Apples are a versatile fruit that taste delicious whether baked, fried or served raw. Since apples are naturally sweet, apple desserts can be made without adding as much sugar as some other desserts. There are many different types of apple desserts that can be served after a meal, including pies, cakes, baked apples and low-fat apple desserts. While these dishes are often available frozen or in restaurants, they can be an excellent option for homemade desserts.
When baking with apples, it is common to make pies, crisps and cobblers as a dessert option. A typical apple pie consists of sliced apples mixed with several ingredients and spices baked into a thin crust. It can be served with vanilla ice cream after dinner. Apple crisp or crumble uses similar ingredients to apple pie, but contains a top layer of rolled oats and flour instead of a crust. The result is a messier, juicier apple dessert that many find just as tasty.
Apples desserts can also come in the form of apple cake. To make an apple cake, a cook will combine sliced apples with typical cake ingredients such as flour, eggs, sugar and oil. Nuts, honey and other spices can also be added for texture and taste. Apple cakes are baked in the oven and served hot or cold. It is typical to serve apple cake covered in icing or with whipped cream on top.
Cooks can make simple apple desserts by using just apples and a few other ingredients. The easiest way to make baked apples is to place sugar, butter and cinnamon inside a whole cored apple, and to microwave on a high setting for a few minutes. For crispier baked apple desserts, it is common to place these same ingredients in the oven for as long as an hour. Maple syrup, walnuts or cherries can also be added for flavor. Baked apples can be served hot with ice cream on the side.
There are many healthier options for apple desserts, as well. A fruit salad is a low-fat dessert that can feature apples as its main ingredient, with plain yogurt as an option for a healthy yet creamy texture. Apples served with peanut butter or yogurt can be another healthy apple dessert that is appropriate for children. Some apple desserts, such as cakes and muffins, can be made healthier by substituting yogurt for butter or oil. Apple desserts can also be made with no sugar at all, with apples and a small amount of maple syrup providing the sweet taste.