Apple Sweetness Chart

Apple Sweetness Chart: Pick Your Perfect Apple

Publish Date August 9, 2022

There are enough types of apples to keep your fall filled with this yummy, versatile fruit! Whether you like them sugary-sweet or lip-smacking tart, we’ve got apples that are perfect for baking, snacking, slicing for salads and sandwiches, and everything in between. Apples are very nutritious, too – they’re packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber and other nutrients.

Here you’ll find some of the most popular apples, ranked from sweet to tart, using our Apple Sweetness Chart, plus easy apple recipes, when are apples in season, and ideas on the best ways to enjoy them (including baking, of course!).

Apple Sweetness Chart
Types of ApplesSweetest LevelBest ForPeak‑of‑season
Fuji

the sweetest apple variety

snacking, applesauce and salads

mid- to late October

Gala

highly sweet

snacking, applesauce and salads

late July to early September

Golden Delicious

sweet, rich and mild in flavor

snacking, baked apples and applesauce

mid- to late September

Red Delicious

sweet-tart mix but very mild in flavor

snacking and salads

mid- to late September

Honeycrisp

great balance of sweet and tart, with a rich, aromatic flavor

snacking and salads

September

New! Cosmic

very sweet with some tartness

snacking, salads, baking and pairing with wine and cheese

December

New! Opal

quite sweet and slightly floral (similar to Honeycrisp)

snacking, salads, baking, appetizers and pairing with wine and cheese

December to March

New! Envy

extremely sweet

snacking, salads, cider, mocktails and pork recipes

May to October

Jazz

sweet-tart combo

snacking, baking, salads and sauces

early to mid-October

Pink Lady

quite tart

snacking, baking, salads, sauces and more

mid- to late October

Granny Smith

very tart

baking, salads and baked apples

mid- to late October

Easy Apple Recipes

When you think of using apples in a recipe, our guess is that Classic Apple Pie is the first thing that comes to mind. The flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg are perfectly matched with sweet, juicy apples. Add a flaky pastry crust and vanilla ice cream for a slice of perfection.

Or, another sweet idea is Easy Apple Crisp. And apples can easily make the switch to savory with One Pan Glazed Pork with Apples or Squash and Apple Cheddar Gratin. Plus, you’ll find so many more delicious and healthy apple recipes in our recipe collection.

Tools & Other Core Essentials

When preparing recipes with apples, it’s helpful to have a good paring knife, apple corer, peeler, a food mill for making applesauce and a pie plate, all of which you can order online or find in-store. Once you have decided which apple you want to eat or use in your recipe, below are tips on how to cut an apple.

For more fall inspiration, visit our Fall Shop. Or for more Easy Apple Recipes, we’ve collected our favorites in one spot.

How to Cut Apples

Learn how to cut an apple and which tools work best for different easy apple recipes.

Shop Apples

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