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Apples are the fall treat that happen to be widely available all year long. I’m a big fan of the tart flavor of a Granny Smith, but I will happily snack on anything from Pink Lady to Fuji and Golden Delicious to Honeycrisp. If you put any of those varieties into a pie, I’ll be your best friend for life.
Even though apples are easy to come by, you can’t find all varieties year-round. One I always look out for is the SugarBee apple, which first grew unexpectedly in a Minnesota Honeycrisp orchard in the early ’90s. Available at Trader Joe’s as a limited-time offering, SugarBee apples boast a firm texture and a crisp bite. Their flavor teases hints of caramel and molasses, but the star of the show is the apples’ sharp honey notes.
You know fall is officially around the corner when TJ’s finally puts out the SugarBee apples, so you better believe I was up bright and early this week to secure a bag (or two).
Simply Recipes / Trader Joe’s
Why I Love SugarBee Apples
On the surface, SugarBee apples don’t look that different from Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or even Pink Lady apples, but once you bite into one, boy does that first burst of flavor really hit you. They’re crunchy, sweet, and juicy, making them very fine snacking apples. They are also absolutely perfect mixed into some of my favorite recipes.
Another big factor for me is affordability. Trader Joe’s sells two-pound bags of SugarBees for $4.49, and there are usually about eight apples inside each bag. TJ’s also sells SugarBee apples individually for $1.29 per apple, so buying the two-pound bag means over $5 in savings.
Simply Recipes / Nathan Hutsenpiller
How I Use SugarBee Apples
Since SugarBees are a limited-time offering, I like to get more out of them than just a snack. As much as I love taking down a plate of apple slices dipped in peanut butter, there are so many other delicious possibilities.
There’s nothing more rewarding than successfully baking an apple pie from scratch, and I love homemade apple butter and apple sauce. I’ve even tossed apple slices into the crockpot while making pulled pork, chili, and stew for a little sweetness. Speaking of stew, my all-time favorite use for SugarBee apples is stewed apples.
I recently found a stewed apple recipe that I cannot recommend enough. It requires just four apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice, and it can be served warm or kept in the fridge for later. Do yourself a favor and grab a bag of SugarBees this week to treat yourself to the homey taste of stewed apples.
