Apples are some of the most well-loved fruits on the planet. Considering how sweet and crunchy these beauties are, that’s not surprising! If you’re looking for some tasty flavors to pair them with, look no further: here are 10 fabulous fruits that go with apples, in a variety of different ways.
1. Cranberries
Apples and cranberries are an absolutely amazing combination. Cranberries are quite tart, so they compliment apples’ sugary sweetness wonderfully. Try them together in a crumble-type dessert, coated with rolled oats or a flour and sugar style topping.
2. Peaches
If you have a super-sweet tooth, sit up and pay attention: these sticky apple-peach jam bars might throw you into a diabetic coma with every bite, but at least the journey will be spectacularly delicious. Should you decide to eat one (or nine) of these for breakfast, just have a salad for lunch and it’ll totally cancel them out.
Related Article: 12 Fruits that Go with Peaches in a Smoothie
3. Apricots
Although fresh apricots can compete with apples’ flavors, dried apricots compliment them rather beautifully. They can work well together if you chop up dried apples and add them to granola. Alternatively, try soaking the apricots and transforming them into a compote with apples and sugar or maple syrup. This creates an incredible topping for coconut or almond milk ice cream.
4. Pears
Most of the recipes that include apples are fairly sweet, and focus on desserts. Let’s take a look at one that’s significantly healthier: a fresh breakfast juice made with apples, pears, and spinach. Green apples have a tart, astringent flavor, which is balanced well by pears’ gentle sweetness. The spinach increases nutrition content, and they all juice together gorgeously for a healthy, invigorating drink.
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5. Plums
Apples and plums don’t just taste harmoniously gorgeous together: they also ripen at the same time. This makes them rather perfect for autumnal and winter recipes. If you’re feeling homestead-y, try making apple-plum jam. It’s a great way to celebrate the flavors of the harvest, while also stocking your pantry for the cold months.
6. Blackberries
Okay. You’ve probably had apple pie before, since it’s the most popular pie around. BUT have you tried apple-blackberry pie yet? If you haven’t, make some plans to bake it this weekend. The flavors combine amazingly well, and you’ll impress everyone who tastes it with your ingredient pairing prowess.
7. Pumpkins
You don’t need to go full-on into pumpkin spice land if you’d like to mix these fruits with apples in baked goods. Try keeping apples as center stage in muffins, with cinnamon and nutmeg. Use pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) to add moisture as well as nutrient density to these snacks. Bonus points if you add dried fruit and/or nuts too.
Related Article: 10 Fruits that Go with Pumpkin
8. Squashes
We’ve already mentioned that pumpkin and pear soup is rather fabulous, but squashes and apples are a fabulous soup combination too. The key ingredient here is a tart green apple, rather than a sweet red or golden one. This tartness balances the squash’s natural sweet flavor, without competing with it.
9. Figs
Have you ever eaten hot, spicy baked apples on a cold autumn or winter evening? They’re pretty much the best cool-weather desserts ever. Core an apple and stuff it with a mixture of chopped dry figs, walnuts or pecans, a bit of vegan margarine, some maple syrup, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Then bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes until the apples are soft enough to cut into. Serve piping hot, topped with vanilla whipped topping, if desired.
Further Reading: 10 Spices that Go with Figs
10. Raisins
If you can’t get your hands on figs for the above recipe, consider using raisins instead. Alternatively, add some chopped apples and raisins to a pot of slow-cooker or crock pot oats. This is a wonderful meal to start the day with, especially if you top it with toasted almonds or other protein-rich seeds.
Be sure to try out a variety of different apples to determine which ones you like best. Some people like sweet Cortlands or Honeycrisps, others prefer tart green Granny Smiths. Once you’ve sorted out the species that curl your toast the most, you’ll be able to choose some complimentary fruits that go with apples for contrasting flavors and textures.
Bon appetit!
The Thrive Cuisine Team is dedicated to bringing you the best information on kitchen gadgets, food, garden veganism and much more. We’re a group of passionate food lovers that are dedicated to providing actionable guides and resources for our readers.
