Honeycrisp apples are no strangers to getting rave reviews for their flavor, and their overall popularity makes them generally more expensive than other apple varieties.
Your standard apple varieties are full of nutrients, although some might offer varying benefits from each other. For instance, red apples such as Red Delicious are full of antioxidants. Even the humble ol’ Granny Smith is believed to have properties which might help manage weight gain, though that’s still being looked into.
But what about the Honeycrisp apple? Do its nutrition levels live up to its star flavor billing? Let’s take a look!
Honeycrisp origins
Honeycrisp apples originate from… *drum roll* … not some sun-kissed orchard in southern France, but the University of Minnesota.
Surprised? You probably wouldn’t be if you’re a Minnesotan. The U of M has a long history of apple breeding, and the Honeycrisp is its star pupil. In fact, it’s become such a household name that the Honeycrisp is now the official state apple of Minnesota.
If you find eating an apple that’s been bred at a university a little off-putting, squish those worries. It’s a hybrid, not a GMO, bred from a combination of Keepsake apples and the intriguingly named Northern Spy apple.
And that seems to be a winning combination, with Honeycrisp apples being the third most popular apple in the United States!
What’s on the inside?
So, how’s the Honeycrisp nutritional value?
On the whole, pretty good! A medium-sized Honeycrisp apple contains 95 calories, and the following nutrition for a 100-gram (g) serving:
- Energy: 52 kilocalories
- Protein: less than 1 g
- Fat: zero!
- Carbs: 14 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Sugars: 10 g
- Calcium: 6 milligrams (mg)
- Potassium K: 110 mg
- Cholesterol: also zero!
Zero fat, zero cholesterol, and tastes great? You love to see it.
The best ways to eat Honeycrisp apples
Apples are super versatile in the kitchen. Whether you’re chomping on them raw, using them in cooking, baking cakes or pies, flavoring up a salad or main meal, or smashing them into apple sauce to go with your roast pork, our appley friends are there for us.
So, what can you do with Honeycrisps? The answer is quite a lot! They’ll happily slot into any recipe that calls for apples, as well as starring in specific recipes which really make that flavor pop. Try out the following:
- Apple crisp. What could be more comforting when you’re feeling like eating something cozy? Forget your pumpkin lattes. This dish with Honeycrisp apples, cinnamon, vanilla, and ice cream is the perfect companion on those days when you just want to curl up in your nicest knitwear.
- Apple cobbler. Want that comfort food feel, but something a bit more substantial than an apple crisp? How about a cobbler? This easy recipe only takes 30 mins to prepare, and 45 mins to cook, meaning that you’ll have plenty of time to sit back and plan your Halloween party.
- Apple bread. Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg are an apple’s best pals, and this recipe gathers them together for the best thing since “Friends: The Reunion.” Honeycrisp apples work perfectly, with their combination of sweet and tart flavors going perfectly with both the bread and the spice. You couldn’t ask for more!
- Salted caramel and Honeycrisp apple pie. What’s better than apple pie? A Honeycrisp apple pie with added salted caramel! Yum! Those Honeycrisps will go perfectly with the sweet/savory taste of the salted caramel, and make the perfect dessert for any meal.
- Honeycrisp apple Moscow Mule. Honeycrisp will make this the best dang cocktail you’ve ever had. Sweet, refreshing, and quite delightfully alcoholic — what’s not to love?
So, is there a downside to honeycrisps?
OK, so Honeycrisps are starting to sound like the food of the gods (who knows how to prepare ambrosia, anyway?). Surely there must be some drawbacks?
Well, a lot of it comes down to personal taste. Honeycrisps have amazing flavor and incredible crunch — but is it a little too perfect? Some people claim its faultless flavor makes it a bit inauthentic and boring, compared to your standard apple. It’s a bit like a photoshopped pic on Instagram — would you rather see a perfectly curated photo with no tourists in the background, or something with a little more reality?
It’s true, however, that some cheaper varieties can actually be better for you. So, do you really want to shell out that extra money, when a Granny Smith might give you more bang for your buck?
And even though apples are one of the most nutritious fruits out there, you may want to try something a little different for flavor variety. Blueberries are full of antioxidants, as well as tasting pretty awesome in a muffin. Bananas are full of potassium, and oranges brim with vitamin C. And if you want something really different, how about the potentially cancer-busting dragon fruit?
Bottom line
Honeycrisp apples have been bred to be perfect. Bite into one of these suckers, and you’ll get an exquisite crunch followed by lovely, sweet flavor. That’s why they’re rapidly becoming one of the most popular kinds of apples in the United States, coming for the Red Delicious’s crown.
That said, you’ll probably have to pay extra for the privilege of eating them, and although they’re as wholesome as the rest of their apple fam, some other cheaper varieties edge them out in terms of nutritional value.
But if you’re going purely for taste, and an apple that’ll kick ass in a recipe (and wow your dinner party guests), then the Honeycrisp is hard to beat!
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