Below is a chart with some of the best baking and cooking apples in North America. Almost any apple can be enjoyed when eaten fresh. However, not all apples are ideal for cooking dishes in the kitchen.

Depending on how you want to use your apples, you might want to pick up a certain type at the grocery store or grow a specific variety for yourself. For tips on how to grow apple trees, check out our Apple Plant Page. They sure make a delicious investment.

The chart below will tell you which types of apples are best in which types of foods. For example, tart apples like braeburn are great for applesauce. What’s your favorite type of apple?

Chart of Types of Apples in Recipes

NAME Best Uses Flavor Characteristic, Appearance Braeburn Sauce Tart, sweet, aromatic, tall shape, bright color Cortland Pies, Sauces, Fruit Salad Tart, crisp, larger than ‘McIntosh’ Fuji Baking Sweet and juicy, firm, red skin Gala Dried, Cider Mild, sweet, juicy, crisp, yellow-orange skin with red striping (resembles a peach) Granny Smith Baking Moderately sweet, crisp flesh, green skin Jonagold Pie, Sauce Tangy-sweet, Yellow top, red bottom Jonathan Sauce Tart flesh, crisp, juicy, bright red on yellow skin McIntosh Sauce Juicy, sweet, pinkish-white flesh, red skin Newtown Pippin Pie, Sauce, Cider Sweet-tart flesh, crisp, greenish-yellow skin Rhode Island Greening Pie Very tart, distinctively flavored, grass-green skin, tending toward yellow/orange Rome Beauty Baking, Cider Mildly tart, crisp, greenish-white flesh, thick skin Winesap Sauce, Pie, Cider Very juicy, sweet-sour flavor, winey, aromatic, sturdy, red skin

Best Apples for Applesauce

• Braeburn
• Cortland
• Jonagold
• Jonathan
• McIntosh
• Newtown Pippin
• Winesap

Best Apples for Baking

• Fiji
• Granny Smith
• Rome Beauty

Note: When it comes to baking with apples, it may be helpful to know the following:

• 1 pound of apples = 2 large, 3 medium, or 4 to 5 small apples
• 1 pound of apples = 3 cups peeled and sliced apples

Best Apples for Apple Cider

• Gala
• Newtown Pippin
• Rome Beauty
• Winesap

Have you ever made apple cider before? Learn all about apple cider pressing.

Best Apples for Apple Pie

• Cortland
• Jonagold
• Newtown Pippin
• Rhode Island Greening
• Winesap

When it comes to baking pies and crisps, we like to use half tart apples and half sweet apples. For example, mix Baldwins or Brawburns with McIntosh apples.

Also, to keep the apples firm so they fill the crust, try pre-baking the apples for about 10 minutes, cooling in your fridge, and then adding to the pie plate.

Apple Recipes

As we’re talking about cooking apples, we would be remiss if we did not share some of our favorite apple recipes! There are endless ideas for using fall’s favorite fruit. Beyond the classic pie, apples are delicious in everything from breakfast to snacks to dinner. 

Apple Cinnamon Waffles

Curried Apple Squash Soup

Apple Oatmeal Crisp

Apple Cheese Bread

See more recipes using apples. Please post your favorite apple varieties and any cooking tips below!

Apples aren’t only a tasty addition to your baked goods—learn about the health benefits of apples.

If you don’t feel like using your apples to bake, try making a Native American apple head craft!

Everyday Baking Cookbook

Have you discovered The Old Farmer’s Almanac Everyday Baking Cookbook?

Here are two sample recipes:

Fresh Apple Crumble Bars

Pecan-Top Apple Pie

Makes a great gift! Order your copy of the Everyday Baking Cookbook today!