25 Best Apple Breakfast Recipes for Fall

Apple season isn’t just about pie! These 25 Best Apple Breakfast Recipes are some of the coziest ways to enjoy fresh apples in the morning. You’ll find apple muffins, pancakes, waffles, French toast, cinnamon rolls, scones, oatmeal, quick breads and more delicious fall breakfast ideas.

When I come home from apple picking with a big bag of apples, baking is usually the first thing on my mind. And while plenty of those apples eventually make their way into pies, crisps and cakes, I love using them for breakfast too.

Apples are especially good paired with cinnamon, maple, caramel, oats and warm fall spices. And whether you’re looking for something quick for a weekday morning or a special breakfast to make on a chilly fall weekend, there are plenty of ideas here.

So grab some apples, put on the coffee and start with whichever one sounds best! These are the best apple recipes for fall!

What Are the Best Apples for Breakfast Recipes?

For recipes where the apples are cooked or baked, I generally like a firm apple with plenty of flavor.

Some good choices include:

Granny Smith: Tart and firm, which makes them especially good for sweet baked goods.
Honeycrisp: Crisp, juicy and nicely balanced between sweet and tart.
Pink Lady: Firm enough for baking with plenty of sweet-tart flavor.
Braeburn: Holds its shape well when cooked and has great apple flavor.
Jonagold: Juicy and flavorful with a nice amount of sweetness.
Fuji: A sweeter apple that’s especially good for recipes where you want less tartness.

You can also combine apple varieties. Using both sweet and tart apples gives many recipes even better flavor.

Apple Pancakes and Waffles

A stack of warm pancakes or waffles topped with maple syrup is already a pretty great way to start the weekend. Add fresh apples and cinnamon and they’re even better.

1. Apple Pie Pancakes — RecipeGirl

These Apple Pie Pancakes are filled with grated fresh apple, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. The grated apple distributes throughout the batter, so you get apple flavor in every bite without big pieces of fruit weighing down the pancakes. Serve them warm with butter and plenty of maple syrup for an easy fall weekend breakfast.

2. Apple Puff Pancake — RecipeGirl

My Apple Puff Pancake is a fun change from traditional pancakes because the whole thing is baked in a skillet. Fresh apples are baked in butter before an egg-and-milk batter is poured over the top. It puffs dramatically in the oven and gets a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar before serving. This one is especially fun for a weekend breakfast or brunch.

3. Spiced Apple Waffles — RecipeGirl

These Spiced Apple Waffles have tender pieces of fresh apple baked right into buttermilk waffle batter along with plenty of warm fall spice. They’re crisp on the outside and tender inside, and the optional toasted pecans add even more flavor and crunch. Make extras! These waffles freeze well and can be reheated in the toaster for an easy breakfast later.

4. Apple Cinnamon Pancakes — Budget Bytes

And what better way to enjoy warm, cooked apples than on top of fluffy Apple Cinnamon Pancakes! This easy apple pancake recipe is infused with lots of warm and cozy flavors and simply a treat to enjoy.

Apple Muffins

Muffins are one of the easiest apple breakfasts to make ahead. Bake a dozen on Sunday and you’ll have something ready to grab for breakfast or snacking during the week.

5. Easy Apple Cinnamon Muffins — RecipeGirl

My Easy Apple Cinnamon Muffins are one of my favorite classic apple muffin recipes. They’re packed with chopped fresh apples and plenty of cinnamon, and the crumbly cinnamon topping is definitely the best part. These are easy enough for an everyday breakfast and especially good while they’re still a little warm from the oven.

6. Apple Streusel Muffins — RecipeGirl

These Apple Streusel Muffins are made a little more wholesome with a combination of all-purpose and whole wheat flour. They’re filled with chunks of Granny Smith apple and cinnamon and topped with a simple oat streusel. If you want an apple muffin that’s not overly sweet, this is a good one to try.

7. Maple Drizzled Apple Muffins — RecipeGirl

Apples and maple are such a good fall combination. These Maple Drizzled Apple Muffins have chopped Granny Smith apples, oats and cinnamon in the batter. Each muffin gets a pecan half on top and a drizzle of sweet maple glaze after baking. I’d happily serve these for a fall brunch.

