The 43 Sweetest Apples - The Ultimate Guide

We all know the old adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” but actually apples can do so much more. They are very versatile and can be used in the kitchen in many creative ways, whether baked, raw or in sauces.

Some apples naturally lend themselves to different preparations based on their sweetness and how well their textures hold up to different processing methods.

So what is the sweetest apple?  In general, the Fuji apple is considered to be the sweetest, closely followed by Kiku and Ambrosia apples. However, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Jazz apples are also incredibly sweet.

More than 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States alone, so read on to find the perfect apple to suit your needs.

Apple sweetness chart

The sweetness of an apple depends on a couple of factors. The first thing to take into account is the amount of natural sugars that the variety in question has. The more natural sugars it has, the sweeter it will be and vice versa. 

You’ll also want to eat the apple when it’s fully ripe and in season for the sweetest flavor.

I have found that if I have picked up some apples at the store, and they are a little too tart for my preference, I can let them ripen on the counter for a few days and they will taste sweeter.

Other factors that can contribute to an apple’s sweet taste are the climate in which they are grown, the health of the growing environment, fall weather and temperatures, and the degree of ripeness at the time of picking.

I’ve outlined 43 of the sweetest apples below, ending with a couple of sour options, so you can choose the perfect one for you based on what’s in your store, what season it’s in, and how sweet it is. you want it to be

1. Fuji apples

Fuji apples are one of the easiest to find in the supermarket and for good reason. They are deliciously sweet and have a unique flavor that many people have compared to honey.

This variety is usually available year-round, thanks to its long shelf life and the ability to import it from warmer climates.

They have a crunchy texture and a juicy crunch, making them a perfect crunchy addition to salads. They also hold up well when used in sauces, although they aren’t the best choice for baking, they still taste great.

2. Kiku apples

Second, or even sometimes first, is the Kiku apple. This variety is incredibly juicy, crunchy, and sweet. They are related to Fuji apples, but tend to be a brighter red when you see them in the store.

This variety holds up well in pies, pies, chips, and other baked goods. It also makes a wonderful applesauce thanks to its natural sugar content. Its crunchy texture is perfect in salads or eaten raw with a tablespoon of peanut butter.

3. Ambrosia apples

Another sweet and low acid option is the Ambrosia apple. This variety was not actually bred to be sweet, but a happy accident caused it to be discovered in the wild. It is incredibly sweet, juicy, and has a floral, honey-like flavor.

Ambrosia apples are delicious when baked into tarts, pies, muffins, and other baked goods. In fact, they are so sweet that some cooks find they can reduce the amount of sugar needed in the recipe. Try them raw or in a salad.

4. McIntosh Apples

This apple variety comes from Canada and is incredibly sweet with a much smoother texture than previous varieties. Since it is not as crunchy, it does not hold up well to use in cakes and other baked goods, as it becomes quite soft and a bit floury.

These apples are best enjoyed raw. They also work well in sauces, specifically pork and apple dishes, or in a simple apple sauce.

5. Gala Apples

These apples have a lovely sweetness, but also offer a bit of tartness, which can be a nice balance. Like other apples on this list, its flavor has been described as having hints of honey, but also a bit of a pear flavor.

The galas are wonderful to use in recipes because they hold their shape well, so you can get creative and use them in all your favorite recipes, from cakes to dips to cakes.

6. Honeycrisp apples

These apples are my parents’ favorite variety of all time. They can buy a giant box and eat them all in less than a week.

These apples are naturally high in sugars, but they also have some acidity, giving them a more balanced flavor than other apples on this list.

They have a crunchy texture and a sweet, honey-like flavor. This variety holds up well in cooking and complements many flavors used in pies, pies, muffins and chips.

If you’ve never tried a Honeycrisp apple, add it to your next grocery list. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

7. SweeTango Apples

As its name suggests, it is a sweet and sour apple, crunchy and juicy. It’s actually a variety that comes from the Honeycrisp apple, so if you’re a fan of them, you’ll probably love SweeTango.

They have a little more acidity, so their flavor can be a little more complex.

They’re especially delicious on French fries, where their natural flavor really shines. But you can use them in any preparation you like or enjoy them fresh and juicy as is.

8. Apples of envy

These apples are the offspring of the Royal Gala and Braeburn varieties. They were bred to balance the sweet-tart flavor that people love in apples. It doesn’t brown as quickly as other apples, making it a great sliced snack for lunch boxes.

Its texture and flavor also hold up very well in the oven, making it another wonderful option for all your apple pie needs.

9. Sweetie Apples

This apple was specifically bred for sweetness and has less acidity than other varieties on the list.

It has a lovely texture that holds up very well in baking and can be used in savory culinary applications for that perfect touch of sweetness.

