FAQs
For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.
What is the best mix of apples for apple pie? ›
At the end of the day, choosing the best pie apples is a personal decision. My best apple pie would include a combination of these three: Cortland, for flavor; Russet, for texture; and Granny Smith, for its combination of the two.
Is a Honeycrisp apple good for baking? ›
Honeycrisp. One of the sweetest apples around, this Midwestern favorite is good for anything—including baking. It boasts a distinctive juicy crispness and is firm enough that it won't cook down much. It complements just about any other apple variety to make a stellar pie.
What is a substitute for Granny Smith apples? ›
Braeburn
As part Granny Smith, the Braeburn apple brings the same great qualities to a recipe, but it's slightly sweeter. The reddish, pink exterior with streaks of yellow and green also makes for a pretty presentation.
What is the best tasting and cooking apple? ›
For the best texture and flavor, our Test Kitchen recommends seeking out these apple varieties for use in recipes:
- Braeburn.
- Cameo.
- Cortland.
- Crispin.
- Empire.
- Fuji.
- Golden Delicious.
- Granny Smith.
What apples are best for baking or canning? ›
The best varieties for canning apples are crisp, not mealy, types. Some of the best apples for canning include Fuji, Braeburn, Jonagold, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Jazz, Honeycrisp, and Cortland.
What apples not to use for apple pie? ›
There are a few apples that don't make the cut. While great for snacking, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious are the most common apples that won't hold up in the oven and will give you a watery-mushy pie, tart or cake.
What are the best apples for apple pie Paula Deen? ›
Of course, you're not here to get a non-answer, so we'll share Paula's favorite combination with you because Paula never steers us wrong when it comes to cooking and baking! She prefers to use crisp Granny Smith apples paired with either McIntosh apples or Jonagold apples.
What kind of apples does mcdonalds use for their pies? ›
So you can put away your Granny Smiths and Red Delicious if you think you can just whip up McDonald's signature dessert at home. Instead, Mickey D's makes their pies with six different types of apples — Jonagold, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, Rome, and Ida Red, all of which are homegrown in the U.S.
What is the sweetest apple? ›
While there is an extremely wide variety of apples, all with varying flavors, the sweetest-tasting apple is fuji, followed by gala, honeycrisp, and Red Delicious apples. These apples are great for snacking and eating as is. Granny Smith, McIntosh, and Pink Lady fall on the tart end of the spectrum.
Gala: If you want extra sweetness without the soft texture, choose Gala apples for your pie. As with Golden Delicious apples, bakers sometimes reduce the sugar in their recipes due to this variety's extra-sweet flavor.
What apples are best for crisp or pie? ›
The firm and crisp Granny Smith and Honeycrisp varieties are popular apples to use in apple pies and apple crisps.
Are Gala apples good for baking? ›
Gala: If you want extra sweetness without the soft texture, choose Gala apples for your pie. As with Golden Delicious apples, bakers sometimes reduce the sugar in their recipes due to this variety's extra-sweet flavor.
Are red or green apples better for baking? ›
Green apples, like Granny Smith apples, have a much denser texture. That makes them better able to withstand high heat. So green apples are preferred when apples are used for baking.
Why are Granny Smith apples good for baking? ›
Their sweet-tart flavor and crisp texture make them an apple that is as wonderful for cooking and baking as it is to eat out of hand. It is tart enough to use in savory applications, but with enough sweetness to shine in baking.
What is the difference between baking apples and regular apples? ›
A cooking apple or culinary apple is an apple that is used primarily for cooking, as opposed to a dessert apple, which is eaten raw. Cooking apples are generally larger, and can be tarter than dessert varieties. Some varieties have a firm flesh that does not break down much when cooked.