The Pioneer Woman’s Top 10 Best Apple Recipes of All Time

Looking for the perfect Thanksgiving dessert? Ree’s Dreamy Apple Pie won’t disappoint. The spiced apple filling, the buttery, flaky crust, and the crumbly, crunchy top will have everyone asking for seconds. If you really want to wow the table, Ree recommends topping off each slice with a whiskey-based hard sauce, which she swears “could cure the world’s ills,” plus a scoop of ice cream and a dollop of whipped cream.

Get Ree’s Dreamy Apple Pie recipe.

An alternative to Ree’s Dreamy Apple Pie that tastes just as delectable but requires a bit less legwork is her Apple Bread Pudding. “I like to say it’s apple pie’s easier, cozier cousin,” Ree jokes. Essentially, all you have to do is cut up brioche or challah bread, cook some peeled apples, and throw together a custard. The result? An irresistible pudding with a blend of sweetness, tartness, and richness.

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Humble, nostalgic, and simply scrumptious, Ree’s Homemade Applesauce celebrates the signature fall fruit in the way she knows best. Her recipe calls for only a handful of ingredients and just a couple of steps, so it’s an easy dish even novices can tackle. While it’s commonly used as a Thanksgiving side, you can also drizzle it on vanilla ice cream, spoon it over Ree’s Baked French Toast, or use it to top pork chops.

Get Ree’s Homemade Applesauce recipe.

If there’s anything better than an apple recipe, it’s one that calls on caramel. After just one bite of Ree’s Caramel Apple Sweet Rolls—which she describes as “an unbelievably decadent sweet roll filled with caramel apples and topped with a sweet caramel icing”—you’ll understand that apple and caramel are the perfect fall pairing. Sugary, gooey, and sticky, it has all the best qualities of a caramel-dipped apple.

Get Ree’s Caramel Apple Sweet Rolls recipe.

Traditional apple pie is a staple dessert during the fall season, but if you’re feeling creative, try Ree’s innovative spin on the autumnal classic: her Apple Pie Cookies. And yes, they really do taste like apple pie! These cookies are just a smaller—and dare we say—cuter version. If that’s not convincing enough, take it from Ree herself: “Not to sound bossy, but you must, and I mean must, try this apple dessert,” she says.

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Ree’s Apple-Cranberry Stuffing proves that a touch of sweetness can enhance a traditionally savory dish. Ree’s take on this Thanksgiving essential has a light and airy texture, and each bite is filled with baked apples and dried cranberries, which balances out the dense bread and savory spices. In Ree’s words, this iteration of the seasonal side is “exceedingly delicious.”

Get Ree’s Apple-Cranberry Stuffing recipe.

This doughy, delightful dessert is one of Ree’s all-time favorite recipes of hers. In fact, she calls Her Apple Cake in an Iron Skillet “one of the best cakes, to this day, I’ve ever eaten,” and she even added the recipe to her vault of “Keeper Recipes.” It features a mix of sugary apples, caramelized butter, and golden batter—all baked in a cast iron skillet!

Get Ree’s Apple Cake in an Iron Skillet recipe.

It wouldn’t be fall without a warm cup of apple cider—and Ree’s recipe brings all the autumnal flavors to life: cinnamon, cloves, allspice, orange, and apple. She also adds a secret ingredient: a touch of maple syrup. “It adds sweetness but also gives the cider the tiniest bit of rich caramel flavor,” she says. Serve these seasonal sips on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any cold night, really.

Get Ree’s Mulled Apple Cider recipe.

Taken from her mom’s recipe binder, Ree’s Apple Dumplings showcase the star, soft Granny Smith apples, wrapped in a crisp crust. Some other fun additions? Crescent dough, Mountain Dew, and, of course, butter and sugar galore. “It’s basically the best dessert of all time,” Ree says.

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Ree’s Quick and Easy Apple Tart is so good it received her mother’s stamp of approval. “When she took a bite, her eyes rolled into the back of her head,” Ree recalls of her mom’s real-time reaction. “She loved it!” The “Quick and Easy” descriptors come from using frozen puff pastry, which cuts down on time and ingredients. The rich dough, combined with caramelized apples and powdered sugar, result in an otherworldly fall dessert.

Get Ree’s Quick and Easy Apple Tart recipe.