10 Ways to Celebrate Apple Days
October is National Apple Month. What better time to enjoy one of our favorite fruits? Here are 10 fun ways to celebrate apple days.
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Go apple picking at a local orchard.
It’s a great way to spend some time outside and connect with local growers. Plus you can get the freshest apples around—and maybe a little cider, apple pie, or other Apple products as well.
Read an apple book.
Try one of these suggestions:
- Ten Apples Up on Top by Dr. Seuss
- Up, Up, Up It’s Apple Picking Time by Jody Fickes Shapiro
- Apples, Apples, Apples by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
- A Day at the Apple Orchard by Megan Faulkner
- Applesauce Season by Eden Ross Lipson
- The Apple Orchard Riddle by Margaret McNamara
- The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons
- Apples, Apples Everywhere! By Robin Koontz
Compare apples to apples.
You’ve had an apple, but what kind? With thousands of kinds of apples, you might be surprised how different apples can be. They vary widely in size, color, texture, and flavor. Visit an orchard, farmer’s market, or more and more of your local grocery store for a wide selection of varieties.
Give an apple to the teacher.
Even the U.S. Apple Association doesn’t know the origins of this phrase or tradition, but why not polish up a beautiful apple and share it with your teacher anyway?
Enjoy a simple apple snack.
While apples feature in many fine desserts and other dishes, they also shine in simple snacks. Try apple slices:
- Spread with nut or sun butter
- Dipped in honey or maple syrup
- Sprinkled with cinnamon or pie spice
Learn about Johnny Appleseed.
You can explore the legend or the history of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Try these books:
- Johnny Appleseed: A Tall Tale by Steven Kellogg
- Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth by Jane Yolen
- Johnny Appleseed by Reeve Lindbergh
Make apple prints.
Slice an apple in half or cut out the core and slice off the bottom. Dip the cut side lightly in the paint. Use the apple as a stamp to make prints on your paper.
Bob for apples.
Fill a tub with water and add apples. See who can pick up an apple without using their hands.
Make applesauce.
Peel and core the apples (if you have a food mill, you can skip this step). Slice apples in quarters or sixths. Place slices in a pan with a little cider or water—just enough to keep the apples from sticking. Cover the pan and simmer until the apples soften fully. Run them through a food mill or mash with a potato masher. Add sugar to taste, but often none is needed. You can add spices like cinnamon, ginger, or cardamom if you like.
Host an apple feast.
Serve all kinds of dishes with apples. Use one of these ideas or your favorite apple dish:
- Apple Muffins
- Applesauce cake
- Apple pancakes
- Grilled cheese and apple sandwiches
- Waldorf salad
- Curried squash and apple soup
- Applebutter pork
- Stuffed baked apples
- Apple cider (cold or hot and spiced)
- Apple pie
- Apple Crisp
October may be apple month, but many types of apples store well so you can enjoy apples for months to come. With so many ways to use apples, the old saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” can be rewritten as “An apple a day keeps boredom away.”
Try out this recipe!
Easy Apple Muffins
- 2 medium apples
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. allspice
- 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
(Makes about 18–20 small muffins and 12 medium size ones.)
Preheat the oven to 350° F and grease your muffin pans.
Grate the apples into a mixing bowl. Combine the sugar and spices, and pour over the grated apples. Let sit for 10 minutes.
Stir the egg and oil into the apple/sugar mixture.
Add the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix until just combined.
Spoon the batter into greased muffin pans and bake for 20–25 minutes.
Let cool on a rack. Enjoy!
About the Author
Sara Barry is a writer who focuses on seasonal food and family activities. She favors Macoun apples and loves trying new varieties.
