19 Apple Recipes for People Who Love Apples More Than Pie Crust

Some people eat the crust first. I’m here for the apples.

Give me a bowl of crisp slices, a warm apple cake, a bubbling crisp, or anything that lets the fruit do most of the talking, and I’m perfectly happy to leave the pie crust behind. Apples have enough going for them without being wrapped in pastry every time they reach dessert.

These 19 apple recipes are for anyone who thinks the best part of apple pie has always been what’s underneath the crust.

Simple Apple Cinnamon Cake

I always come home from the autumn orchard market with way more apples than my crisp drawer can hold, and this soft spiced cake is my favorite rescue recipe. Sliced apples folded directly into a cinnamon batter bake up tender and juicy, putting the fruit front and center in every slice.
Get the Recipe: Simple Apple Cinnamon Cake

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Step into my kitchen on a chilly October morning and you will smell warm cinnamon sugar and yeast baking in the oven. Diced fresh apples rolled in soft dough melt into a gooey fruit filling, letting you skip fussy pie pastry.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Applesauce Cake

Sweet homemade applesauce stirred right into the batter keeps this vintage sheet cake amazingly soft and moist for days. Warm spices and real orchard flavor shine through every square, making this cozy autumn treat take only ten minutes to prep.
Get the Recipe: Applesauce Cake

Air Fryer Apple Pie Bites

Crescent roll dough wrapped around spiced apple slices gives you all the warm cinnamon flavor you crave in under ten minutes. The air fryer crisps the outer edges while keeping the fruit center hot and tender, making a quick snack when pie takes too long.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Apple Pie Bites

Clean And Healthy Apple Crisp Recipe

I love pulling this simple oat crisp out of my studio oven whenever I want a warm fruit dessert that feels light and wholesome. Sweet sliced apples baked under a crunchy cinnamon-oat topping let the natural orchard flavor take center stage, with no heavy dough.
Get the Recipe: Clean And Healthy Apple Crisp Recipe

Apple Ginger Cake

I added ginger to an apple cake once and now I keep coming back to it. Fresh apple and a little ginger bake into a soft cake with a warm, slightly spicy flavor. It is a good pick if you love apple flavor but want something different from pie.
Get the Recipe: Apple Ginger Cake

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Some mornings I want apple pie for breakfast, and this oatmeal gets close without the crust. Apples cook with cinnamon and oats until soft, sweet, and cozy. It is an easy way to let apples be the star of the meal.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Gluten-Free Apple Cake

I baked this gluten-free apple cake for a friend who cannot eat regular flour, and nobody missed it. Apples, warm spices, and a soft cake base come together without any crust at all. The apple flavor stays front and center in every slice.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Apple Cake

Bisquick Apple Cobbler

Quick baking mix whipped with milk and poured over spiced apples creates a simple cobbler that bubbles up golden and sweet in the oven. The soft biscuit top soaks up warm apple juices as it bakes, giving you pure orchard comfort without rolling out dough.
Get the Recipe: Bisquick Apple Cobbler

Apple Pie Baked Beans

Diced apples and warm pie spices stirred into savory baked beans create a sweet, smoky side dish that became a huge hit at our autumn cookouts. This surprising combination cooks down until the apples soften, adding a rich, fruity twist to classic barbecue beans.
Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Baked Beans

Spiced Apple Butter Cake

Stir concentrated apple butter directly into a spiced plant-based batter for a soft cake with deep, rich orchard flavor in every bite. Warm cloves and cinnamon complement the sweet fruit puree, creating a dense, moist cake that needs no pastry crust.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Apple Butter Cake

Pumpkin Apple Bread with Crumb Topping (No Mixer Needed!)

Two autumn favorites join forces in this easy one-bowl loaf packed with sweet pumpkin puree and crunchy fresh apple bits. A buttery brown sugar crumb topping baked over the loaf adds a sweet crunch that makes every slice feel like a cozy bakery treat.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Apple Bread with Crumb Topping (No Mixer Needed!)

Slow Cooker Apple Pie Cinnamon Roll Casserole

Canned cinnamon rolls, chopped and cooked low and slow with sweet apple pie filling, create the ultimate gooey breakfast casserole. Hot steam builds up under the slow cooker lid as the apples turn melt-in-your-mouth soft, making a sweet dish that easily feeds a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Apple Pie Cinnamon Roll Casserole

Apple Roasted Pork Chops with Cinnamon-Glaze

I usually think of apples as dessert, but these pork chops changed my mind. Roast pork chops with apples and a cinnamon glaze until the fruit turns tender and sweet. This dinner recipe lets apples be more than a pie filling.
Get the Recipe: Apple Roasted Pork Chops with Cinnamon-Glaze

Mini Caramel Apple Cheesecakes with Streusel Topping

Individual graham cracker crusts hold creamy vanilla cheesecake, piled high with spiced, sautéed apples and drizzled with rich caramel. Crunchy streusel scattered over the tops adds a satisfying crunch that delivers all the best autumn flavors in a neat, personal size.
Get the Recipe: Mini Caramel Apple Cheesecakes with Streusel Topping

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

I wanted a dessert I could make without measuring much, so I tried this dump cake. Apples, caramel, and a simple cake mix bake into a warm, gooey dessert with very little work. You get all the apple flavor without rolling or shaping any crust.
Get the Recipe: Caramel Apple Dump Cake

Almond Apple Cake with Apple Roses

Thinly sliced apple rounds arranged in delicate rose shapes over a nutty almond batter made this cake the visual centerpiece of our last holiday dinner. Ground almonds keep the crumb moist and tender, while the baked fruit top adds an elegant, honest sweetness to the table.
Get the Recipe: Almond Apple Cake with Apple Roses

Babushka’s Baked Apples

Whole apples cored and stuffed with walnuts, raisins, honey, and cinnamon represent the traditional Eastern European winter treat my grandmother made for us. Baking them slowly in the oven turns the fruit buttery soft and sweet, giving you a nostalgic dessert that needs no dough at all.
Get the Recipe: Babushka’s Baked Apples

Apple Cranberry Galette

Tart red cranberries tossed with sweet sliced apples and folded into a rustic, free-form crust make a relaxed alternative to traditional pie. Golden baked edges hold a bubbling fruit center that lets the natural tart-and-sweet orchard flavors shine through every slice.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cranberry Galette

Are you team apple filling or team pie crust?