Ideas On How To Use Backyard Apples: Discover The Favourites

Paul West/ Backyard Food And Cooking, Backyard Gardening

Welcome to the wondrous world of backyard apples! From sweet to tart, these versatile fruits offer boundless potential for creative uses right in your own home. This article will take you on an adventure of possibilities, from mouthwatering culinary delights to practical everyday applications. Get ready and let’s find out how to use backyard apples in the best ways!

Table of Contents

Introduction

Backyard apple trees provide a treasure trove of benefits. Not only do they offer shade and natural beauty, but a seasonal bounty of delicious, nutritious apples. Yet often bushels of apples go to waste, left rotting on the ground. With a little creativity, you can put your backyard apples to use in many surprising ways.

This article will open your eyes to the diverse culinary and non-culinary uses for backyard apples. You’ll discover everything from classic apple desserts to handy household hacks. We’ll explore different preservation techniques to enjoy apples year-round. You’ll even learn kid-friendly activities and crafts.

The next time you gaze out at your apple tree, see not just apples, but an abundance of possibilities. Don’t let anything go to waste – embrace the season and unleash your creativity. From the kitchen to the craft room, let the adventure begin!

Culinary Delights

For many, the first thought upon seeing backyard apples is baked goods. With good reason – apples add moisture, sweetness, and texture to countless classic treats. Explore new flavors and combinations to take your apple desserts to the next level.

Nothing evokes cozy autumn vibes like apple pie. Switch up your standard pie dough with a flaky, buttery puff pastry. Or give it a modern twist with a crumb topping of crunchy nuts and oats. When it comes to fillings, blend different apple varieties – like sweet Gala with tart Granny Smith – for extra depth.

Looking for a healthier option? Bake up some apple fruit crisps or crumbles. Top sliced apples with a delectable oat streusel, or even crumbled granola, before baking. For a touch of decadence, add cinnamon, nutmeg, and a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream on top.

Craving an on-the-go breakfast? Make a batch of wholesome apple muffins. Fold diced apples into your favorite batter along with warm spices like cinnamon and cloves. Top with streusel or turbinado sugar for crunch. For variety, swap in other fall fruits like pears or cranberries.

Of course, no apple primer would be complete without mentioning apple cider. Slowly simmer a pot on the stovetop with sliced apples, cinnamon sticks, cloves and a touch of brown sugar. For an alcohol-free version, stop there. Or add rum or bourbon and let the mixture infuse for an hour or more – the longer, the better.

Feeling experimental? Work apples into unexpected dishes, like savory salads. Thinly slice apples over spinach or kale, toss with lemon juice and olive oil, then add walnuts and a touch of cheese like gorgonzola. The sweet and tart apples perfectly balance the greens.

You can also liven up staple foods with apples. Add diced apples, raisins and cinnamon to your morning oatmeal. Grate apples into coleslaw for crunch and natural sweetness. The possibilities are endless when you unleash your creativity.

Preservation Techniques

With apple trees laden with more bounty than you can eat fresh, preservation is key for enjoying backyard apples year-round. From freezing to dehydrating, various methods allow you to save your harvest for later use.

Freezing is one of the easiest ways to preserve apples. Simply peel, core and slice apples into pieces, then spread in a single layer on a sheet pan. Freeze until solid, then transfer to zip-top bags or airtight containers. Frozen apples keep for up to a year. Toss frozen apple slices into baked goods, smoothies, oatmeal and more.

To make apple sauce, simply peel, core and chop apples, add a splash of water or juice, then simmer until soft. Add desired sweeteners like sugar, maple syrup or honey, along with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Let cool before transferring to jars or containers. Refrigerate and use within 2 weeks.

For concentrated apple flavor, whip up a batch of apple butter. Cook peeled, cored apples with cider, spices and a sweetener like brown sugar until thick and jam-like. Transfer to jars, refrigerate, and enjoy for up to a month. Slather on toast, crepes, oatmeal and more.

Dehydrating allows you to make dried apple rings or chips. A dehydrator makes quick work, but you can also use your oven on a low temp. Store in an airtight container for healthy on-the-go snacking all season long. Rehydrate in water for 10 minutes before adding to recipes.

