The Basics

Baking takes place at a lower oven temperature, about 375º F and below, while roasting temperatures are at least 400º F. Tools are key, too, as a glass or ceramic baking dish will yield a different result than a metal sheet tray. 

When baked in a greased dish, apples become soft and have a pie filling consistency. When roasted on a sheet pan, especially a dark gray or black one, the apples will develop a browned caramel color on the bottom and have a bit of crunch to them.

If you're baking apples, you can leave the skin on. When roasting apples, try peeling the skin to increase flesh-to-pan contact for extra crunchy edges. Baked apples store in the fridge for up to 1 week in an airtight container, while roasting apples keep well for about 3 days. You can reheat baked apples in the microwave, but roasted apples are best reheated on a dry pan over medium heat.

The best varieties to cook in the oven have a well-balanced, sweet-tart flavor, and we’ve found that firmer apples with higher crunch levels tend to keep their shape when baked or roasted. For maximum flavor in your baked or roasted dish, we recommend using more than one variety. Using a combination of a sweeter, more floral apple, paired with a more tart, tangy apple will give you the most well-rounded apple flavor.

Try These Varieties: Ambrosia, EverCrisp®, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and SweeTango®

Sweet Combinations: Golden Delicious + Pink Lady; Fuji + Honeycrisp

A Recipe for Baked Apples

Ingredients

• 3 apples (about 3 cups), diced
• 2 Tbsp water
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt
• 1 Tbsp butter, diced (substitute melted coconut oil)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375º F. Toss diced apples with water, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt until well coated.
• Spread apples in a glass or ceramic baking dish. Sprinkle bits of butter evenly on top of apples.
• Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, stir, and return to oven. Bake for another 15 minutes, until apples become a tender, thickened sauce.

Notes

• Try baking with Ambrosia or Fuji for a sweeter finish. Use Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and SweeTango® for a tarter flavor.
• Serve with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, whipped cream, or mix into oatmeal!
• To reheat, warm in a saucepan over medium-low heat with 1 Tbsp of water, or in microwave until desired temperature is reached.

A Recipe for Roasted Apples

Ingredients

• 3 apples (about 3 cups), peeled and sliced
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 3 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ ground allspice
• Pinch of sea salt
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 2 Tbsp butter, diced

Directions

• Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400º F.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread an even layer of sliced apples on top.
• Add lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and cornstarch. Toss with hands until combined, then distribute evenly across the pan.
• Top with diced butter and bake for 15-25 minutes, depending on desired doneness. We like to leave them in for about 25 minutes so they're extra golden and bubbly!

Notes

• Reheat in a pan over medium-low on the stovetop.
• Enjoy over yogurt or ice cream with granola, your favorite breakfast oatmeal, or eat roasted apples on their own!