Think Beyond Apple Sauce: 21 Creative Ways to Enjoy Seasonal Apples!

The weather is getting chilly, leaves are falling from the trees and people have swapped their shorts and tanks for Jeans and sweaters. Yes, autumn is on the way and that means apple picking season!

It’s time to start enjoying all the wonders of apples. September is when the majority of apples ripen including the Honey Crisp, Gala, Red and Golden Delicious, Jonathan and the McIntosh. In October, the best baking apples will be ready including Fuji, Cameo and the tart Granny Smith. If you’re not sure about all the different types of apples, see Know Your Apples: Use the Right Apple for the Right Recipe for a quick tutorial.

You know the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Well, it is true that apples are healthy for us. Apples are full of antioxidants and have been shown to prevent cancer and promote heart-health. Read 8 Incredible Foods to Eat to Enhance Your Longevity to learn more. Apple cider vinegar is also beneficial to our health. Find out Why You Should Use This Health-Promoting Tonic Every Day and then check out How to Make Your Own Apple Cider Vinegar at home.

Apples make incredible desserts but apples can also be used for amazing savory dishes. Read 10 Delicious Ways to Cook with Apples and 24 Awesome Apple-Based Vegan Recipes for recipes and ideas that are both sweet and savory. Then go get yourself a few bushels of apples (or even just a few) and use them in these 21 apple-licious vegan recipes.

1. Apple Loaf Cake

This Apple Loaf Cake is sweet and moist and full of apple goodness. Top a piece with some vegan butter for a snack any time, or go crazy and top with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream. We suggest doing both!

2. Chopped Salad with Apple Chipotle Vinaigrette

There’s nothing more disappointing than going out to eat and realizing that the only veg-friendly item is a plain ol’ garden salad. Whoa … hold back the excitement. This Chopped Salad right here turns the word boring on its ear. It’s jazzed up with an Apple Chipotle Dressing and some coconut bacon. Sweet, spicy, smoky, and gives a boring salad a yummy makeover.

3. Cinnamon Apple Crisp Muffins

If you like streusel with that crunchy cinnamon-sugar topping, you’ll love these Cinnamon Apple Crisp Muffins. They have a sweet cinnamon crunch topping that will remind you of streusel but they don’t need the extra work. That’s a win-win!

4. Raw Vegan Caramel Apple Cookies

It’s the time of year for caramel apples to start popping up all over. Sadly, they are neither vegan nor healthy. Happily, these Caramel Apple Cookies are low-fat, vegan and raw. It’s about time caramel apples got a healthy makeover!

5. Raw Apple Pie with Goji Berries and Nutmeg

Apple pie for breakfast? Oh yes! This Raw Apple Pie with Goji Berries and Nutmeg has all the flavors of apple pie that you crave and all the nutrition you need. Top it with coconut yogurt or have it for dessert with whipped cream.

6. Cinnamon Spiced Apple and Grape Salad

This Cinnamon Spiced Apple and Grape Salad is a perfect salad to savor during the chillier months. The pan-fried apples and grapes add flavor, texture and make this a warm, comforting dish. Crunchy walnuts and warm cinnamon are ideal toppings.

7. Black Bean Apple Burgers with Caramelized Onion Chipotle BBQ Sauce and Shiitake Bacon

These Black Bean Apple Burgers are like a symphony where the flavors of each component combine for the perfect sweet, spicy, and earthy meal. Savory burgers, sweet caramelized onions, spicy chipotle BBQ sauce, and smoky shiitake bacon come together to make beautiful music for your ears and an amazing taste for your mouth.

8. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Chestnuts

It’s that time of year – the time to roast chestnuts, Brussels sprouts, and apples. If you aren’t sure if you like Brussels sprouts, give this Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Chestnuts a try. Roasting them gives them a sweet, caramelized flavor and crispy texture. Roasted apples are just too good to describe. You’ll have to taste them and see for yourself.

9. Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce

Oh my…this Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding is so good! The flavors in this bread pudding work perfectly together…apple, cinnamon, maple…nestled all warm and cozy together in a perfect individual serving then drizzled with the creamy, sweet, slightly salty caramel sauce. You’ll want to devour this dreamy bread pudding morning, noon and night.

