Never go apple picking without knowing how many apples you need for a recipe again!
How Many Apples Are in a Cup?
Updated on Mar. 20, 2019
It’s that time of year—we’re cooking, baking and even decorating with apples. There’s only one problem: Apples don’t drop perfectly into a measuring cup! It’s tough to figure out the right amount, whether you’re at the grocery store or the best apple orchard in your state.
Here’s the trick to measuring apples for every recipe you’ll make this season.
How Many Apples in a Cup
About 3/4 of an average sliced or cubed apple equates to a single cup. However, it really depends on the size of your apple and how you’ll be cutting it. In a perfect world, you’ll start with a medium apple. It’s about the same size as a tennis ball (or about 2 ½ – 2 ¾ inches in diameter). Keep in mind that when apples are bigger or smaller than a tennis ball, they will make proportionately more or less than the equivalents below.
1 medium apple makes:
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1 ⅓ cup sliced apples
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1 ⅓ cup cubed apples
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1 ¼ cup diced apples
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1 cup finely minced or grated
You should be able to guesstimate the number of apples required for any recipe without slicing too many. It’s also helpful to know how many apples to buy in the first place.
1 pound of apples:
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1 pound of apples will make about 3 cups sliced or cubed
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4 tennis ball-sized apples weigh about a pound
The size of each apple will vary widely based on type, so it’s always good to buy an extra. Take a look at the best apples for baking, too. You’re all ready to fill apple pies, tarts and side dishes with ease. Start with our most a-peel-ing apple desserts!
Air-Fryer Apple Fritters
These easy air-fryer apple fritters with brown butter glaze are healthier than old-fashioned fritters, yet they are still as delicious. Plus they're made in under 30 minutes for a quick and easy apple dessert! —Alyssa Castriotta, North Scituate, Rhode Island
Apple Crisp PizzaWhile visiting the bakery at a Wisconsin apple orchard, I tried this tempting treat. At home, I put together this recipe. As it bakes, the enticing aroma fills my kitchen, and friends and family linger waiting for a sample. —Nancy Preussner, Delhi, Iowa
Easy Apple CakeAfter testing many apple cake recipes with fresh apples, I found this old-fashioned easy apple cake that is moist, dense and down-home delicious. Even better, it's quick to fix, and when it's served warm with whipped cream or a dollop of frozen custard, it's one of my family’s very favorites. —Sherry Ashenfelter, Waterville, Ohio
Apple Peanut Butter CookiesThese apple peanut butter cookies are great for fall gatherings. They're crisp on the outside and soft inside. —Marjorie Benson, New Castle, Pennsylvania
Baked AppleBeyond a little prep work, this baked apple recipe takes care of itself in the oven and transforms into an aromatic, spicy and sweet dessert that comes into its own during fall apple season.
Apple-Sweet Potato Pecan Dump CakeThis quick cake has lots of delicious apples, sweet potatoes, spices, pecans and caramel. mdash;Kathy Specht, Clinton, Montana
Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel SauceThis apple bread pudding with caramel sauce has been in my life for a long time. It's a family fave and always on my buffet when I put together a brunch. It's also special enough for dinner dessert. —Cleo Gonske, Redding, California
Slow-Cooker Apple CobblerMake slow-cooker apple cobbler for a warm dessert or as a special sweet treat for breakfast.
Apple Spice CakeThis apple spice cake combines the sweetness of Honeycrisp apples with warm spices and a rich cream cheese frosting, making it the perfect dessert for any occasion—or just because.
Apple FrittersThis is an old southern apple fritter recipe. When we got home from a trip through the South years ago, I found the recipe among the brochures I brought back. I've been making these easy apple fritters ever since. —John Robbins, Springdale, Pennsylvania
Psst! Learn how to make apple roses, too.