8. Apple Butter Muffins — RecipeGirl

You don’t need fresh apples for every apple breakfast recipe! These Apple Butter Muffins get their apple flavor from a full cup of apple butter. Brown sugar and allspice add even more cozy fall flavor, and a simple spiced sugar topping finishes them off. They freeze well too, so they’re a great make-ahead breakfast.

9. Apple Walnut Cheesecake Muffins — RecipeGirl

These aren’t your average breakfast muffins! My Apple Walnut Cheesecake Muffins have chopped Granny Smith apples and walnuts along with a surprise cream cheese layer inside. They’re a little more indulgent than an everyday muffin, which makes them especially good for brunch or a special fall breakfast.

three apple cinnamon roll, scone and doughnut recipes

Apple Cinnamon Rolls, Scones and Doughnuts

If you’re looking for something special to make on a fall weekend morning, start here. These are the breakfast treats that make the whole house smell amazing while they’re baking.

10. No Yeast Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Icing — RecipeGirl

These No Yeast Apple Cinnamon Rolls give you all the fun of homemade cinnamon rolls without waiting around for yeast dough to rise. The rolls are filled with sautéed apples and cinnamon-brown sugar, then covered with maple icing while they’re still warm. This is one of my favorite shortcuts for making cinnamon rolls in time for breakfast instead of lunch!

11. Caramel Apple Scones — RecipeGirl

These Caramel Apple Scones combine two favorite fall flavors in one very good breakfast treat. Fresh apples are sautéed with butter and cinnamon before being folded into the scone dough. Once baked, the scones are generously drizzled with homemade caramel icing. Serve these with coffee or tea on a cool fall morning.

12. Apple Cream Scones — RecipeGirl

If you’d rather have an apple scone that’s a little less sweet, try my Apple Cream Scones. Chunks of Granny Smith apple are sautéed in butter before being folded into a tender cream scone dough. Instead of icing, these get just a sprinkle of coarse sugar on top. They’re simple and really good served warm.

13. Apple Cider Doughnuts — RecipeGirl

You don’t have to visit an apple orchard to get a good apple cider doughnut! These Apple Cider Doughnuts are baked instead of fried and made with apple butter, apple cider, cinnamon and maple syrup. Once they’ve cooled, they’re dipped into a light cinnamon cream cheese glaze.

three apple french toast and breakfast bake recipes

Apple French Toast and Breakfast Bakes

These are the recipes I’d choose when I’m feeding a family or having people over for brunch. A big breakfast casserole is so much easier than standing at the stove making individual pieces of French toast.

14. Overnight Apple Stuffed French Toast — RecipeGirl

My Overnight Apple Stuffed French Toast is exactly the kind of breakfast I like when company is staying over. Cinnamon-raisin bread is layered with buttery brown-sugar apples and soaked overnight in a cinnamon custard. In the morning, all you have to do is bake it. It serves 12, so this is an especially good recipe for Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas morning or a fall brunch.

15. Caramel Apple Bagel Bread Pudding — RecipeGirl

Bread pudding may technically lean toward dessert, but this one is made with cinnamon-raisin bagels and works beautifully on a decadent brunch table too. Caramel Apple Bagel Bread Pudding combines pieces of cinnamon-raisin bagel with caramelized Granny Smith apples and a rich custard. Warm caramel sauce goes over the top before serving. Definitely save this one for a morning when you’re not counting calories!

16. Apple Cream Cheese Coffee Cake — RecipeGirl

Coffee cake absolutely counts as breakfast in my book. My Apple Cream Cheese Coffee Cake has a rich cream-cheese cake base topped with fresh apple slices coated with cinnamon and sugar. It’s baked in a 9×13-inch pan, making it an easy recipe to serve when you’re feeding a group for breakfast or brunch.

Apple Oatmeal and Healthy Breakfasts

Not every fall breakfast has to involve streusel and icing! Apples and oats are a natural combination and make some of the easiest breakfasts for busy mornings.

17. Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal — Barefeet in the Kitchen

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal is a hot breakfast that smells like apple pie and tastes as if fall has arrived. The aroma of spicy cinnamon and apples cooking always feels like autumn. It’s everything you love about apple pie cooked into a hearty comforting breakfast.

