Autumn brings apples in startling numbers, from heirloom varieties at the farmer's market to batches from family picking outings. No matter where you find yours, it's easy to get carried away and bring home more than you really need. Here are six tasty ways to use your apple leftovers.

  1. Applesauce

    One of the simplest things you can do with your apples is turn them into applesauce. Whether you like yours raw or cooked, it's a quick and easy way to capture that fresh apple flavor. Eat it as-is, spoon it over your morning oatmeal or use it while baking your favorite cakes and muffins. Even better, cook it down slowly with a bit of sugar and cinnamon to make spreadable apple butter.

  2. Apple Syrup

    Apple pie is the gold standard of comfort-food desserts. Wouldn’t it be nice to add that warm apple-cinnamon flavor to other desserts as well? Well, if you have a Vitamix machine, you can. It takes just five or six minutes to turn chopped apples into cinnapple syrup, a pourable topping for waffles, vanilla ice cream or other favorite desserts.

  3. Apple-Based Smoothies

    Creating healthy, flavorful smoothies is one of the best reasons to own a Vitamix machine. Unsurprisingly, apples work well in a wide range of those. Use your homemade apple butter in a holiday fruit smoothie, or whip up a round of apple pie smoothies to make a dent in your pile of leftovers. Chopped fresh apples or homemade applesauce go well in almost any smoothie, so feel free to experiment.

  4. Mealtime Options

    Apples don't always have to be sweet. You've probably spooned applesauce over a pork chop or two at some point, but there are lots of other savory options for apples. They’re part of the classic Waldorf salad, for example. Try a new spin by pairing your lettuce with thin-sliced apple, fennel and toasted walnuts as a garnish. Eat it with your favorite chips or spoon it over fish, chicken or pork as a condiment.

  5. Frozen Desserts

    Pies, strudels and cakes are deservedly popular, but what about frozen apple desserts? They're a pleasing alternative on warm autumn days or in front of a hot fire on a crisp night. Replicate the flavor of apple pie in your ice cream or incorporate spinach — green-smoothie style — to make a lighter, fresher green apple ice cream. For an even cleaner, crisp flavor, try an icy herbed apple granita.

  6. Homemade Juice

    Juicing captures both the fresh flavor and nutrition of fruit, and your Vitamix machine makes it simple to turn your stack of excess apples into homemade apple juice at the drop of a hat. Choose sweet or tart apples to suit your palate; there's really no right or wrong. As a rule, you'll get a fuller apple flavor by blending several varieties. Try adding compatible fruits and vegetables to make your own custom juice blends.