10 Easy Michigan Apple Hacks & Swaps to Try This Harvest Season
We are entering Michigan Apple harvest season and the apple varieties are piling up! Varieties such as Paula Red, Ginger Gold, Gala, and the beloved Honeycrisp are hitting farm stands and shelves. The fall ‘apple spice and everything nice’ season is coming in with a bang!
10 dietitian-approved Michigan Apple swaps:
Social-media-inspired apple hacks to try this harvest season
From simple storage and prep hacks to delicious apple swaps you’ll love; this is your list to make your apple haul go further this fall.
1. SWAP | Give Your Muffins an Applesauce Upgrade
Applesauce can replace up to half the butter, oil, or margarine in many recipes. It can be a healthier swap for sugar and fat in baked goods, while adding moisture and natural sweetness. That added moisture is especially helpful in replacing the lost moisture from the reduced fat.
Try It: Our Apple Pie Protein Muffins uses applesauce to reduce added sugar and fat. You can also try this swap with pancakes. Add ½ cup Michigan Applesauce and ½ tablespoon cinnamon to your pancake batter in place of some of the added fat.
2. HACK | Make Your Apple Haul Last Longer
A big apple haul begs one question: how can you keep both whole and sliced apples fresh for longer? Growing up, my dad always stored extra whole apples from his Michigan Apple trees on the concrete floor in our basement, in a cooler covered with a solar blanket. Apples like cool, dark conditions and our Honeycrisp apples would keep fresh for two months! Recreate this environment at home by storing whole apples in the crisper in an unsealed plastic Ziploc® bag to make your apple haul last longer.
For sliced apples, add lemon juice to prevent browning or dunk slices in 100% apple juice or pineapple juice to preserve the apple flavor.
Michigan Apple Variety Tip: Be a ‘smarter apple-hauler’ by choosing apple varieties that store longer and are naturally slow to brown like EverCrisp® and Golden Delicious. Review the Michigan Apple Usage Chart to find the best apple for your needs.
3. SWAP | Skip the Syrup – Try Applesauce Instead!
Want a cozy fall breakfast with a little less added sugar? Swap maple syrup for applesauce on pancakes, waffles, or French toast. This boosts your breakfast with more flavor and fiber to stay full, satisfied and energized all day. You can also blend applesauce into plain Greek yogurt and add chia seeds for a naturally sweet fall snack.
Try It: Stir cinnamon and, if desired, a little brown sugar or agave into unsweetened applesauce, then warm for a cozy pancake topping.
4. HACK | Make a 3-Ingredient Apple Chocolate Protein Mousse
Inspired by a viral social media apple hack, we put this one to the test—and it did not disappoint! Stew four chopped apples until soft, then add 1 cup dark chocolate chips and ½ cup cottage cheese. Once cooled, blend and portion into containers, and refrigerate overnight to set.
Dietitian Tip: Keep the skin on for this hack! Apple peels are rich in pectin which is a natural gelling agent that’s often added to jams and jellies. When apples are stewed with their skin on, it releases this natural pectin, creating a mousse-like texture. Plus, apple pectin is a gut-health boosting prebiotic, meaning it stays intact until it reaches the colon for gut bugs to eat!
5. HACK | Turn Leftover Apple Peels into Crispy Apple
If the last hack doesn’t convince you to love your apple peels, this one will! Instead of tossing all those apple peels left over from making pies and crisps, turn them into crispy apple peel chips! Toss with cinnamon, a pinch of salt, and a spoonful of brown sugar, then bake at 350°F until crisp. Now you’ve got pie and a crunchy appetizer or snack—talk about a fall feast! This is a great way to boost fiber intake and lower food waste.
Michigan Apple Variety Tip: Choose McIntosh apples for this hack. Their sturdy peels make them a great candidate for roasting into apple-peel chips, while the apple itself is well suited for baking in pies and crisps.
6. HACK | Blend Apples into Dressings & Drinks
Did you know blending a Michigan Apple with the peel on can create deliciously thick drinks, dressings, and sauces? Clearly, we’re on a pectin kick—and for good reason! Keeping the peel on preserves more of the apple’s pectin and fiber. Once blended, these natural components help thicken the mixture and can even help oil and water stay mixed, creating a smoother, more cohesive texture.
See It In Action: Two Michigan Apple influencers put this thickening hack to work for a Michigan Apple Refresher Drink and Michigan Apple Teriyaki Sauce.
7. SWAP | Use Apple Slices Instead of Crackers
Apple slices can be cut into rounds or wedges and used as a crunchy base for your favorite toppings, just like crackers. Plus, swapping crackers for apple slices adds fiber for a more satisfying snack. Top apple rings with peanut butter and coconut flakes, or pair with a variety of cheeses for an easy snack board.
See It In Action: Two Michigan Apple influencers put this swap into action with delicious dips and a kid-friendly snack board.
8. HACK | Make Applesauce in the Microwave
Need a quick snack for the kids or fuel before a workout? Homemade applesauce is just an apple away. Core and chop 6 Michigan Apples into ½-inch chunks and place in a microwave-safe bowl with ¼ cup water. Cover and microwave on high for 15 minutes, then uncover and cook for 5 more minutes. Mash to your desired texture and sweeten to taste with 1–2 tablespoons sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon.
Michigan Apple Variety Tip: Choose varieties that soften readily when cooked, such as McIntosh or Golden Delicious, for smooth microwave applesauce.
9. HACK | Turn Apple Cider into a Flavor-Packed Marinade
Fall isn’t complete without a little Michigan Apple cider, but its uses go beyond sipping. Use cider as a marinade to boost sweetness and caramelization on pork or chicken. Combine cider with a splash of apple cider vinegar, herbs, salt and pepper for an easy marinade.
Bonus Tip: Simmer leftover apples and cider with cinnamon and other fall spices to make a homemade apple-cider syrup for lattes or coffee!
10. HACK | Turn Apples into a Kid-Friendly Fall Activity
Apple Stamp — Apples aren’t just for eating! Turn them into a simple fall craft by making an apple stamp: cut an apple in half, dip the cut side in ink or paint, and stamp it onto cards, gift bags, or wrapping paper.
Apple Bird Feeder — Take the activity outside and make an apple bird feeder by coating a ½-inch cored apple slice with peanut butter and bird seed, threading string through the center, and tying it to a tree. It’s an easy family activity after apple picking and a fun use for extra or less-than-perfect apples.
SWAP Bonus! It’s never too late to start planning for the holidays! Check out our healthy holiday apple swaps for more Michigan Apple swaps.
