Apples originated in Central Asia, and have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe. Colonists brought apples from Europe to North America, and today, The United States is the fruit’s second-leading producer, with more than 6% of world production. In California, Julian is well known for its apple orchards where they are in abundance this time of year. Take advantage of apple season while this versatile fruit is in its prime.

Photo Credit: Minerva Thai

Sweet & Saucy Shop
Sweet & Saucy Shop, located in Crystal Cove Promenade, serves Caramel Apple Mini Lattice Top Pie, which are bite-sized delights perfect for people not looking for a huge indulgence. These little pies have a hint of tartness from the apples, and sweetness from the caramel. The lattice top results in more buttery goodness, enveloping an already delicious center.

Photo Courtesy of Pelican Hill

Coliseum Pool & Grill
At this restaurant in The Resort at Pelican Hill, the Autumn Roasted Apple & Caramelized Onion Flatbread is a salty sweet delight that uses peak of the season apples. Sliced apples are tossed with salt, pepper, sugar and olive oil, then baked until slightly golden before they’re piled on to pizza dough together with caramelized onions, frisee lettuce, thinly sliced duck prosciutto and feta cheese.

Photo Credit: Anita Lau

Pescadou Bistro
This French-style bistro near Lido Live serves classic Tarte Tatin. This traditional French pastry features fruit that is caramelized in butter and sugar before being baked in the pastry. This customer favorite is made in-house and has remained on the menu for more than a decade. An upside down caramelized Granny Apple tart comprises a flaky puff pastry base topped with poached Granny Smith apples. The result is a gooey topping over a crispy crust. Opt for a scoop of vanilla ice cream to have it a la mode.

Photo Credit: Anita Lau

True Food Kitchen
While cocktails are always a welcoming start to kick off a meal, True Food Kitchen’s mission of offering a healthy and fresh menu items means their non-alcoholic beverages are also created with that in mind. At the Fashion Island outpost, there’s nothing more refreshing than Sparkling Apple Soda. Fresh apple and lemon juices ensure a bright, clean finish, while cinnamon, vanilla and a hint of cane sugar evoke the feeling that fall is just around the corner.

Photo Credit: Anita Lau

Moulin

La tarte aux pommes, or apple tart, at this bistro by Route 73 is a delicate creation made in-house daily. The pastry follows a traditional French recipe with a short list of pure ingredients including puff pastry, apples, sugar and butter. Only a small amount of tarts are baked each day until golden-brown, and the individually sized dessert is then glazed and available in the patisserie display case until sold out. Consider Moulin’s apple tart a little taste of Paris right in Newport Beach.

Photo Credit: Anita Lau

Rudy’s Pub & Grill
The Apple Fritter À La Mode from Rudy’s Pub & Grill is debauchery at its best. This cinnamon crumb apple fritter is actually a doughnut with apples mixed into the batter, and then fried until crispy. The fritter comes with a ginormous chunk of vanilla ice cream and gets drizzled with sweet, gooey caramel sauce. This dessert is definitely a sweet treat best shared with your friends.

Photo Credit: Joy Morales-Coblentz

Zinc Cafe & Market
The Apple Strudel at Zinc Cafe in Corona del Mar is a thick wedge of phyllo dough encasing a cornucopia of ingredients: apples, golden raisins, chopped almonds and walnuts, sugar, butter, cinnamon and lemon zest. Each bite is a marriage of fruity, buttery goodness, which is a testament to why this pastry has remained on the menu for so long. Buy a slice or an entire strudel to take home.

Photo Credit: Gelato Paradiso

Gelato Paradiso
At the Fashion Island branch of this Southern California chain, Gelato Paradiso makes Green Apple Sorbetto with fresh green apples, and Mela Verde, a vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free fruit paste imported from Italy. The concentrated apple product has been used in making gelatos and sorbets across Italy for over four decades and adds an additional apple element to the airy sorbet. This tart, icy treat makes use of apples in season and is made with no artificial ingredients.