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We’re all familiar with the old adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but in reality apples can do so much more. They are so versatile and they can be used in the kitchen in many creative ways either baked, raw, or used in sauces.
Some apples naturally lend themselves to different preparations based on how sweet they are and how well their textures will hold up to different processing methods.
So, what is the sweetest apple? The Fuji apple is generally thought to be the sweetest apple, with the Kiku and Ambrosia apples following closely behind. However, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Jazz apples are also incredibly sweet as well.
There are over 2500 varieties of apples 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 will depend on a couple of factors. The first one to look at is the amount of natural sugars found in the particular variety. The more natural sugars it has, the sweeter it will be and vice versa.
You will also want to eat your apple when it is fully ripe and in season for the sweetest flavor.
I’ve found that if I’ve 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.
A few other factors that can contribute to how sweet an apple tastes include the climate in which they’re grown, the health of the growing environment, the fall weather and temperatures, and how ripe they were when picked.
Below I’ve outlined 43 of the sweetest apples, ending with a couple tart options so you can choose the perfect one for you based on what is available at your store, what season it is, and how sweet you want it to be.
1. Fuji Apples
Fuji apples are one of the easiest to find at the grocery store and for good reason. They are deliciously sweet and have a unique flavor that many people have likened to honey.
This variety is generally available year round, thanks to a long shelf-life and the ability to import them from warmer climates.
It has a crispy texture and juicy crunch, which makes them a perfect crunchy addition to salads. They also hold up well when used in sauces, though they aren’t the best choice for baking, they will still taste great.
2. Kiku Apples
Taking a close second, or even sometimes sliding into top spot is the Kiku apple. This variety is incredibly juicy, crisp, and sweet. They are related to Fuji apples, but are generally a brighter red when you see them at the store.
This variety holds up well in pies, tarts, crisps, 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 scoop of peanut butter.
3. Ambrosia Apples
Another sweet option that is low in acidity is the Ambrosia apple. This variety wasn’t actually bred for sweetness, but a happy accident led to it being discovered in the wild. It is incredibly sweet, juicy, and has a floral, honey-like flavor.
Ambrosia apples are delicious when baked in pies, tarts, cakes, muffins, and other baked goods. They are actually so sweet that some chefs find they can cut down 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 softer texture than the above varieties. Because it is not as crunchy, it doesn’t hold up well to use in pies and other baked goods since it turns quite mushy and a little mealy.
These apples are best enjoyed raw. They also work well in sauces, specifically pork and apple dishes, or in a plain apple sauce.
5. Gala Apples
These apples have a lovely sweetness, but also offer a bit of a tartness, which can be a nice balance. Like some other apples on this list, their flavor has been described as having notes of honey, but also a bit of a pear taste.
Galas are wonderful for use in recipes because they hold their shape well so you can get creative and use them in all of your favorite recipes from pies to sauces to cakes.
6. Honeycrisp Apples
These apples are my parents’ all-time favorite variety. They can buy a giant box and eat them all in under a week.
These apples are naturally high in sugars but also have some acidity, which gives them a more balanced taste than some other apples on this list.
They have a crisp and crunchy texture and sweet honey-like taste. This variety holds up well to baking and complements a lot of flavors used in pies, cakes, muffins, and crisps.
If you’ve never tried a Honeycrisp apple, add them to your next shopping list. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
7. SweeTango Apples
As the name of this apple implies, it is a sweet and tangy apple that is crisp and juicy. It is actually a variety that comes from the Honeycrisp apple, so if you’re a fan of them you will probably love the SweeTango.
They are a little higher in acidity, so their flavor can be a little more complex.
They are especially delicious in crisps, where their natural flavor really shines. But you can use them in any preparation you like or enjoy them fresh and juicy as they are.
8. Envy Apples
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 so it makes a great sliced snack for lunchboxes.
Its texture and flavor also hold up really well in baking, making it another wonderful choice for all your apple pie needs.
9. Sweetie Apples
This apple was specifically bred for sweetness and is lower in acidity than some other varieties on the list.