Slow-Cooker Apple Pudding CakeA satisfying dessert like this is a superb treat on a chilly night. It has three layers—apples, cake and sauce—and I like to serve it in a bowl. It's comfort food for the soul. —Ellen Schroeder, Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Easy Apple CrispHere's an easy apple crisp! This is a delicious dessert perfect for young cooks to prepare. It's super simple to make since there's no crust—just a crumbly topping. Plus, with apples and oats, it's a wholesome treat. —Sheri Hatten, Devil's Lake, North Dakota
Fried ApplesIt only takes four ingredients to make fried apples, a favorite southern side dish.
Apple BreadWhile this apple bread is simply delicious as is, the fall-friendly recipe is also ripe for improvisation, so feel free to add your favorite dried fruits.
Apple Coffee CakeApple coffee cake is made with tender apples, tangy sour cream and a spiced brown sugar topping. Enjoy the cake with coffee as a glorious way to wake up.
Oatmeal Caramel Apple CookiesHomemade caramel apple cookies are a fall favorite. They combine the rich flavors of caramel, brown sugar, oats and fresh apples. Easy to make and perfect for the season, these cookies offer a delightful taste of autumn with every bite.
Apple-Walnut Cake with Orange GlazeI tinkered with a plain apple cake recipe to create this moist, delicious winner. The result: old-fashioned goodness with a heavenly aroma! This cake is the perfect fall treat or holiday dessert, but it’s also great as a special breakfast or brunch item. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida
Oatmeal Cookie BarsThese oatmeal cookie bars include a simple caramel sauce hack. The recipe comes together so fast that it will instantly become your go-to fall treat!
Apple Slab PieApple slab pie is a terrific contribution to a covered-dish supper, picnic or potluck. It’s baked in a large 15x10 baking pan so it’s easy to make and tote, too. But be prepared—people always ask for a copy of the recipe! —Dolores Skrout, Summerhill, Pennsylvania
Apple-Nut Bread PuddingTraditional bread pudding gives way to autumn's influences in this comforting, easy apple dessert. I add apples and pecans to this slow-cooked version, then top warm servings with ice cream. —Lori Fox, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Apple Pull-Apart BreadFor a fun sweet treat that's certain to satisfy, try this recipe. Drizzled with icing, each finger-licking piece has a yummy surprise filling of apples and pecans. It's well worth the bit of extra effort. —Carolyn Gregory, Hendersonville, Tennessee
Apple Cranberry Upside-Down CakesCornmeal gives this upside-down cake a unique texture. Apples, cranberries and pecan make a delicious alternative to the typical pineapple and cherries. —Margee Berry, Trout Lake, Washington
Gingerbread CakeIndulge in the ultimate warming treat with a homemade gingerbread cake. Rich, spiced flavors are paired with a velvety caramel sauce for a truly decadent dessert.
Apple Pie CupcakesTurn the classic cupcake into a fall favorite with our rendition of apple pie cupcakes. Filled with a sweet apple mixture and topped with cinnamon frosting, these cupcakes taste just like apple pie!
Caramel ApplesNothing tastes better at this time of year than a sweet-to-eat caramel apple! That rich homemade flavor just can't be beat.—Karen Ann Bland, Gove, Kansas
Easy Apple CobblerThree words to describe this apple cobbler: easy, comforting and down-right delicious. The best part? It takes three simple steps to get this golden-brown delight from the mixing bowl to your plate.
Cinnamon Apple Cider Monkey BreadI use the cold-weather staple apple cider—plus apples and more cinnamon—to turn plain cinnamon rolls into monkey bread. My boys love the sticky sweetness. —Kelly Walsh, Aviston, Illinois
Caramel Apple FloatWho doesn't love the flavors of caramel, apples, and vanilla ice cream together? If I'm feeling fancy, I drizzle caramel syrup around the inside of my glass before adding the apple cider and ginger ale. —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
Swedish Cream Apple RingsMy mother made this classic coffee cake for every important holiday... Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Now, I carry on the tradition. As I make them, I remember my mom, who was a lot like this recipe: soft and tasteful but full of surprises. The overnight rise let's you make the dough in advance so your morning won't be hectic.—Heather Hood, Hillsboro, Oregon
Apple Betty with Almond CreamI love making this apple betty for friends during the peak of apple season. I plan a quick soup and bread meal, so we can get right to the dessert! —Elizabeth Godecke, Chicago, Illinois
Apple Pie Ricotta WafflesI had apples and ricotta cheese to use up, so instead of making a pie I decided to do something different. The result was these fluffy, tender waffles with just a hint of sweetness. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
Apple SconesFlakey, moist and brimming with fall flavor, these apple scones are the ideal breakfast treat for a chilly autumn morning. Serve with a caramel drizzle over the top as the recipe calls for, or make them your own with a cinnamon-sugar sprinkle that complements the apples baked inside.
