Best Sourdough Apple Recipes (Move Over Pumpkin)
This post may contain affiliate links.
There’s something extra special about baking with apples, especially when you pair them with sourdough. From sweet breakfast treats to cozy desserts and festive holiday bakes, these recipes capture all the warm, comforting flavors we love about apple season. Whether you have fresh apples to use up, extra sourdough starter on hand, or you’re looking for a homemade gift idea, this collection brings together the very best sourdough apple recipes to inspire your next bake.
It's Not Fall Without Apples!
If you love baking with apples, you’re going to have so much fun exploring these sourdough apple recipes. They highlight everything we adore about fall baking, like warm spices, sweet-tart apples, buttery crumbs, and the magic that sourdough brings to baked goods.
I also have to mention this apple sourdough starter. You absolutely don’t need apples to make sourdough starter, but adding them creates the most amazing sweet, fermented aroma and gives your bakes a subtle apple depth. It’s wonderful in apple cakes, muffins, granola, and even your everyday sandwich loaves when you want to add a cozy seasonal twist.
And because apples show up in so many simple, delicious ways this time of year, two of my favorite things to keep on hand are homemade apple butter and Christmas chutney. The apple butter is incredible on fresh sourdough, muffins, or sourdough discard waffles (seriously, it's so good on anything), and the Christmas chutney is perfect for a holiday appetizer spread.
Best Sourdough Apple Recipes
These recipes are the best way to bring apples and sourdough together, giving you dozens of delicious ways to bake through the season. From quick discard bakes to slow-fermented sourdough breads, you'll find easy breakfasts, cozy desserts, and fun weekend projects that suit every kind of baker.
Apple Cinnamon Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies
Soft, chewy, and filled with warm cinnamon spice, these oatmeal cookies have sweet apple pieces tucked into every bite. The sourdough starter adds depth and keeps them tender, making them a lovely treat for lunchboxes or afternoon snacks.
Sourdough Apple Crisp
This simple apple crisp is everything you want on a cool day. Tender cinnamon-spiced apples bake under a buttery, golden sourdough topping that adds a hint of tang and the perfect crunch. It comes together fast and makes the whole house smell amazing.
Apple Cranberry Sourdough Hand Pies
These hand pies are filled with a sweet-tart apple cranberry mixture wrapped in flaky sourdough pastry. They bake up beautifully and make a festive treat for gatherings, gifting, or just weekend baking.
Sourdough Apple Cake
Moist, tender, and topped with slices apples, this sourdough apple cake is a comforting bake that never lasts long. The sourdough adds a lovely flavor balance, and the cinnamon sugar top gives every slice the perfect finish.
Sourdough Apple Cinnamon Rolls
These sourdough apple cinnamon rolls are soft, fluffy, and filled with juicy green apples, buttery cinnamon sugar, and a gooey caramel base created by pouring cream into the pan before baking. Each roll is topped with a crisp oat streusel and finished with sweet vanilla glaze, giving you the perfect mix of tender dough, crunchy topping, and bubbling caramel.
Sourdough Discard Apple Fritter Bread
All the flavor of bakery apple fritters in an easy loaf. Chunks of cinnamon-spiced apple are layered into a sweet sourdough batter that bakes up soft and fragrant. A simple glaze on top makes it irresistible.
Sourdough Apple Pie
A classic apple pie made even better with a flaky, flavorful sourdough crust. The filling is juicy, warm, and perfectly spiced, and the sourdough pastry gives the pie beautiful texture and depth. Perfect for holidays or any time you want a nostalgic dessert.
The BEST Sourdough Apple Fritters
Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, these sourdough apple fritters are packed with fresh apple pieces and warm spice. They fry up beautifully and get coated in a sweet glaze that makes them impossible to resist.
Easy Sourdough Applesauce Cake
This cake is incredibly moist and lightly spiced, with applesauce keeping the crumb soft and tender. The sourdough starter brings extra depth, making it a simple but memorable cake that works for snacking or sharing.
Sourdough Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Soft, fluffy muffins filled with apple chunks and warm cinnamon. The sourdough starter helps create the perfect texture while keeping them flavorful and moist. They're an easy everyday bake and great for breakfast on the go.
Sourdough Discard Apple Cobbler
This sourdough discard apple cobbler is all about cozy, low-effort dessert. A quick cinnamon apple filling bakes under a simple sourdough sponge cake topping that turns golden and crisp on top while staying soft underneath. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you’ve got an easy, crowd-pleasing way to turn extra sourdough starter and a few apples into something special.
Sourdough Apple Crisp Bread
This loaf takes everything you love about a warm apple crisp and bakes it right into a sliceable sourdough bread. It is packed with diced apple, rolled oats, honey, raisins, and warming spices, so every slice tastes like fall and feels special enough for brunch, breakfast, or an afternoon treat with butter.
Kates Tips For Baking With Apples
- Green apples (like Granny Smith) hold their shape well and add a lovely tartness that balances sweet doughs and fillings. Softer red apples work too but may break down more during baking.
- Cut apples into similar-sized pieces so they cook consistently, whether they’re being folded into dough, rolled into cinnamon rolls, or baked under a cobbler topping.
- Apples release liquid as they bake. In breads, this can shorten the fermentation window, so keep a closer eye on your dough. For cakes and crisps, a little extra moisture just makes things tender and delicious.
- Don't skip adding spices. Cinnamon is classic, but nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and ginger bring warmth that pairs beautifully with sourdough’s natural tang.
- Many apple-focused recipes (cookies, cakes, cobblers) work perfectly with discard because the leavening comes from baking powder, but for breads and rolls, stick to an active starter for strength and rise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Granny Smith apples are the top choice because they stay firm and bring a tart flavor that balances sweetness. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Fuji are great if you want it a bit sweeter.
Yes! Frozen apples work well for crisps, cobblers, muffins, and breads. Use them straight from the freezer and expect a little extra moisture. You may want to add an extra teaspoon of flour or oats to help absorb it.
Absolutely. An apple-infused starter adds subtle sweetness and a fruity aroma. It’s lovely in apple-forward recipes like apple cake, apple pie crust, and cinnamon rolls
Let the loaf cool completely (4-6 hours) so the crumb can set. Apples release moisture, so cutting too soon can create a gummy texture even when fully baked.
For most recipes, peeled apples give the best texture, especially in cakes, cobblers, and cinnamon rolls. For rustic breads, leaving the peel on is perfectly fine.
Apples contain natural sugars, which can speed up fermentation. It’s normal for apple-enriched doughs to rise faster. Just watch for signs of readiness rather than relying on the clock.