It has a lovely texture that holds up really well to baking and can be used in savory cooking applications for that perfect hint of sweetness.
10. Jazz Apples
Another popular grocery store favorite, the Jazz apple is another breed that comes from crossing Royal Gala and Braeburn apples. They are sweet with a slight hint of honey and pear flavor.
They work perfectly well in either raw or cooked and baked preparations, which makes them a great addition to your shopping list.
11. Kanzi Apples
These apples were bred to be a dessert variety so as you can imagine they are packed with sweetness and are absolutely delicious when eaten raw and fresh.
They don’t last as long as some other varieties, so make sure you keep them in the fridge.
The Kanzi apples hold their shape well when cooked and baked and keep their delicious juiciness, so you can enjoy them any way that you like.
12. Dazzle Apples
This variety comes from New Zealand and is one of the newer apples on the list. This may make it a little more difficult to find, but if you can it is worth trying. They are deliciously sweet, fresh, crisp, with a subtle tartness.
Its crisp texture and sweet flavor make it a great choice for baking, cooking, juicing, or enjoying raw.
13. Golden Delicious Apples
It may be surprising to see a yellow apple on this list since they are generally a little more tart than their red relatives. However, if Golden Delicious apples are allowed to ripen on the tree they can be incredibly sweet and delicious.
This apple is widely considered to be one of the best all-round baking apples thanks to its flavor and the way its texture holds up to virtually any cooking process.
14. Jonagold Apples
These apples are another dessert variety, which means they are packed with a sweet flavor. They are delicious when enjoyed raw and fresh, but are also an excellent apple to use in baking.
If you’re a fan of stuffed apples, the Jonagold is a great one to hollow out and fill with your favorite things.
Thanks to their parentage, Golden Delicious and the Jonathan apple, they also have a nice underlying tartness that balances out the sweet taste.
15. Piñata Apples
These apples are another descendant of the Golden Delicious apple and have a sharper sweetness to them than some other apples on this list.
They have a thin skin and a crisp 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 baking, they are delicious in apple pie thanks to their crisp 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 since it has a firm texture, a good amount of acidity, and a delicious sweetness to balance everything 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 crisp and hold up well to baking and cooking. They can also be stored for several months in cold storage.
18. Opal Apples
Another yellow variety apple to make our list, this one comes from the Golden Delicious. It has a nice balance of sweet and tart flavor that tastes wonderful 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 on the market and come from the Honeycrisp variety. They have a bit of acidity, which can balance out sweetness if you are using it in baking.
It has a crisp and firm texture that is delicious raw, cooked, or baked. If you can find them at the market, give them a try.
20. Winter Banana Apples
These apples are a specialty variety that, as the name suggest, have a slight banana-like flavor.
They are wonderfully sweet, firm, and tangy. Add them raw to salads for a wonderfully unique apple flavor or try juicing them for a delightful apple juice.
This heirloom variety also holds up well to baking.
21. Cox’s Orange Pippin Apples
Another heirloom variety, this apple has a firm texture that holds up well to being baked or cooked. It has a crisp sweetness and is definitely worth trying if you can find it at the store.
22. Snow Apple
You might notice a little theme in this part of the list since the Snow apple is another heirloom variety. You might also see it called the Fameuse apple. They grow well in colder climates, which gives them their famous sweetness.
It has a subtle strawberry-like aroma and is delicious both raw and cooked.
23. Red Delicious Apples
These apples are actually one of my favorites on the list. I love their softer texture and sweeter taste. I’m not a huge fan of super crisp apples, so Red Delicious ticks all my boxes.
Most people don’t recommend baking with them since they don’t hold their texture super well, but that’s one of the reasons I love them most in things like crisps and crumbles.
I wouldn’t use them in a pie or a muffin, but the 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 touch of tartness.
It’s perfect to use as a snack, in a salad, or your favorite baked application. The crisp texture holds up well to heat.
25. Ginger Gold Apples
The Ginger Gold apple likely descends from the Golden Delicious variety and makes 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 mildly sweet and adds wonderful flavor to pies and cakes.