Swedish Apple PieThis decadent Swedish apple pie serves up homemade flavor in every bite. This is a perfect snack with coffee or as an after-dinner treat. —Sarah Klier, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Apple Dumplings with Crescent RollsWhen you don't have time to make them the traditional way, apple dumplings with crescent rolls make for an easy and delicious dessert. Forget fussing with a crust, just roll these up and pop them in the oven.
Apple Butterscotch CrispI give this classic dessert a rich twist with butterscotch pudding. The warm apple filling bubbles to perfection in a mini slow cooker. —Jolanthe Erb, Harrisonburg, Virginia
Easy Apple StrudelMy family always loves it when I make this wonderful dessert. Old-fashioned strudel was too fattening and time-consuming, so I changed it up a bit. This revised classic is just as good as the original. It's best served warm from the oven. —Joanie Fuson, Indianapolis, Indiana
Apple CrispEvery bite of this apple crisp has tart, tender apples and a cinnamon streusel topping. It smells like heaven when it's baking too!
Favorite Dutch Apple PieEverything about this easy apple dessert (but especially its topping!) makes it the number 1 request for family gatherings. Its oat crust reminds me of a cookie, and the tart apple filling just can't be beat during harvest time. —Brenda DuFresne, Midland, Michigan
Apple Fritter CakeI was experimenting with a beer bread to make it into a dessert and came up with this delectable apple fritter cake. —Ann Marie Eberhart, Gig Harbor, Washington
Apple Pie BitesThese apple pie bites are fun for kids to make. Simply wrap strips of pastry around apple wedges and shake on some cinnamon-sugar. Then just bake and watch them disappear! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Dutch Apple CakeMy husband and I came to Canada from Holland more than 40 years ago. This traditional Dutch recipe is a family favorite and has frequently gone along with me to potluck suppers and other get-togethers. —Elizabeth Peters, Martintown, Ontario
Sour Cream Apple PieA cool, creamy version of the original, this delicious dessert is the perfect finish to a satisfying summer meal. Its crumbly topping and smooth apple filling are crowd-pleasers! Be prepared to serve seconds. —Sharon Bickett, Chester, South Carolina
German Apple CakeBursting with pieces of juicy apple, warmly spiced with cinnamon and crowned with a sweet cloud of cream cheese frosting, this German apple cake is perfect for fall.
Caramel Apple CupcakesBring these extra special cupcakes to your next event and watch how quickly they disappear! With a caramel topping and spice cake base, they're the perfect mix of two fall-favorite treats. —Diane Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas
Glazed Apple-Maple BlondiesEasy apple dessert? Coming right up! My 6-year-old son and I conjured up this recipe to use up the last of the apples we picked from the local apple orchard. Serve it with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine
Caramel Apple BitesKids can help make these perfect fall bites by dipping the baked cookies in caramel and nuts. It's a fun food craft for all of us. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Apple StreuselApple streusel is a tasty dessert that doesn't require too much technique or effort in the baking department. This one "bakes" in the slow cooker, making it that much more convenient.
Cinnamon Apple PieWhether baked in a skillet or a deep-dish pie plate, a hefty cinnamon apple pie is a real stunner.
Apple CrostataThis apple crostata recipe has firm apple slices covered with cinnamon sugar and a drizzle of caramel topping, resting in a simple dough circle. This is a terrific dessert to make when you don't want to bother with shaping and blind-baking a pie crust.
