Whether they’re destined for baked goods, sauces, or just fresh snacks, the delicious apple varieties in our shop this fall are the perfect picks no matter what.
RED DELICIOUS
The Look: Heart-shaped, with smooth, thick skin that’s a deep ruby-red
The Taste: A refreshing apple with a mild flavor, Red Delicious apples were selectively bred for aesthetics and color first, so over time their sweetness has mellowed in favor of deep crimson skin
The Texture: Somewhat tough skin with a lightly crisp crunch
Fun Fact: One of the most recognizable apples, Red Delicious was the US’ best-selling apple until 2018 when Gala snuck into the top spot
HONEYCRISP
The Look: Jumbo-sized with glossy yellow-green skin covered in a scarlet blush that reddens the longer it’s exposed to sunlight
The Taste: Honey-sweet, juicy, and incredibly crisp
The Best Use: Thanks to a high water content, they’re best eaten fresh. Try thick slices paired with blue cheese and honey, or cut into matchsticks with turnips, cabbage, and an olive oil-based dressing for a light, refreshing slaw
ORIN
The Look: Similar to Granny Smith apples with bright yellow-green, speckled skin
The Taste: Sugary, full, and juicy with faint notes of pear and pineapple
The Best Use: With their sweet, firm flesh, we love eating them fresh. Add thin slices to a BLT for a surprisingly sweet crunch, or simply enjoy them on their own for a fuss-free dessert
PINK LADY
The Look: Rose-hued skin with occasional flecks of yellow-green
The Taste: Honey-sweet
The Texture: Very firm with a clean, snappy bite
The Best Use: Baking—it absorbs flavors and holds its structure well when cooked—or eating as-is
KANZI
The Look: Glossy, vibrant red-orange-striped skin that glows green towards the stem
The Taste: A perfect balance of sweet and tangy
The Texture: Dense and crunchy
The Best Use: Anything raw, like shaved in slaws, chopped into salads, or sliced for snacking.
GRANNY SMITH
The Look: Bright, shiny green skin, often dotted with dark lenticels* (tiny dark spots, which are a harmless cosmetic marking that splatter many apple varieties)
The Taste: Tart, mouth-puckering flavor
The Texture: Distinct crisp, crunchy bite
The Best Use: Shred it over salads with greens and tangy cheese (like blue or goat). Too sour? Try it baked—butter and sugar mellow out its acidity to strike a sweet-tart balance
GALA
The Look: Smooth, pale golden skin with subtle red striping that darkens in color the longer it’s stored
The Taste: On the sweeter side with a light floral aroma
The Best Use: While a firm flesh makes Galas superb snacks or salad add-ins, they truly shine when used for homemade applesauces
FUJI
The Look: Medium-sized and covered with a rosy flush, save for yellowish-green patches at the stem and the base
The Taste: Quite sweet with a slight tang
The Texture: A crisp, granular bite
The Best Use: Fuji apples are an excellent snacking apple but if cooking’s on your mind, they’re best used for sauces and baked in crisps with warm spices.
GOLDEN DELICIOUS
The Look: Vibrant golden-colored skin that deepens the longer it’s left on the tree
The Taste: Intensely sweet, candied flavor—when at its freshest, it almost tastes like sugarcane
The Best Use: Exceptional for baking of all kinds since its structure holds up when cooked
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PINOVA
The Look: Thin, vibrant skin with patchy pinkish-red and yellow-orange coloring
The Taste: Crisp, juicy, and sweet, with a faint tropical aroma
The Best Use: Since their skin resists browning, they’re an apple-of-all-trades. Enjoy fresh, baked, cooked, or frozen. (Yes, you can freeze apples!)
ENVY
The Look: Striped ruby red skin with warm yellow undertones
The Taste: Sweet, with floral and vanilla notes and a hint of tartness
The Best Use: Eaten by the slice—they don’t brown that quickly once cut—or diced and added to pies, fruit crumbles, or savory recipes (apple pierogies, anyone?)
MCINTOSH
The Look: A petite, small- to medium-sized round apple with a short stem, red skin, and green flush
The Taste: Sweet, with a hint of berry notes
The Best Use: Best known as a dessert apple since its small structure cooks quickly, we like them baked into desserts like apple crisp with a big heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream (though this sweet-tart variety is delicious in homemade ciders, too)
ROSALYNN
The Look: Medium-sized and slightly squat, with an occasional yellow undertone peeking through the deep magenta blush
The Taste: Sweet-tart and subtly floral, with a hint of cherry and spice
The Texture: Firm and crisp
The Best Use: Slow to brown when sliced and nicely firm when cooked, this versatile variety excels in everything from cheese plates to sausage bakes
I WANT APPLES FOR…
Sauce: Go with ones that have both sweetness and a snappy crunch, such as Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Pinova.
Cider: Try a blend of sweet (Fuji, Gala) and tart (Pink Lady, McIntosh) apples for balanced flavor. The warming spices are important here, too.
Pies and baked treats: You’ll want apples that hold their shape well—AKA don’t turn to complete mush when baked. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, and Braeburn are all good options.
Savory dishes: Gala is a great go-to. It’s sweet enough to complement savory flavors but mild enough to not overpower the dish as a whole.
WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THOSE TINY BLACK SPOTS?
They’re called lenticels and they’re a harmless cosmetic marking that splatter many apple varieties, most commonly the Granny Smith.
Only have a few minutes? Here’s a quick look at the sweet and crisp levels of your favorite apples:
Ready to start cooking apples? Make the most out of apple season with one of our favorite apple recipes:
Crispy Chicken Normandy with Apples
Apple Salad with Toasted Walnuts, Blue Cheese, and Pomegranate
Caramelized Onion and Apple Grilled Cheese
Bobby Flay’s Apple Crostata with Apple Cider Glaze