26. Spencer Apples
I’ve already mentioned McIntosh apples above, and the Spencer apple is a descendant of this variety.
They are known as a dessert apple and have a wonderful sweetness balanced with a bit of tart flavor 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 for longer periods of time than some other varieties.
It grows well in cold climates, which can help make it taste even sweeter. It doesn’t brown as quickly as some other apples, so you can slice and serve it raw.
The firm, crisp flesh also holds up well to baking and cooking.
28. Scarlet Crush Apples
The name of this apple is so beautiful and hints at the lovely red-pink color and a lovely crisp texture. It has a balance of sweet, citrusy, and tart flavors that you can use either raw or cooked. It also lasts for a long time if stored in a cool place.
29. Sweet Cheeks Apple
This apple comes from a cross between a Honeycrisp and a Pink Lady and is the perfect blend of honey-sweetness and tart crispness.
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 that is packed with crisp sweet flavor.
It is a cross between a Honeycrisp and Gala with all the delicious attributes of both. While they may not be widely available just yet, if you can find them definitely give them a try.
These are great fresh and raw, juiced, or used in baking or cooking.
31. Cosmic Crisp Apples
Seriously, some names of these apples are just so wonderful and make you want to dive into a whole bag.
The Cosmic Crisp is a bright red apple that is a great balance between sweetness and tartness. Try pairing it with Red Delicious apples in your baking for a great flavor combo.
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 touch of tart flavor.
33. Pixie Crunch Apples
With a name like Pixie Crunch, you might rightly guess that these apples are smaller than some other varieties and have a delicious, firm, crunchy texture.
They are delicious raw and their size makes them perfect to pack into kids’ lunchboxes.
When used in baking, it will become tender and sweet.
34. Rosalee Apples
This is an apple you will want to keep your eyes out for in the grocery stores starting in October of 2021. They are a large cross between Honeycrisp and Fuji with a delightfully subtle sweet flavor.
35. Pacific Rose Apples
The Pacific Rose is a beautiful pink color and has a more tart than sweet flavor that makes it perfect for use in baking since it can balance out the sweetness in the recipes.
It has a crunchy firm texture that holds up well to use in pies, cakes, muffins, and crisps.
36. Hudson’s Golden Gem Apples
This heritage apple has a beautiful nutty aroma and a pear-like taste. It is one of the best tasting Russet apples and is delicious when pressed into juices and ciders.
They are generally eaten fresh or used in juices and ciders as opposed to being cooked or baked.
37. Braeburn Apples
This firm apple has a delightful spicy-sweet flavor and crisp texture. It is the parent to many of the varieties found on this list.
These apples store well and are a wonderful choice for baking or cooking since they hold their shape well when heated. These apples break up and get juicy, but not mushy.
38. Idared Apples
The Idared apple is, you guessed it, bright red with a crisp texture and sweet-tart flavor that holds up well to being baked or cooked.
Their red skin makes a beautiful pink-colored apple sauce, and they can be enjoyed crisp and fresh in salads.
39. Jonathan Apples
These apples tend a bit more towards the tart than the sweet and have a juicy, crisp, 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’s a great all-purpose apple with a firm texture and a sweet-tart taste. Try it raw in salads or in your favorite pie or crisp.
41. Modi Apples
These apples aren’t super popular in North America just yet, but they are likely to make it over from Europe soon. The Modi apples are a tasty all-purpose apple that you can enjoy fresh as a snack or baked into cakes, muffins, and pies.
42. Choupette/Dalinette Apple
This apple variety was originally bred in France and has a lovely sweet-tart flavor. It may not be widely available just yet, but it has a lovely taste and texture so if you can find it at the store, pop one in your basket to try.
43. Pomme Gris Apple
These small to medium-sized Russet variety apples come from Quebec and have a similar flavor to the Hudson’s Golden Gem apples. They are slightly nutty, sweet, with a subtle pear flavor.
They are great for cooking and baking, though, since they are so small, you may need to use quite a few.
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