10 Recipes to Make with Apples

An ingredient that works just as well in sweet recipes as it does in savoury, a bag of crisp, fresh apples is always handy to have in the kitchen. From fruity breakfasts to hearty dinners and cosy desserts, you can turn the humble apple into a whole host of delicious meals. 

Harvested from August, through to November, autumn is the best season to make the most of this sweet fruit. If you’ve got a few going spare in the fruit bowl, we’re here to inspire you with this list of 10 slimming-friendly recipes to make with apples.

Apple Strudels

Inspired by the timeless Austrian sweet treat, these Apple Strudels are a much lighter take on the pastry delight. Instead of the rich dough or filo pastry that you’ll find in the traditional recipe, we’ve found a hack to cut down on the calories, without losing out on flavour. 

Using a low-calorie tortilla wrap to parcel up the sweet apple filling, our strudels are baked in the oven until they’re crunchy and golden brown on the outside. This gives them the perfect, dreamy texture – each bite delivers a mix of crispy shell and soft, mincemeat-infused apple filling. 

For just 287 calories each, this has got to be one of the best uses for your forgotten apples!

Apple Crumble

You simply can’t make a list of apple recipes without including the classic crumble. Our version cuts out lots of calories, so you can enjoy spoonfuls of toasty, oat-topped apple goodness for just 75 calories per serving. 

Every bit as hearty and comforting as the full-fat version, this Apple Crumble can be made with any kind of fruit filling, although we think apples are hard to beat. Sprinkled with sweetener and a little bit of cinnamon, they cook down until they’re soft and juicy. 

A delicious end to any meal, you can serve these on their own, but they’re extra special dished up with a spoonful of low-calorie ice cream or Custard. 

Toffee Apple Pies

Perfect for autumn, and tasty all year round, these Toffee Apple Pies might look impressive, but they’re so much easier to bake than you’d expect. We use Bramley apples to make them – their sharp flavour and grainy texture is perfect for balancing the sweetness of the 50% less sugar caramel dessert sauce. 

Topped with crunchy scrunched filo pastry and a drizzle of extra caramel sauce, these gorgeous little pies are only 222 calories each. Apples and caramel are a match made in heaven!

Apple Pie Porridge

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, start your morning right with this Apple Pie Porridge. With grated apple mixed into the oats, plus honeyed apple slices to place on top, this recipe doubles up on fruity goodness. 

You don’t even need to peel your apples when preparing your porridge – there’s lots of nutrition in the skins, so we’d recommend leaving them on. It’ll save you a job in the morning too. 

Finished with a few flaked almonds for a bit of a crunch, dig your spoon in for a taste of apple pie. Dessert for breakfast is always a good idea!

Apple Pie Pavlova

While we’re on the topic of apple pie, we have to shout out this delight of a dessert. Our Apple Pie Pavlova is fancy enough for a dinner party, and easy enough to make that you could whip it up in the middle of the week for an after-dinner treat. 

At just 121 calories per serving, there’s no need to skip pudding when this is on the menu. Granulated brown sugar helps to caramelise the apples as they cook down, creating that lovely, warming, seasonal spiced filling. A little sprinkle of crushed ginger nuts is the perfect finishing touch – we’ll be surprised if there’s any leftovers, but if there are, you can store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Apple Cinnamon Swirl Pudding

There’s a good reason that so many apple recipes also draw on the aromatic flavour of cinnamon – the two ingredients work beautifully together, enhancing the natural sweetness and creating a cosy, autumnal flavour. 

This Apple Cinnamon Swirl Pudding pairs the two together to create a cinnamon bun-inspired sweet treat, with a rich, fruity apple layer on the bottom. We’ve used light puff pastry to cut out a few calories, meaning you can enjoy this comforting pud for just 270 calories per portion. 

You can only find this recipe in our latest food planner. The Family Meal Planner has everything you need to get organised and get ahead, with 26 exclusive, crowd-pleasing recipes. Pick up your copy here!

Chicken Waldorf Salad

A traditional Waldorf salad is made from apples, celery, walnuts and grapes, usually coated in a high-calorie mayonnaise dressing. We’ve given this recipe a Pinch of Nom makeover and created this lighter Chicken Waldorf Salad – and it’s ideal for using up spare fruit that would otherwise go to waste. 

You might think that fruit and chicken sounds like a strange combination, but don’t knock it ‘till you try it! The sweetness of the fresh fruit keeps this dish nice and light, with a satisfying crunchiness and plenty of protein to keep you feeling full throughout the day. 

Sausage Traybake

Drawing on the classic combination of pork and apple, this humble Sausage Traybake is such a simple midweek meal. You’ll only need one apple to chop up and throw in the oven dish with your potatoes, root veggies and reduced fat pork sausages. 

We love a one pot wonder like this – no faffing with lots of prep or multiple pans, which means less washing up after dinner. It’s so easy to make this dish vegetarian-friendly; you can swap the sausages to a meat-free version and the recipe will work just as well. Hearty and wholesome, each portion is only 367 calories. 

Cheesy Bramley Apple Pork

We already know that pork and apple go hand in hand, but add some cheese into the mix and you’ve got a combo that’s impossible to resist. This Cheesy Bramley Apple Pork recipe can be found in our Family Meal Planner, and it’s well worth adding into your menu for the week ahead. 

Using caramelised onions and thyme to make the most of the rich, meaty flavours, this dish is a great way to turn some simple pork steaks into a delicious dinner. Serve with steamed veggies, or add these Parmesan-topped Crispy Green Beans for double the cheesy goodness. 

Pork and Apple Traybake

Tender pork chops, topped with fresh apples and nestled among a selection of root vegetables, there’s a lot to like about this Pork and Apple Traybake. Roasted together in one pan, this dinner is an easy family favourite. 

The chunks of apple and red onion add sweetness to the finished dish, with fragrant flavour coming from a good sprinkling of herbs. Let your oven work its magic for 40 minutes and you’re onto a winner! This is delicious on its own, but just imagine how good it would be served with a scoop of Creamy Mashed Potatoes. 

You’ll find the full recipe for this in our Quick & Easy cookbook. 

Do you have a favourite apple recipe?

We’d love to know your favourite recipes for using up your spare apples! Be sure to tell us in our Facebook group where we have nearly 1 million members ready to inspire, support and motivate you on your slimming journey. Head on over and join today if you’re not already a member!

Plus, if you’re on the lookout for even more inspiration, don’t miss our Gallery. It’s chock-a-block with photos from members of the Pinch of Nom community, so you can see what everyone else has been cooking lately.