10. Jazz Apples

Another supermarket favorite, the Jazz apple is another variety that comes from crossing Royal Gala and Braeburn apples. They are sweet with a slight hint of honey and pear flavor.

They work perfectly in both raw, cooked and baked preparations, making them a great addition to your grocery list.

11. Kanzi Apples

These apples were bred to be a dessert variety, so as you can imagine they are bursting with sweetness and are absolutely delicious when eaten raw and fresh.

They don’t keep as long as other varieties, so be sure to store them in the fridge.

Kanzi apples hold their shape well when cooked and baked and retain their delicious juiciness, so you can enjoy them any way you like.

12. Dazzle Apples

This variety hails from New Zealand and is one of the newer apples on the list. This can make it a little harder to find, but if you can it’s worth a try. They are deliciously sweet, fresh and crisp, with a subtle acidity.

Its crunchy texture and sweet flavor make it a great choice for baking, cooking, juicing, or enjoying raw.

13. Golden Delicious Apples

It may surprise you to see a yellow apple on this list, as they are usually a bit more acidic than their red relatives. However, if Golden Delicious apples are left to ripen on the tree, they can be incredibly sweet and delicious.

This apple is widely considered one of the best apples for baking thanks to its flavor and the way its texture holds up to just about any cooking process.

14. Jonagold Apples

These apples are another dessert variety, which means they are bursting with sweet flavor. They are delicious when enjoyed raw and fresh, but they are also an excellent apple to use in baking.

If you like stuffed apples, the Jonagold is a great apple to hollow out and fill with your favorite things.

Due to their parentage, the Golden Delicious and Jonagold apple also have a nice underlying acidity that balances the sweetness.

15. Apples Pinata

These apples are another descendant of the Golden Delicious apple and taste sweeter than other apples on this list.

They have a thin skin and a crunchy texture, which makes them great for use in salads, especially since they don’t brown as quickly as other varieties.

If you want to try them in pastries, they are delicious in apple pie thanks to their crunchy texture and unique flavor. You can also try poaching them for a special treat.

16. Pink Lady Apples

This popular grocery store variety is another popular choice for baking, as it has a firm texture, a good amount of acidity, and a delicious sweetness to balance it all out.

17. Crispin Apples

These apples were originally bred in Japan and are also known as Mutsu apples. They are a cross between Golden Delicious and Indo apples, giving them a delicious balance of sweet and tart, with a hint of honey flavor.

As the name suggests, they are crunchy and hold up well to baking and cooking. They can also be kept for several months in cold rooms.

18. Opal Apples

Another yellow variety apple that makes our list, this one comes from the Golden Delicious. It has a nice balance of sweet and sour flavor that tastes great baked, cooked, or raw.

It stays nice and firm when baked, so if you like a firmer texture in your baked goods, this is the apple for you.

19. SugarBee Apples

These apples are new to the market and come from the Honeycrisp variety. They have a bit of acidity, which can balance the sweetness if you use it in pastries.

They have a crisp, firm texture that is delicious raw, cooked or baked. If you find them in the market, try them.

20. Winter Banana Apples

These apples are a special variety that, as the name suggests, have a slight banana flavor.

They are wonderfully sweet, firm and tart. Add them raw to salads for a wonderfully unique apple flavor, or try juicing them for delicious apple juice.

This native variety also holds up well to cooking.

21. Cox’s Orange Pippin Apples

Another indigenous variety, this apple has a firm texture that holds up well to baking or cooking. It has a crunchy sweetness and is definitely worth a try if you can find it in the store.

22. Snow Apple

You may notice a little theme to this part of the list, as the Snow apple is another heirloom variety. You may also see it called a Fameuse apple. It grows well in cool climates, which gives it its famous sweetness.

It has a subtle strawberry aroma and is delicious both raw and cooked.

23. Red Delicious Apples

These apples are really one of my favorites on the list. I love its smoother texture and sweeter flavor. I’m not much of a fan of super-crisp apples, so the Red Delicious ticks all my boxes.

Most people don’t recommend baking with them as they don’t hold their texture very well, but that’s one of the reasons I like them better in things like chips and crumbles.

I wouldn’t use them in a cake or cupcake, but their soft texture is perfect for a hearty, soft and sweet apple crisp.

24. Cameo Apples

The Cameo apple was discovered in Washington state and has a wonderfully crisp, fresh, and sweet flavor with just a hint of tartness.

It is perfect to use as a snack, in a salad or in your favorite baked application. Its crunchy texture withstands heat well.

25. Ginger Gold Apples

The Ginger Gold apple is probably descended from the Golden Delicious variety and is a perfect apple for both raw and cooked dishes.