10. Beet, Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Butternut squash soup is great but add in the subtle flavor of beets and the zing of apples and you have something spectacular. This Beet, Butternut Squash and Apple Soup is delicious and perfect for fall. Top it with tangy cashew sour cream.

11. Banana French Toast with Cinnamon Apples

Imagine waking up on a lazy Sunday and sitting down to this Banana French Toast with Cinnamon Apples. Enjoy the Sunday paper, go for a walk through the park and watch movies when you get home. Sounds good, right? Especially the French toast part.

12. Cranberry Apple Detox Juice

This Cranberry Apple Detox Juice is sweet, tart and refreshing. It is a perfect energy boosting drink that will get you going in the morning and during your afternoon slump. You can quickly turn it into a delicious and nutritious cocktail by adding some sparkling water.

13. Cardamom Apple Cookie Crumble

Cardamom has a very distinct and delicious flavor that you have tasted if you’ve ever had chai tea. Adding the spice to this Apple Cookie Crumble makes this dessert unique and amazing. The crunchy cookie topping is simply heaven.

14. Maple Peanut Soba Salad with Edamame and Apples

Try something new for dinner tonight. This Maple Peanut Soba Salad with Edamame and Apples is a quick and simple noodle salad studded with vibrant edamame and crisp apples. It’s sweetened with maple syrup and lots of savory Asian flavors. This may be your new favorite salad.

15. Individual Apple Pie Pastries

Sit down with a cup of espresso and these Individual Apple Pie Pastries and you’ll be transported to a café in Paris. These pastries are light, flaky and have warm comforting spices. They won’t take long to make, and don’t require many ingredients, but they will turn your home into a delightful café for you and your loved ones.

16. Raw Vegan Apple Bars

If you’re craving an energizing snack but would like to avoid the sugar and trans-fat loaded candy bars, this is the perfect recipe for you. With their high omega-3 content from the chia and flax seeds, these Raw Vegan Apple Bars will keep you going for hours. They are made entirely with natural ingredients, such as nuts, seeds and fruit, and are bursting with juiciness thanks to the apples.

17. Coffee Cake Crumble Caramel Apple Bites

These Coffee Cake Crumble Caramel Apple Bites taste like coffee cake crumbles with apple and a caramel glaze. Instead of butter, they have healthier raw cacao butter. These are absolutely delicious and make delicious snacks, deeserts or hors d’oeuvres for any party.

18. Autumnal Apple Pie-lettes

It’s that time of year again. One whiff of cinnamon and all you can think of is the feel-good dishes that come with the change in weather. These Autumnal Apple Pie-lettes have all those warm spicy aromas in a yummy raw vegan dessert.

19. Potato and Onion Kugel With Sautéed Apples

This Potato and Onion Kugel is amazing so why top it with store-bought apple sauce? Instead make these easy sauteed apples that are warm, soft and just the right amount of sweet. You can also bake this in muffin tins for individual servings.

20. Slow Cooker Stuffed Apples with Figs

An apple pie with latticed dough is always nice but these Slow Cooker Stuffed Apples with Figs is a new way to love an old classic. Apples cooked with figs, pecans, cinnamon, lemon, orange zest, and maple sugar are a beautiful and delicious treat, don’t you agree? If you are craving apple pie, you must give this recipe a try! These are drool-worthy!

21. Super Fast Chickpea Sandwich

Apples are the perfect way to add crunch and flavor to a sandwich. This Super Fast Chickpea Sandwich is always delicious with a yummy filling you’ll want to eat in sandwiches, salads or right out of the bowl. Adding apple slices elevates it to gourmet-level.

Whether you go to the orchard to pick your own apples or make your selection from the grocery store, apples and all the delicious things we can make with them are one of the best parts of autumn.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and incorporating more plant-based foods into your diet is known to Support various health benefits, including reducing chronic inflammation, improving heart health, enhancing mental well-being, achieving fitness goals, meeting nutritional needs, managing allergies, and promoting gut health, among others. Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer,  prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend grabbing our favorite plant-based cookbooks and downloading the Food Monster App — with over 20,000 delicious recipes, it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals, and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep
• Plant-Based Cookbooks 

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