12 Apple Desserts That Are Easier Than Pie

Apple Turnovers
Photo: Allison TX

You know that old saying, "as easy as pie?" Well, these super-easy apple desserts make pie look hard. Read on to get top-rated recipes for easy apple desserts you can make with very few ingredients and simple techniques, plus cooking tips so they turn out just right.

01 of 12

Apple Crisp II

Apple Crisp II on a white and blue plate
sassyoldlady

Sliced apples and cinnamon are baked under a sweet and crunchy oatmeal topping. Serve warm from the oven with a scoop of ice cream on the side for a classic fall dessert. "Great recipe! I did not add the water, since I never add water to fruit crisp recipes. I mixed Granny Smith apples with Jonathan apples and the result was a delicious dessert." —MARY DOMAZ. Several other reviewers also recommended skipping the half cup of water in the recipe.

02 of 12

Apple Dumplings I

Grandma's Apple Dumplings
CHER

Refrigerated biscuit dough is the shortcut ingredient in this popular recipe. "These tasted like apple pie! I diced up the apples rather than halved them and sprinkled cinnamon, sugar, and a little nutmeg on before I wrapped them. I also only used 1/4 cup water and that was more than enough. This was delicious!" —CC

03 of 12

Apple Cake IV

Apple Cake IV
cbejjani1255

"This cake was easy and delicious. After reading all the reviews I was certainly torn; sweet apple vs tart apple, nuts vs no nuts, 2 cups sugar vs less sugar, frosting vs no frosting. What's a girl to do? Well, this is so unlike me, but I followed the recipe exactly and it was just right." —LYNN LUKE

04 of 12

Apple Brownies

Apple Brownies
onegron

BakerJim submitted this top-rated recipe and says, "This was my Mom's recipe. Easy and quick to make. Apples and walnuts are packed into a cinnamon spiced blonde brownie. Always a hit when I bring it to parties. Very moist and great to make in the fall when apples are plentiful."

Instead of baking them in a cake pan, Cindy used a muffin pan and modified the baking time to 25 minutes, "and they turned out great."

05 of 12

Baked Apples with Oatmeal Filling

Baked Apples with Oatmeal Filling in a white bowl over an apple tablecloth
lutzflcat

"Tender, juicy, and perfectly cooked at 30 minutes. The house smelled wonderful while these apples were in the oven. This one takes me back to my childhood." —lutzflcat.

When pattyshaw made them, she said, "I baked the apples in individual foil boats. There was more oatmeal mixture than could fit inside the apples, so the boats kept the 'filling' contained and made them easy to serve."

06 of 12

Skillet Apple Brownie

Skillet Apple Brownie
Nobody'sGirl

An easy apple-studded batter baked in a skillet. How easy is it? Avon-status quo PRO says, "This was a perfect recipe and the ease was almost scary. So simple that I could probably make it every night." Several reviewers made the recipe in 9x13 or 8x8 baking pans, and it turned out great.

  • 21 Fantastic Fruit Brownie Recipes
07 of 12

Slow Cooked Apple Brown Betty

Slow Cooked Apple Brown Betty
Meghan Mangan

"This was so good and so easy. I used three Fuji apples, one Granny Smith, and a pear, just because. This one is a keeper because it is easy to prepare and most of the ingredients are things you have on hand." —Brandy Wiser

08 of 12

Apple Turnovers

Apple Turnovers
Allison TX

"Thanks to frozen puff pastry, these are quick and simple with great results. A fantastic bakery-style dessert just doesn't get any easier than this!" —naples34102.

Jessica Nottingham added this helpful tip: "Make sure to keep the pastry crust cold so that it doesn't fall apart!" Watch the video to see how easy they are to make.

09 of 12

Apple Cobbler Crumble

Apple Cobbler Crumble on a white plate
SmellyPrawn

You have to try this simple five-ingredient dessert. Alternating layers of sliced apples and a sweet flour/butter/cinnamon mix are baked together to make an easy, comforting fall treat. "I made this recipe for a group of friends and WOW!!! Was it a hit!! Everybody came in for some, and came back for more." —Steve Love.

The recipe calls for 1 cup self-rising flour, but if you don't have any on hand (who does?) you can make your own with this recipe for Self-Rising Flour.

10 of 12

Warm Apple Pocket

Warm Apple Pocket
Kayla Sisco

A ready-made pie crust makes these apple hand pies quick and easy to assemble. "I didn't have any apple pie spice so I just just a tsp of cinnamon and about 1/8 tsp of nutmeg. I also sprinkled granulated sugar on the outside after brushing with the egg. This was very easy to make and quite tasty too!" —staceykb72

11 of 12

Country Apple Dessert

Country Apple Dessert
lutzflcat

"I used four apples, pineapple, and blueberries since that is what I had. I added a little lemon juice on top and a little sugar-cinnamon mix. Put on top of shortbread cookies and ice cream on top," says Angela K Lightfoot.

12 of 12

Caramel Apples

four caramel apples on a plate
Phoenix McPeek

You can't go wrong with this two-ingredient classic. If, however, you want caramel apples with a little more pizazz, add chocolate chips, nuts, and other toppings. "If you want to decorate with bits of stuff, sprinkle just a little bit on the side facing you and then gently press into the caramel. Don't roll it or push it into the toppings, as that moves the caramel away from the apple and contributes to the puddle or very gloppy apples," reviewer LizzieBearCooks says.

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