texture), add a bit of water, cinnamon, and a spoon of sugar if you like, then simmer until soft and mash.
 * Cool and freeze in containers or ice cube trays.
  1. Apple butter (slow cooker friendly)
    • Pile sliced apples into a slow cooker with warm spices (cinnamon, cloves), a bit of sugar, and cook low and slow until thick and spreadable.
 * Use on toast, yogurt, pancakes, or swirl into oatmeal.
  1. Apple crisp or crumble
    • Slice apples into a baking dish, toss with a little sugar and cinnamon, then top with oats, flour, butter, and brown sugar; bake until bubbly.
  1. Baked apples
    • Core apples, stuff with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then bake until tender; serve with ice cream or yogurt.

3. Sweet bakes (when you feel like baking)

  • Apple cake or apple bread: Fold chopped or grated apples into a simple loaf or cake batter; great for breakfast or snacks.
  • Apple muffins: Use any basic muffin recipe and stir in diced apples plus cinnamon.
  • Apple turnovers or strudel: Wrap spiced apples in puff pastry, bake until golden.
  • “Apple pie overnight oats”: Rolled oats + milk or yogurt + grated apple + cinnamon, rest overnight in the fridge.

4. Savory dishes with apples

  • Pork + apples: Sauté sliced apples with onions and serve alongside pork chops or roast pork.
  • Chicken or cheese quesadillas with apple: Add thin apple slices and cheese in tortillas, pan-fry until melty.
  • Slaws and salads: Shred or thinly slice apples into cabbage slaw with a tangy dressing and cheese like gorgonzola.
  • Squash & apple casserole: Combine apples, butternut squash, brown sugar, and butter, then bake as a cozy side dish.

5. Preserve or “store for later” ideas

  • Freeze:
    • Slice apples, toss with a bit of lemon juice, freeze flat on a tray, then bag; perfect later for crisps, smoothies, or baking.
  • Dehydrate:
    • Slice thinly and dry in a low oven or dehydrator for apple chips.
  • Drinks:
    • Make simple apple cider (simmer apples with spices and water, then strain) and, if you’re adventurous, ferment some into apple cider vinegar.

6. If they’re getting old or soft

  • Use in cooked recipes like applesauce, apple butter, crisps, or baked apples where texture matters less.
  • Cut off any bad spots but discard apples with moldy or fermented smells.

TL;DR: Turn extra apples into applesauce or apple butter and freeze, bake quick crisps or muffins, toss them in salads and savory dishes, or dehydrate/freeze slices so none go to waste.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.