Crab apples are one of those fruits that often get overlooked. With their small size and tart taste many people assume they aren’t good for much. However there are actually quite a few uses for crab apples! Though not as sweet as regular apples, these diminutive fruits can be used in a variety of ways.
Crab apples are essentially wild apples that have not been selectively bred for larger size and sweetness. They are members of the Malus genus, the same genus as regular apples. Crab apples typically measure less than 2 inches in diameter, compared to regular apples which are over 2 inches. They can range in color from red, yellow, or green.
While crab apples tend to be quite tart, they are not poisonous. The entire fruit can be safely eaten, aside from the core and seeds which contain small amounts of cyanide compounds. The flesh of crab apples contains fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Crab apples grow on small, ornamental trees You’ll often find them planted in yards and parks for decorative purposes They blossom with pretty flowers in spring and produce abundant fruit in late summer/early fall.
Now that you know crab apples are indeed edible, here are 15 great uses for them:
1. Make Crabapple Jelly
One of the most popular uses for crab apples is to make homemade jelly. Crab apples are naturally high in pectin, the substance that makes jelly gel. Their tart flavor pairs perfectly with sugar to create a sweet-tart jelly. No additional pectin is needed, just crab apples and sugar.
2. Try Crabapple Chutney
Chutney is a flavorful, savory condiment that commonly contains fruit, vinegar, onions, and spices. Crab apples work wonderfully in chutney recipes, adding tartness and texture. Spread crab apple chutney on sandwiches, pork, or poultry.
3. Craft Crabapple Vinegar
The high levels of malic acid make crab apples perfect for infusing into vinegar. Make your own gourmet flavored vinegars to use in salad dressings, marinades, and cooking. Infuse crab apples in apple cider or white vinegar.
4. Pickle Crab Apples
Pickling is a great way to preserve crab apples. Make spicy pickled crab apples to serve alongside meat dishes or sandwiches. The brine usually contains apple cider vinegar, spices, and sugar. Refrigerator pickles take just a few hours but canning them enables long-term storage.
5. Bake Them into Goodies
Dehydrate crab apples to make delicious homemade fruit leather. Bake chopped crab apples into muffins, breads, tarts, pies, and crisps. Their tartness balances well with other sweet ingredients like sugar, honey, dried fruit, and nuts.
6. Craft Crabapple Syrup
Make a simple syrup by cooking crab apples on the stovetop with water and sugar. Strain out the fruit, and you’re left with a sweet, appley syrup. Use the crab apple syrup to sweeten beverages, drizzle on pancakes or waffles, or use in cocktail recipes.
7. Produce Crabapple Butter
For an apple butter variation, slow cook crab apples into a thick, sweet spread. Season with cinnamon and other fall spices. Slather crab apple butter onto biscuits, toast, oatmeal, or waffles. Use it like you would regular apple butter.
8. Make Mini Caramel Apples
Here’s a fun fall activity: make mini caramel apples using crab apples! Skewer the small fruits and dip into melted caramel or candy coating for a bite-sized autumn treat. Kids will love assembling their own.
9. Craft Homemade Crabapple Pectin
Instead of buying pectin at the store, you can make your own from crab apples. Harvest underripe fruits, extract the juice, and boil it down to activate the pectin. Homemade crab apple pectin sets up jams, jellies, and fruit spreads naturally.
10. Produce Crabapple Tea
Make a tasty herbal tea from crab apple fruits, leaves, and flowers. Crab apple tea has a mild, pleasant flavor with subtle fruity notes. Dry the plant parts to use year-round. Try combining with hibiscus or rosehips for more flavor.
11. Create Crabapple Cider
Pressed into cider, crab apples impart delicious flavor complexity. Blend crab apples with regular apple cider or press them alone. The tannins and acids balance the sweetness. Drink crab apple cider fresh or ferment into hard cider.
12. Infuse Crabapple Vinegar
Steep crab apples in vodka, brandy, rum, or other spirits to extract their flavor. Strain out the fruit and you’re left with crab apple liqueur. Use as a base for cocktails or drizzle over desserts. The possibilities are endless with infused liqueurs.
13. Make Crabapple Fruit Leather
Dehydrate homemade crab apple puree into fruit leathers, the perfect healthy snack for kids and adults. Spread the sauce on a dehydrator tray or baking sheet and dry at low temp until chewy. Bring it along for a nutrient-dense on-the-go bite.