Apple Dumpling Roll-UpsA family friend gave me a simple way to make apple dumplings without lots of steps. I love the sticky cinnamon topping. —Jenny Leighty, West Salem, Ohio
Apple StrudelThe ideal fall recipe has arrived: the apple strudel. Filled with a gooey inside and wrapped in a golden, flaky outer crust, this apple strudel is as pretty as it is delicious.
Apple Bavarian TorteA cookie-like crust holds the sensational filling of cream cheese, apples and almonds. This comforting apple torte will be welcomed addition to a bake sale or potluck. —Sheila Swift, Dobson, North Carolina
Apple KolachesA fellow home cook shared this recipe for a sweet, fruit-filled pastry. My son, who isn’t a dessert fan, was disappointed when he came home to find his dad had polished off the last kolache in the batch. —Ann Johnson, Evansville, Indiana
Apple Brown Betty RecipeWith warm spices and crisp bread crumbs, an apple brown betty is a perfectly fruity dessert without all the work of a pie.
Caramel-Apple Skillet BuckleMy grandma made a version of this easy apple dessert for me when I was a little girl—and fresh apples from a tree in her backyard added an extra-special touch. I’ve adapted her recipe because I love the combination of apple, pecans and caramel. —Emily Hobbs, Springfield, Missouri
No-Bake Apple PieWe always have an abundance of apples in the fall, so I like to make this easy pie. My husband has diabetes, and this recipe fits into his diet ... but everyone enjoys it. —Shirley Vredenburg, Ossineke, Michigan
Apple Cranberry CrispFor a tart twist on an old-fashioned dessert favorite, try this apple cranberry crisp.
Caramel Apple CheesecakeThis caramel apple cheesecake will bring back nostalgic memories of your childhood visits to the fair. This version is all grown up, with a rich cheesecake filling and its garnish of pecans.
Maple-Glazed Apple PieEven though we've lived in Florida for three years, I still feel like a Vermonter. My parents send us a bushel of Vermont apples each fall, and we try to visit in the spring to do some sugaring. —Patricia Putnam, Lakeland, Florida
Apple Pear CakeWhen my sister Catherine made her apple cake for me, I knew I needed the recipe. For my version, I added some pears from the trees on our acreage. The resulting apple-pear cake is so moist and tastes so good. Now every time I make it, people want my recipe. —Mary Ann Lees, Centreville, Alabama
Caramel Apple-Pear CrispThis crisp is packed with a combination of healthy pears and apples, and just the right amount of tasty walnuts in the topping. You'll love it! —Amanda Pettit, Logan, Ohio
ApfelkuchenEmbrace nostalgic flavors and homey feelings with apfelkuchen—an old-fashioned dessert recipe that's been deliciously prepped for more than 150 years.
Caramel DumplingsMy family just loves these tender dumplings in the sweet, rich sauce. I love them because they turn out wonderful every time I make them, which is a lot! —Faye Johnson, Connersville, Indiana
Sweet Potato Carrot CrispSweet potatoes take a different twist in this whipped side dish that pairs them with carrots. Subtly sweet, it has just a hint of garlic, while the nut and crumb topping adds a fun crunch to any holiday meal. —Diane Molberg, Calgary, Alberta
Apple Cornbread CrispWith hearty ingredients and quick prep time, this warm apple crisp makes a delicious, wholesome dessert for any fall night. It reminds me of the recipe my grandmother would serve after our big family seafood dinners. It's absolutely wonderful topped with ice cream. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
Apple Hand PiesCaramelized apples are tucked into these apple hand pies that no one expects you to share! — Edwina Gadsby, Hayden, Idaho
Apple Pie BarsThis is only one of many wonderful recipes that my mother handed down to me. With their flaky crust and scrumptious fruit filling, these delicious apple pie bars are the perfect way to serve apple pie to a crowd.—Janet English, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tips from the Test Kitchen: Are You Measuring Flour the Right Way?
Check out more measuring tips from the experts to make your recipe perfect every time.
