It’s nearing the end of September which means apple harvest is around the corner. Last week, we took a field trip upstate to Hudson Valley orchards where we spent the day trying heirloom varieties straight from the trees and learning the difference between cider, snacking, and cooking apples (more on this soon on our website!).

Apple seeds carry endless possibilities. Because they’re heterozygous (meaning they have incredible genetic variation), each seed naturally produces a different variety unless grafted. And much like the seeds themselves, apples offer endless possibilities in the kitchen. Their fibrous structure allows them to soften under heat without completely falling apart. Their natural sugars also caramelize easily, creating new, complex flavors as they cook.

One of the more tedious parts of baking with apples is peeling them. You don’t technically need to remove the skin, but it doesn’t break down quite like the flesh does, which can leave you with firmer bites. If you’re short on time, try Alice Medrich’s No-Peel Apple Crisp or this French Brown Butter Apple Tart, both of which let the peel stay right where it is. 

These next four recipes do call for some peeling, but we think they’re worth it. Go beyond a classic pie with cookies, a galette, and an apple butter version with a store-bought shortcut.

Easy Apple Galette

Brown Butter Apple Pie Cookies

Sheet-Pan Apple Crisp

Apple Butter Pie

Prep Tools & Storage

In preparation for the season, we’re rounding out our apple toolkit, too. Our editors picked a few pieces to make cleaning, peeling, and storing the fruit a little easier.

1. Emile Henry Fruit Bowl

2. Redecker Producer Cleaner

3. Berry Box Stoneware Colander

4. Rösle Stainless Steel Swivel Peeler

5. Hearth & Hand Ceramic Mixing Bowls

New York is the Big Apple, so when Noah set out to create a cocktail at Hyatt Centric Times Square New York, he looked to its vibrant location for inspiration. He landed on the Big Apple Fizz, a refreshing highball made with Calvados, lemon juice, and five-spice syrup. Hyatt Centric hotels are in the middle of the action, and this drink brings some of that New York energy into the glass. Watch Noah make it here.

-Food52

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