Life
10 Apple Pies, Crumbles and Thanksgiving Desserts That Prove Pumpkin Is Overrated
Apple pie is classic, and no Thanksgiving dessert table is complete without it. But just in case you’re tired of the same old pie and want to try something new this year — or in case you very smartly want to supplement that pie with other sweet treats — we took to the internet to show you that you have options. So many options.
Looking for a traditional Dutch apple pie? We’ve got that here. Strudel’s #1 Fan? We’ll hook you up. Want to make use of that nice bottle of bourbon you have sitting around? You’ve come to the right place, you smart girl, you. And in addition to all the ‘old standards,’ we’ve got plenty of newbies here too, including salted caramel apple cheesecake bars, caramel apple monkey bread, and a toffee apple tart tatin. Whether you’re looking for a walk down Thanksgiving memory lane or a new apple adventure entirely, we have everything you need. So grab some cinnamon, some ginger, some nutmeg, and some cloves, a few handfuls of oats, a toss of roasted nuts, and a heck of a lot of brown sugar, and come along. We hope you’re hungry.
Image: How Sweet It Is
Apple Pie (without refined sugar)
An apple pie free of refined sugars! This is great news, especially considering the bad press the white stuff has gotten lately. But this recipe from Naturally Ella does not skimp on all the things that are wonderful about a traditional apple pie — no, not at all. This version is simply a friendlier take on the traditional pie that you know and love. So eat up.
Image: Naturally Ella
Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
While cheesecake is a veritable dessert contender year-long, it is widely overlooked in the vast landscape of Thanksgiving desserts. Maintain cheesecake’s star status this holiday season with these salted caramel apple cheesecake bars from Averie Cooks. The photos speak for themselves…
Image: Averie Cooks
Apple and Bacon Pie with a Cheddar Crust
Are you the type of person who grimaces at the thought of apple pie with melted cheddar? Then I bet you haven’t tried it. Really try it with this Apple AND BACON Pie with a Cheddar Crust from A Spicy Perspective. Enough said.
Image: A Spicy Perspective
'Good To The Core' Stuffed Apple Dessert
Healthy holiday desserts can be kind of a buzzkill. But not when they’re as good as this vegan stuffed apple from Healthful Pursuit. With raisins, pecans, maple syrup, and a vegan cream cheese drizzle, you can be well-fed while still managing to stay on track.
Image: Healthful Pursuit
Caramel Apple Monkey Bread
There’s monkey bread, and then there’s MONKEY BREAD. This is MONKEY BREAD! In caps lock, and with exclamation points. This recipe from Mom on Time Out starts simple with a pack of Pillsbury Grands, which are topped with a super thick and rich caramel sauce and then baked until all nestled and cozy. You will want to eat this.
Image: Mom on Time Out
Cider Bourbon Apple Pie with Oatmeal Cookie Crumble
This is the apple pie that makes all of your apple pie dreams come true. Jessica at How Sweet It Is makes this pie extra special in number of different ways — cider, bourbon, a flaky, butter crust and an oatmeal cookie crumble. Yes, this is real life. So go preheat your oven.
Image: How Sweet It Is
Vegan Apple & Oat Tartlets
These vegan (and gluten-free!) apple & oat tartlets from Green Kitchen Stories are beautiful and sophisticated — a real feast for the eyes! Don’t worry though — sweetened with dates and maple syrup and topped with thick almond butter and a pretty little circle of sweet apple slices, they prove that vegan fare can be just as much a feast for your stomach.
Image: Green Kitchen Stories
Toffee Apple Tart Tatin with Vanilla Filo Crust
Want to get real fancy? Look no further. This toffee apple tart tatin with a vanilla filo crust from Adventures in Cooking is just what the doctor of fanciness ordered. It’s so beautiful that nobody will want to eat it. Just kidding — everybody will want to eat it.
Image: Adventures in Cooking
Perfect Dutch Apple Pie
There is something that is just so damn comforting about this Dutch apple pie from A Spicy Perspective. It’s a mountain of goodness, so thick and densely packed with all the wonderful little bits that this time of year is known for — apples, warm spices, brown sugar, oats, and roasty, toasty nuts. Dig in now, hibernate later.
Image: A Spicy Perspective
Classic Apple Strudel
Need an apple pie, but don’t have the patience for a traditional pie crust this year? Sounds like a job for strudel. This classic apple strudel from Big Girls, Small Kitchen gives you a head start with its use of phyllo. Easy!
Image: Big Girls, Small Kitchen