14. Prepare Crabapple Sauce
Make a simple applesauce facsimile by simmering crab apples with a bit of water and a sweetener like sugar or honey until soft. Then run the mixture through a food mill or sieve. Season the crab apple sauce to taste. Eat as is or use in other recipes.
15. Create Unique Jam Varieties
Get creative with crab apple jam. Jazz up plain crab apple jam with ingredients like ginger, vanilla, cranberries, pear, pumpkin, or herbs. The small size makes them easy to pair with other fruits. For best texture, use a mix of underripe and ripe crab apples.
Where and How Are Crab Apples Commonly Used?
If you have a crab apple tree in your backyard and donât want the fruit to go to waste, the right recipe can help you turn their sour bite into a delicious treat.Â
Sugar is a great way to curb the intensity of these little apples, and their sharp flavor can become delightfully tart when combined with a sweetener. Theyâre excellent in desserts such as pies, chips, and tarts.
Crab apple enthusiasts also love making them into jelly or jam. The high levels of pectin in these fruits help to give jelly or jam its jiggly texture.Â
Itâs up to you how you use these little apples. And if you find that the taste isnât for you, you can always enjoy the beauty that blooming crab apple trees bring to the environment.Â
Are Crab Apples Edible?
Yes, you can eat crab apples, but you may not want to eat them straight off the tree. These tiny fruits pack a bitter punch if you eat them raw. But their apple-like taste shines through in baked goods or other homemade recipes.â
Are crab apples healthy? As for crab appleâs nutrition, theyâre a good source of vitamin C and have small amounts of other nutrients. One cup of raw crab apples has 83.6 calories and contains low levels of iron, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, and magnesium.
These fruits also have high antioxidant activity, which may help your body get rid of harmful free radicals.
Are crab apples poisonous? A crab appleâs flesh is perfectly safe for people to eat. But like other apples, the seeds contain a toxic compound that can turn into cyanide when eaten. But donât worry â these apples are safe as long as you avoid the seeds and core.
Everything You Need to Know About Crabapples! | DAFT
FAQ
Are crab apples useful for anything?
Apples also contain pectin, and crabapples are jam-packed with it. Pectin acts as a prebiotic, helping to maintain good gut health.
Can a crab apple be eaten raw?
Yes, you can eat crab apples. Generally, they’re too tart to eat raw, but their appliness is intense when cooked. Crab apples have a really high pectin content, great for jams and jellies.
What is the best way to eat crab apples?
They are not poisonous and can be eaten raw. However, they’re much tastier when baked into a flaky crust. (Isn’t everything?)
What can you do with crab apples?
They’re more commonly made into a sweet jelly to accompany sweet breads or roasted meats and game and are also used to make crab apple wine. As they’re not grown commercially crab apples are not readily available to buy. You’re more likely to find them at farmers’ markets, farm shops or pick-your-own farms.
What are crab apples?
Crab apples are essentially wild apples, members of the Malus genus. The fruit we call apples have been bred over centuries to be larger and sweeter. If the fruit of a Malus tree is bigger than 2 inches in diameter, we tend to call those apples. Smaller than two inches, and we call them crab apples.
Are crab apples safe to eat?
Crab apple trees are common backyard plants. It’s common to wonder if the tiny apples from these trees are safe to eat. What Are Crab Apples? Crab apples are miniature apples made by flowering crab apple trees. These trees are excellent pollinators, and their fruit feeds many kinds of wildlife.
Why do people eat crab apples?
The tart flavor of the crab apple was appreciated not only for its culinary versatility but also for its supposed medicinal properties. For instance, in traditional European herbal medicine, crab apples were used to: Aid digestion by acting as a natural astringent. Support respiratory health, thanks to their mild expectorant qualities.
What can you use crab apples for?
One of the most well-known uses for crab apples, crab apple jelly has a rich apple-y flavor. Use crab apples in place of apples for homemade vinegar. Here’s how to make vinegar from scratch. High in pectin, a great use for crab apples is homemade pectin.
Is crab apple good for You?
At the core of its therapeutic profile is crab apple’s rich antioxidant defense system. The blend of vitamin C, flavonoids, and polyphenols not only helps to neutralize harmful free radicals but also supports cellular regeneration and overall vitality.
Do crab apples taste better?
While the fruits we now call apples have been bred for flavor and texture, the crab apples you’ll see planted everywhere have largely been bred for their ornamental value. Some crab apples will taste far better than others. Some crab apples will also have a bitter, tannic flavor, and it may be best to pass on those. Details on how to tell below.