Apple season is still hanging on and theres no better way to enjoy it than finding ways to incorporate apples into your first meal of the day: breakfast. If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, why not eat one every morning? Itll keep the hunger away at least. (And drinking some apple brandy before turning in at night will keep the chill at bay.)
But thats getting ahead of ourselves, as is thinking about ways to eat apples at lunch and dinner, though theyre great there too.
When its time to rise and shine, there are plenty of (mostly) sweet ways to work in apples. Check out these 13 apple recipes for breakfast that highlight falls finest fruitif youre not counting the pumpkin, that is.
1. Apple Fritters with Maple Glaze
Chowhound
Tart apples like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady make these apple fritters infinitely more fresh-tasting than any youd find at your local doughnut shop. A maple syrup and vanilla glaze add the perfect finishing touch. Get our Apple Fritters with Maple Glaze recipe.
Related Reading: A Beginners Guide to Deep Frying
2. Applesauce
Chowhound
This is a simple and easy-to-follow recipe for homemade applesauce that will be a game changer; youll start to wonder why you ever bought wan, watery, store-bought applesauce in the first place. Get our Applesauce recipe. (Eat it alone, with cottage cheese or yogurt, or even on toast.)
3. Apple Cinnamon Pop Tarts
Chowhound
The apple cinnamon combination inside flaky pastry is dynamite, but the creamy icing makes it even better, because it mixes some of the leftover apple-cinnamon juices from the filling with powdered sugar, lemon juice, and milk. These are way better than the boxed toaster pastries you loved as a kid. Get our Apple Cinnamon Pop Tarts recipe.
Related Reading: How to Make Homemade Pop Tarts
4. Braided Coffee Cake with Apple-Ginger Filling
Amazon
Caramelized apples cooked in cinnamon, sugar, and butter and mixed with candied ginger are a fantastic filling for this tender yeasted coffee cake topped with a vanilla glaze (that takes it to the next level). Its almost more like a bread, but its delicious whatever you call it. Get the Braided Coffee Cake with Apple-Ginger Filling recipe.
5. Apple-Cinnamon Waffles
Chowhound
Applesauce and grated fresh apples make these a very special breakfast treat. These are a step up from your usual buttermilk waffles and you should be sure to make a double batch and freeze some for later in the week. Get our Apple-Cinnamon Waffles recipe.
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Related Reading: The Best Waffle Makers for 2019
6. Apple and Cheddar Quick Bread
Chowhound
A great choice for a late brunch, this bread is packed with one and a half cups of cheddar cheese (half grated, half in cubes for gooey cheese pockets in the loaf) and an equal amount of grated apples, plus sage for a warm fall flavor. Try it straight from the oven or toast it up later and slather with butter. Its even good with soup for lunch or dinner. Get our Apple and Cheddar Quick Bread recipe.
7. Apple and Cheddar Breakfast Sausage Sandwiches
Chowhound
Upgrade your usual breakfast sandwich with a slice of maple-grilled apple stacked on top of a sage-flecked breakfast sausage patty and a layer of melted cheddar. Add an egg if you want to! Get our Apple and Cheddar Breakfast Sausage Sandwich recipe.
Related Reading: 15 Essential Breakfast Sandwiches
8. Apple Quick Bread with Pecan Streusel
Chowhound
Touted as a great alternative to muffins, our apple quick bread is topped with a brown-sugar streusel thats so good youll be tempted to eat it all by itself. Get our Apple Quick Bread with Pecan Streusel recipe. (Or if you prefer individually baked portions, try our Apple Muffins with Pecan Streusel.)
9. Bacon Apple Blue Cheese Omelet
Chowhound
An unusual dish thats surprisingly delicious, this omelet is filled with smoky bacon, creamy blue cheese, and sweet-tangy apples. If you dont do blue, cheddar also works well. Get our Bacon Apple Blue Cheese Omelet recipe.
10. Apple Butter
Chowhound
Apple butter is a mysterious combination that tastes far richer than the sum of its parts. Decadent enough to earn the name butter, this combination of apples, water, apple cider vinegar, sugar, spices, and lemon makes for a phenomenal spread. Get our Apple Butter recipe.
Related Reading: New Ways to use Apple Butter Beyond Toast
11. Caramel Apple and Cinnamon Breakfast Casserole
Chowhound
An apple-based breakfast casserole, this serves a crowd and is a great pick for a potluck brunch. A custard of buttermilk, apple cider, vanilla, and cinnamon makes for a rich and smooth base for soaking the day-old French bread. Get our Caramel Apple and Cinnamon Breakfast Casserole recipe.
12. Apple Oatmeal Bars
Chowhound
Old-fashioned rolled oats, butter, honey, brown sugar, and a vanilla-spiked apple compote combine for delightfully crumbly yet moist bars that double as dessert or breakfast. Get our Apple Oatmeal Bars recipe.
13. Baked Apples with Granola Streusel Stuffing
Chowhound
Another switch-hitter, these sweet baked apples stuffed with cinnamon granola streusel can be dessert with the addition of vanilla ice cream, but are healthy enough to enjoy for breakfast with a little yogurt or even a splash of heavy cream. Get our Baked Apples recipe.