10 Kid-Friendly Apple Recipes to Make With Your Orchard Harvest
Ah, apple-picking—it’s classic fall family fun. So fun, in fact, it’s easy to go a little overboard. How can you resist those luscious, round apples just ripe for the plucking? Plus, little hands love filling those bags and buckets to the brim. When you get home and start feeling overwhelmed by your impressive orchard haul, take a peek at these inspired apple recipes, perfect for the whole family. Your stash of apples will disappear faster than you can say “apple pie.”
Whether you’re feeding a baby or a hungry big kid, applesauce is a parent’s go-to. And with a bushel of apples now stashed in your kitchen, it’s the ideal fall recipe. This version from Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain is made in the crock pot, so you can toss in the ingredients, hit “start” and have more time to play with your kids (or run those errands) while it cooks. Another selling point: This applesauce uses honey instead of sugar for a healthier sweet note.
Get the recipe: AgainstAllGrain.com
It’s fall—which means it’s not only apple-picking season, but it’s back-to-school season as well. This easy-breezy after-school snack (or healthy sweet treat) uses up a bunch of apples and provides the perfect brain food for kids. Start with a base of sliced apples, then load them up with toppings of your choice. This recipe from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen calls for nuts, raisins, nut butter, chocolate, coconut flakes and a special homemade caramel.
Get the recipe: LexisCleanKitchen.com
Kids are renown picky eaters, but if there’s one thing that’s a near-universal crowd-pleaser, it’s burgers. In this recipe from My Fussy Eater, the standard burger gets a sweet, healthy upgrade, sure to entice even those little ones who aren’t fans of chicken. We love this unique way to incorporate apples into a nutritious dinner.
Get the recipe: MyFussyEaster.com
Mini apple pies your kids can hold in the palm of their little hands? Yes, please! And they’re surprisingly easy to make, thanks to this recipe from Confessions of a Mommyaholic, so the kids can even help with the baking. Drizzle on some frosting for a extra-tasty touch.
Get the recipe: JanieHuldie.com
A brilliant trick to making meals in a jiffy? Throwing all the ingredients onto a single sheet pan and popping it in the oven. This colorful combo from Cooking Classy is full of autumn goodness, including apples, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, sausage and other tasty additions. And since it’s all pre-chopped, it makes for great kid-friendly finger food.
Get the recipe: CookingClassy.com
They look (and taste) super-decadent, but these seasonal pancakes from Food Fanatic have a healthy kick, thanks to the whole wheat flour, low-fat milk, yogurt and fresh apples, which are incorporated into the batter and used for toppings. The cinnamon, brown sugar and spices will fill your home with the aromas of a freshly baked apple pie and have your kids begging for a bite.
Get the recipe: FoodFanatic.com
For kids ready to chomp down on some delicious pork chops, this is the perfect autumn-inspired apple recipe, from Aggie’s Kitchen. You get to use your orchard haul in not one but two ways: Slice up your apples for a tasty pork chop topping (little ones love the sweetness), and pour in your apple cider to make a scrumptious sauce. The recipe calls for hard apple cider—don’t worry, the alcohol cooks off, making them kid-safe—but you can use regular cider or apple juice if you’d prefer. Since the chops are thin and boneless, they cook up pretty quickly, making this a great mid-week family meal.
Get the recipe: AggiesKitchen.com
Oatmeal is a nutritious breakfast option for the whole family—but left to its own devices, it can get a little dull. Spice things up with this autumn-inspired recipe from Simply Sissom. It’s jam-packed with flavorful fall ingredients, like apples, cinnamon, maple syrup and a special pumpkin pie syrup. You can throw it together quickly, whip it up the night before or freeze the spiced apple slices for future meals.
Get the recipe: SimplySissom.com
It’s simple, it’s sweet, and it’s a classic kid favorite. These baked apples from Happy Healthy Mama are dusted with cinnamon for a dessert-like flavor but don’t have any added sugar—something parents will appreciate. They’re soft and easy to pick up, perfect for tots who’ve graduated from purees and are working on self-feeding.
Get the recipe: HappyHealthyMama.com
Did you happen to pick up a pumpkin at the apple orchard? You’re in luck: This delicious and deceptively healthy recipe from The Seasoned Mom calls for apples and pumpkin. Moist and full of flavor, these muffins—made with whole wheat flour—make for a great snack or after-dinner treat.
Get the recipe: TheSeasonedMom.com
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