Only two apples left? These 5 easy desserts can save your afternoon snack
Friday 6 November 2026 10:00 - Adèle Peyches
With a few everyday ingredients—perhaps some cinnamon, flour, butter, puff pastry or chocolate—you can turn them into a comforting treat without a big shopping trip. Some recipes need extra ingredients or make a larger batch, but you can adapt the quantities to suit what you have.
From the easiest baked fruit to a surprising two-ingredient chocolate dessert, here are five apple recipes worth trying, plus practical tips for making a small batch.
1. Baked apples: the simplest way to use two apples
When you want dessert with almost no preparation, baked apples are hard to beat. Cooking softens the fruit and brings out its natural sweetness, while a little cinnamon adds a cosy aroma.
Make one apple per person for a simple two-serving treat. If you have yogurt or ice cream, add a spoonful at serving time—but the fruit is delicious on its own.
Make one apple per person for a simple two-serving treat. If you have yogurt or ice cream, add a spoonful at serving time—but the fruit is delicious on its own.
Baked apples
An incredibly easy apple dessert! The apples come out tender and delicately scented with cinnamon :-) You don't need many ingredients! Proof that you can enjoy a delicious treat with very little :-) This recipe is accessible to everyone, and even the...
2. Homemade apple compote: perfect for fruit that's getting soft
If your apples are no longer especially crisp but are still sound, turn them into homemade compote. The fruit cooks down into a soft, spoonable dessert that works on its own, with yogurt or over breakfast porridge.
With only two apples, make a smaller batch by adjusting the recipe quantities. Add a little water as needed and taste before adding sugar: sweet apples may need very little.
With only two apples, make a smaller batch by adjusting the recipe quantities. Add a little water as needed and taste before adding sugar: sweet apples may need very little.
Apple compote - video recipe!
An homemade apple sauce that will go well with your roasts, or an apple pie, or even as a dessert itself.
3. Quick apple turnovers: when you have puff pastry
Found a sheet of puff pastry in the fridge? You've got the starting point for golden, flaky apple turnovers. A simple fruit filling wrapped in pastry makes an afternoon treat that feels much more elaborate than the work involved.
Cut the apples into small pieces so they cook evenly, and make smaller turnovers if you're working with limited fruit. Follow the full recipe for its other ingredients and baking instructions.
Cut the apples into small pieces so they cook evenly, and make smaller turnovers if you're working with limited fruit. Follow the full recipe for its other ingredients and baking instructions.
Quick apple turnovers
No time to prepare dessert? You can't do without it! That's why you should try our easy and quick apple turnovers! With just a few ingredients, these homemade treats will delight you at the end of a meal or during a snack break :-)
4. Apple crumble: the cosy cupboard dessert
If you have flour, butter and sugar, you can make an easy crumble topping to scatter over chopped apples. The contrast between tender fruit and crisp golden crumbs is what makes this dessert such a favourite.
For just two apples, choose a small ovenproof dish and scale the topping down to match. Keep an eye on the oven: a smaller crumble may be ready sooner than a full-size version.
For just two apples, choose a small ovenproof dish and scale the topping down to match. Keep an eye on the oven: a smaller crumble may be ready sooner than a full-size version.
Super easy apple crumble
A perennial favorite for dessert with apples: crumble! Super easy to make, prepare this dessert with your kids for a fun and delicious activity. You'll only need 5 ingredients! Follow our step-by-step instructions below to make this recipe with tender...
5. Apple and chocolate fudge: the unexpected two-ingredient option
Here's the surprising one: apples and chocolate can become a rich, soft chocolate dessert. It's a clever alternative when you want something different from pies and cakes and already have chocolate in the cupboard.
This recipe relies on the right balance between the fruit and chocolate, so follow the recipe's proportions rather than adding an arbitrary amount of either ingredient. If you have only two apples, adjust the chocolate quantity accordingly.
This recipe relies on the right balance between the fruit and chocolate, so follow the recipe's proportions rather than adding an arbitrary amount of either ingredient. If you have only two apples, adjust the chocolate quantity accordingly.
Chocolate and apple fudge, the super-easy dessert you can make with just 2 ingredients!
After the pear version we loved, discover our delicious apple and chocolate fudge ! If it works, don't fix it: this recipe still uses just two ingredients —fruit (in this case, apples) and chocolate. No added sugar , making it perfect for an...
How to make the most of just two apples
Choose the right recipe for what you have: baked apples and compote are ideal when the cupboard is nearly empty; turnovers need pastry, crumble needs topping ingredients, and fudge needs chocolate.
Cut the fruit into smaller pieces for quicker, more even cooking in pastries and crumbles. If you're reducing a recipe, use a smaller dish and check cooking times rather than assuming they will stay identical.
Finally, taste your apples first. Naturally sweet fruit may need less added sugar, especially when paired with chocolate or a sweet pastry.
Cut the fruit into smaller pieces for quicker, more even cooking in pastries and crumbles. If you're reducing a recipe, use a smaller dish and check cooking times rather than assuming they will stay identical.
Finally, taste your apples first. Naturally sweet fruit may need less added sugar, especially when paired with chocolate or a sweet pastry.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make dessert with just two apples?
Yes. Baked apples make two simple servings, while compote and small crumbles are easy to scale down.
What if my apples are slightly soft?
As long as they are not spoiled, cooking them into compote or crumble is a practical option.
Which dessert needs the fewest extra ingredients?
Baked apples are the easiest starting point; the apple-and-chocolate fudge is another short-ingredient-list option if you have chocolate.
Can I halve an apple dessert recipe?
Often yes, but adjust all relevant ingredients, choose an appropriately sized dish and monitor cooking time.
Yes. Baked apples make two simple servings, while compote and small crumbles are easy to scale down.
What if my apples are slightly soft?
As long as they are not spoiled, cooking them into compote or crumble is a practical option.
Which dessert needs the fewest extra ingredients?
Baked apples are the easiest starting point; the apple-and-chocolate fudge is another short-ingredient-list option if you have chocolate.
Can I halve an apple dessert recipe?
Often yes, but adjust all relevant ingredients, choose an appropriately sized dish and monitor cooking time.
The takeaway: two apples are enough to get started
A nearly empty fruit bowl doesn't mean you have to skip homemade dessert. Two apples can become a warm, comforting snack with a little help from ingredients you may already have.
Choose baked apples for simplicity, compote to use softer fruit, turnovers for crunch, crumble for comfort or chocolate fudge for a twist. The best recipe is the one that fits your cupboard today.
Choose baked apples for simplicity, compote to use softer fruit, turnovers for crunch, crumble for comfort or chocolate fudge for a twist. The best recipe is the one that fits your cupboard today.
Adèle PeychesEditorial manager who just can't wait for winter to enjoy fondue! Passionate about gastronomy and always on the lookout for new culinary gems, I first studied law before returning to my first love: the taste of good products and the joy of sharing around the table :)
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