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Best Apples for Baking

A combination of sweet and tart apples works best in pie. These six varieties, all of which retain their shape when cooked, were our favorites in kitchen tests.

Type: Sweet

  • Golden Delicious: Sweet with buttery undertones.
  • Braeburn: Takes on a pear-like flavor when baked.
  • Jonagold: Similar to Golden Delicious, but more intense.

Type: Tart

  • Granny Smith: Vibrantly tart. Held shape best.
  • Empire: Strong, complex, cider-like flavor.
  • Cortland: Similar to the Empire, but more tart than complex.  

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