18. Baked Apple Oatmeal — Five Heart Home

Baked oatmeal is one of those breakfasts that’s just as useful for a family brunch as it is for meal prep. This Baked Apple Oatmeal is loaded with chewy oats, studded with chunks of apples and crunchy pecans, spiced with cinnamon, and sweetened with maple syrup. Bake one pan and you can reheat portions throughout the week.

19. Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats — Tastes Better From Scratch

If mornings are hectic, make breakfast the night before. These Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats are creamy, naturally sweetened, and topped with fresh diced apples and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Mix them up the night before for an easy make-ahead breakfast all fall long.

20. Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats — The Healthful Ideas

These Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats are super creamy, filling, and so easy to make! It’s the perfect fall or winter breakfast and really easy to double or triple. Top them with caramelized apples to make them extra special!

21. Apple Cinnamon Smoothie — Recipe Runner

For an apple breakfast that doesn’t require turning on the oven, try an Apple Cinnamon Smoothie. It’s a quick and easy breakfast or snack to make this fall! It’s healthy, filling and the perfect balance of apple and cinnamon flavors.

Apple Quick Bread Breakfast Favorites

A slice of apple bread with coffee is one of the easiest fall breakfasts around.

22. Fresh Apple Bread — RecipeGirl

My Fresh Apple Bread is filled with finely chopped apples and warm spices including cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Sour cream helps keep the loaf moist, and it’s delicious sliced for breakfast, brunch or an afternoon snack.

23. Apple Cider Bread — RecipeGirl

This Apple Cider Bread is loaded with chunks of fresh apple and flavored with cinnamon, cloves and apple cider. It’s a rustic loaf with plenty of apple in every slice and is especially good with a cup of coffee on a chilly morning.

24. Applesauce Oatmeal Bread — RecipeGirl

My Applesauce Oatmeal Bread combines applesauce, oats, whole wheat flour and warm spices in an easy quick bread. Walnuts are optional, but I love the little bit of crunch they add. This is another good recipe to bake ahead and slice throughout the week.

25. Cinnamon Apple Bread — Tidy Mom

This easy Cinnamon Apple Bread is loaded with applesauce, chopped pecans, and warm spices. It’s a moist, delicious quick bread recipe that makes the perfect fall treat.

Tips for Making the Best Apple Breakfast Recipes

Choose the right apple for the recipe. Firm baking apples such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn and Pink Lady are especially good for recipes where the apples will be cooked.
Prep baked breakfasts the night before. French toast casseroles, overnight oats and some quick breads can take most of the work out of busy mornings.
Make extras for the freezer. Muffins, waffles, quick breads and scones are all great candidates for freezing.
Don’t overmix muffin, pancake and quick-bread batter. Stir just until the ingredients are combined to keep baked goods tender.
Use real maple syrup when you can. Apple and maple are especially good together, and pure maple syrup has much more flavor than pancake syrup.
Don’t forget the spices. Cinnamon is the classic choice, but apples are also delicious with nutmeg, cloves, allspice and cardamom.

Frequently Asked Questions

What apples are best for breakfast recipes?

For baking and cooking, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Pink Lady and Jonagold are all good choices. Firm apples tend to hold their texture better when cooked. For uncooked breakfasts like toast, yogurt bowls and smoothies, use whichever crisp apple you enjoy eating.

Can I make apple breakfast recipes ahead of time?

Many of them, yes. Muffins, quick breads and scones can be baked ahead, while overnight oats and overnight French toast are specifically designed for advance preparation. Waffles and pancakes can also be frozen and reheated.

Can you freeze apple muffins and breads?

Yes. Most muffins and unfrosted quick breads freeze very well. Let them cool completely before wrapping and freezing. For recipes with icing, you may get better results by freezing them without the icing and adding it after thawing.

What spices go best with apples for breakfast?

Cinnamon is the obvious favorite, but nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom and allspice are also delicious with apples. Maple, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla and toasted nuts pair especially well with those warm spices.

Do you need to peel apples for breakfast recipes?

It depends on the recipe. I generally peel apples when they’re going into muffins, cakes, pancakes and other baked goods because the texture is softer. For oatmeal, smoothies, toast and other less-formal breakfasts, leaving the peel on is often perfectly fine. Always follow the directions in the individual recipe.