Get the most out of your preserved apples by storing properly. Keep frozen apples at 0°F, while refrigerating apple sauces, butters and dried apples. With these techniques, you’ll enjoy backyard apples all year long.

Non-Culinary Uses

While apples are rightfully renowned for their culinary versatility, they have many surprising uses outside the kitchen as well. From the garden to the craft room, these non-edible applications provide eco-friendly ways to use every part of the apple.

For a sustainable backyard addition, consider planting your own dwarf apple tree. Dwarf varieties thrive in containers and produce full-sized fruit. Plant in well-draining soil in a spot that gets full sun. Fertilize in spring, water regularly, and enjoy apples every autumn for years to come.

Got lots of apple cores and peels? Put them to use in your compost pile. The nutrients in apple leftovers contribute to healthy compost that nourishes your garden soil. Chop or shred peels and cores first to encourage decomposition. Mix with nitrogen-rich brown and green materials as you build your compost pile.

Apples also come in handy for non-toxic household cleaning. Cut an apple in half and dip into a bowl of baking soda. Use the apple as a gentle scouring pad for scrubbing surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen. The natural acids in apples help remove grime and stains without harsh chemicals.

Don’t stop at eating apples – use them for beauty and health regimens too. Make a hydrating apple face mask by mixing apple pulp with honey or yogurt. For an exfoliating hair rinse, blend apples with water and vinegar, then work through hair and rinse clean. Crunch on apples to naturally clean teeth and support oral health.

Finally, apples provide hours of entertainment for kids. Make edible apple prints by thinly slicing apples and dipping them in paint. Press onto paper to make colorful works of art. Or get silly with bobbing for apples – float them in water and have kids compete to grab one with just their teeth.

10 Fun Ideas Covering How To Use Backyard Apples

Looking for even more inspiration on using backyard apples? Here are 10 quick and clever ideas:

Bake apple chips seasoned with cinnamon as healthy snacks
Craft apple wreaths and garlands as fall decorations
Gift homemade apple butter or cider in decorated jars
Add diced apples to pancake batter for a breakfast twist
Make apple stamp art shirts, totes and book bags
Infuse vodka or bourbon with apples and spices for homemade liqueur
Toss apples diced with lemon juice into green salads
Simmer apples with wine and spices for a yummy sangria
Freeze applesauce into popsicles for sweet summer treats
Puree apples with yogurt and honey for a refreshing face mask

Wrapping It Up

Backyard apple trees present a world of possibility limited only by your creativity. This article has provided diverse culinary and non-culinary suggestions for making the most of your apple bounty. From mouthwatering baked goods to handy DIY projects, put your apples to use in new and unexpected ways.

Preserve apples or plant new trees so you can enjoy homegrown flavor year after year. Most importantly, embrace your apple abundance with an open mind – you never know what you’ll discover when you unleash your imagination. What new ways will you find to use the apples in your own backyard?

FAQs

How can I use apples creatively outside the kitchen?

You can craft decorative wreaths and garlands, make natural non-toxic cleaners, create fun kids’ activities like apple stamp art, and more! Use apples for beauty routines like exfoliating hair rinses. Even compost apple leftovers to nourish your garden.

What are some uncommon ways to cook with apples?

Unexpected savory recipes like apple coleslaw, apple carrot salad, and spinach salads with apple and cheese. You can also add apples to oatmeal, pancakes, muffins, coffee cakes, and other breakfast foods for a nutritional boost.

How long do preserved apples last?

Frozen apple slices will last up to 1 year. Apple sauce keeps 2 weeks refrigerated. Apple butter lasts 1 month refrigerated. Dehydrated apple chips will last several months in an airtight container.

What are the best apple varieties for baking?

Classic baking apples include Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, and Fuji. Mix sweet and tart apples for more complex flavor.

Supplemental Reading

20 Unexpected Ways to Use Apples – Treehugger
- This article provides various unique and unexpected ways to use apples, including making vegan apple berry crumble, decorating a tree with dried apple rings, and using apples as stamps for crafting. These ideas can offer readers additional creative options on how to utilize their backyard apples.
How to Use Apples (Besides Eating Them) | Reader’s Digest
- Reader’s Digest offers a list of alternative uses for apples besides eating them. While the specific uses are not detailed in the snippet, the article likely provides unique and practical ideas that can complement the information in your article.