It doesn’t brown as quickly as other apples, so you can slice it for salads and lunches. It is slightly tart and slightly sweet and adds a wonderful flavor to cakes and pastries.

26. Spencer Apples

I’ve already mentioned McIntosh apples before, and the Spencer apple is a descendant of this variety.

Known as dessert apples, they have a wonderfully balanced sweetness with a bit of tartness if allowed to fully ripen. You can enjoy them raw, cooked or baked.

27. SnowSweet Apple

This apple has a slightly thicker skin, which means it can be stored longer than other varieties.

It grows well in cool climates, which can help make it taste even sweeter. It doesn’t brown as quickly as other apples, so you can slice it up and serve it raw.

Its firm and crunchy flesh also holds up well to baking and cooking.

28. Scarlet Crush Apples

The name of this apple is very pretty and alludes to its beautiful red-pink color and its lovely crunchy texture. It has a balance of sweet, citrus and sour flavors that you can use both raw and cooked. Also, it lasts a long time if stored in a cool place.

29. Apple Sweet Cheeks

This apple comes from a cross between a Honeycrisp and a Pink Lady, and is the perfect mix of honey sweetness and crisp acidity.

It is delicious fresh as a snack or in a salad, but can also be used in cooked recipes thanks to its firm texture and slight acidity.

30. Ruby Darling Apples

Ruby Darling, another adorable name that indicates a beautiful bright red apple bursting with a crisp sweet flavor.

It is a cross between a Honeycrisp and a Gala with all the delicious attributes of both. Although they are not widely available yet, if you can find them, give them a try.

They are great fresh and raw, juiced or used in baking or cooking.

31. Cosmic Apple Crisp

Seriously, some names for these apples are so wonderful they make you want to dive into an entire bag.

Cosmic Crisp is a bright red apple that has a great balance between sweetness and acidity. Try pairing it with Red Delicious apples in your baking for a great flavor combination.

32. Evercrisp Apples

As the name suggests, these apples are crisp and juicy, with a texture that holds up well to baking and cooking. They have a lovely subtle sweetness and just a hint of tartness.

33. Pixie Crunch Apples

With a name like Pixie Crunch, you can rightly guess that these apples are smaller than other varieties and have a deliciously firm, crunchy texture.

They are delicious raw and their size makes them perfect to put in the children’s lunch boxes.

When used in confectionery, they become tender and sweet.

34. Rosalee Apples

This is one apple you will want to look for in grocery stores starting in October 2021. They are a great cross between Honeycrisp and Fuji with a delicious, subtle sweet flavor.

35. Pacific Rose Apples

Pacific Rose is a pretty pink in color and has a more tart than sweet flavor that makes it perfect for use in baking as it can balance sweetness in recipes.

It has a firm, crunchy texture that holds up well in cakes, pies, muffins and chips.

36. Hudson’s Golden Gem Apples

This heritage apple has a beautiful nutty aroma and a pear-like flavor. It is one of the best tasting Russet apples and is delicious when squeezed into juices and ciders.

They are generally eaten fresh or used in juices and ciders, rather than cooked or baked.

37. Braeburn Apples

This firm apple has a delicious sweet and tangy flavor and a crunchy texture. It is the parent of many of the varieties on this list.

These apples store well and are a wonderful choice for baking or cooking, as they hold their shape well when heated. These apples break open and are juicy, but not mushy.

38. Idared Apples

The Idared apple is, you guessed it, bright red in color, with a crunchy texture and sweet-tart flavor that holds up well to baking or cooking.

Their red skin makes for a beautiful pink apple sauce, and they can be enjoyed crisp and fresh in salads.

39. Jonathan Apples

These apples tend more towards tart than sweet and have a juicy, crunchy and firm texture that makes them delicious both cooked and raw.

40. Empire Apples

These apples are a cross between two of my favorite varieties, the McIntosh and the Red Delicious. It is a great all-round apple with a firm texture and a sweet and sour taste. Try it raw in salads or in your favorite tart or crisp.

41. Modi Apples

These apples are not very popular in North America yet, but they are likely to arrive soon from Europe. Modi apples are a tasty all-purpose apple that you can enjoy fresh as a snack or baked into pies, muffins and tarts.

42. Apple Choupette/Dalinette

This apple variety was originally bred in France and has a lovely sweet and sour taste. It may not be widely available yet, but it has a lovely flavor and texture, so if you find it in the store, throw one in your basket to try it out.

43. Apple Pomme Gray

These small to medium-sized Russet apples come from Quebec and taste similar to Hudson’s Golden Gem apples. They have a slightly nutty, sweet flavor, with a subtle pear flavor.

They’re great for cooking and baking, although since they’re so small, you may have to use quite a few.