Ginger Gold Apples

We welcome the fall apple season with one of the earliest ripening apples: the Ginger Gold. This apple was discovered in the 1960s near a Golden Delicious orchard, and shares many traits with its parent: a fairly long shelf life; gorgeous golden color; and a sweet flavor for such an early apple. It does have a sharper edge than the Golden Delicious, so it’s equally great for snacking and cooking. Since this variety doesn’t brown very quickly after it’s cut, it’s an appealing prep-ahead snack to go with peanut butter or be tossed into a fruit salad to munch on all week. Ginger Golds make an almost spicy, early season applesauce. Or slice and bake them into an apple cheddar pie.