The humble apple comes in all sorts of flavours, colours and textures including sweet, crunchy, sharp, soft-fleshed, red, yellow and green. They are at their best from September to February and can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes. The saying is true ‘an apple a day can (help) keep the doctor away’ as apples are a good source of vitamin C for the immune system and contain a type of soluble fibre called pectin which helps to maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels and supports digestion. Here are 5 ways to use apples.

1. Grated into porridge with cinnamon

Porridge is a popular go-to breakfast as it’s a great source of fibre which supports digestion and keeps you full till lunch. We love to mix up the toppings and one of our favourite toppings is apple, cinnamon and raisin, as it tastes just like apple pie. We also like to include some protein and healthy fats such as nuts like walnuts or a dollop of almond butter, as this helps to slow down the release of the sugars into the blood stream.

2. As a sugar substitute

Apples can be used to replace refined sugar in baking, they are often pureed and used in baked goods such as cakes. You can substitute sugar 1:1 with apple puree but you may need to cut back on the liquid and increase the baking time. If you’ve got any apples that are starting to go mushy, don’t throw them away and instead make apple puree and freeze it.

3. In a salad or coleslaw

Apples provide a sweet but sharp tang to salads. They can be sliced, grated and diced, and combined with flavours such as blue cheese and walnuts, and a mustard or vinaigrette dressing. They can also be grated into coleslaw with cabbage, carrot and fresh herbs, which adds a refreshing crunch to any meal.

4. With a dollop of almond butter or a slice of cheese

A crisp and refreshing apple tastes great by itself but we also like to enjoy it with a teaspoon of almond butter or a thin slice of cheese. Apples contain natural sugars, so the almond and cheese as a source of protein and healthy fats, helps to slow down the release of the sugars into the blood stream.

5. Wholesome crumble

Crumble has been a British favourite since World War 2. Traditional crumble is an indulgent dessert so we like to make our own using wholesome ingredients. The apples can be cut into chunks or slices and tossed with cinnamon, honey and lemon, and topped with a mixture of oats, ground almonds, honey, coconut oil and cinnamon. This is a great way to use up mushy apples but you can also add in other fruits such as plums, raspberries and blackberries.