Apple Season Guide
It’s official – apple season has arrived in Nova Scotia! From sweet treats to apple u-picks, kick off the fall and celebrate with these tasty recipes and local products. Let us guide you through apple season!
Desserts
Nova Scotia Apple Pie: When life gives you fresh Nova Scotian apples, make apple pie! This warm and sweet dish is a great way to celebrate the return of apple season, and it’ll warm you up even on the chilliest autumn days.
Salted Caramel Apple Tart: An apple a day is great, but add some caramel and it’s even better. This sweet and salty tart combines Nova Scotia Gravenstein apples with salted caramel liqueur from local distillery Coldstream Clear, creating a mouthwatering dessert that everyone is sure to love.
Maple Apple Ice Cream: Not ready to let go of summer yet? Try this cool dessert made from local apples and maple syrup! Great on its own, or as a topping on pie, crisps, crumbles, or your favorite dessert.
Savoury Apple Recipes
Stuffed Pork with Apple & Sage: Jump right into fall with this hearty and savory dish! Make sure to pick up local ingredients and products that give it that Nova Scotian flair.
Honeycrisp Apple and Butternut Squash Soup: Is the wet and rainy Nova Scotian weather giving you the chills? Warm up with this soothing soup, made with locally grown apples and butternut squash.
Seared Scallops with Arugula Apple Salad: Using local apples, vegetables and scallops, this rich salad combines the best of Nova Scotia! Add the homemade dressing for an extra blast of flavor with maple, garlic, Dijon, and thyme.
Snacks
Morning Glory Muffins: These muffins aren’t just for the morning! Filled with apples, carrots, cinnamon, cranberries, pecan pieces, and coconut, this is a glorious snack to have any time of day.
Sweet Apple Cider, Blueberry & Flax Smoothie: Not a breakfast person? Need a quick, on-the-go snack? This smoothie is just for you! Combining local sweet apple cider, Nova Scotia blueberries, Valley Flaxflour and yogurt, this smoothie will be a great start to your day, or a great snack to tide you over!
Homemade Applesauce: Instead of store-bought applesauce, why don’t you try and make your own? Visit Noggins Corner Farm, pick your own apples, and try your hand at making applesauce!
Apple Inspired Cocktails
The Annapolis: One sip of this cocktail will transport you to a sunshine-filled autumn day. Top with apple slices, grated cinnamon and nutmeg for an extra boost of that warm and cozy feeling.
Deer Apple Cider Gin: Feel like adding a bit of kick to your apple cider? Try throwing in some Barrelling Tide gin, some simple syrup and a splash of lime juice! This crisp drink will be sure to quench your thirst.
Apple of my Eye Cocktail: Your tastebuds will love this sweet and sour drink! Made with Nova Scotian apples, Ironworks Distillery vodka and Lake City Cider’s Darkside Dry Cider, this drink is the perfect kick-off to apple season.
Apple Products
- Harvest and Wild Apple Ale Chutney: Available at select retailers across Nova Scotia and through online ordering.
- Casa Nova Fine Beverages Apple Wine Jelly: Available at their retail shop and through online ordering.
- Earthli Green Apple Plant Protein Shake: Available at Sobeys, select retailers across Nova Scotia and through online ordering.
- Galloping Cows Fine Foods Cortland Apple Butter & Gravenstein Apple Butter: Available at their retail shop and through online ordering.
- Noggins Corner Farm Market Apple Chips: Available at the Noggins Greenwich Market, other select markets and through online ordering.
- Tangled Garden Apple Sage Jelly: Available at their retail shop, at select retailers across Nova Scotia and through online ordering.
Where to Buy Fresh Apples
You can buy fresh Nova Scotian apples from the following producers, as well as at many of Nova Scotia’s Farmers Markets.
Apple U-Picks
- Noggins Corner Farm Market: Noggins U-Pick in Greenwich is open from now until October 31, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on the weekdays and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on the weekends. You can buy your tickets and bag size online or buy them on site at the farm! Visit their website for more information about apple picking.
Apple Beverages
If you’d like to celebrate Apple Season in Nova Scotia with some beverages, then this list is for you! Nova Scotia is home to many cideries, all of which offer unique and tasty ciders made with fresh Nova Scotian apples. Both Lake City Cider and Chain Yard Urban Cidery are located in the Halifax Metro area, while Annapolis Cider Company, Chill Street Craft Beverage Co, Maritime Express Cider Co and Meander River Farm & Brewery are in the Bay of Funday and Annapolis region. Bulwark Cider is located in New Ross, with a cider house in Halifax.
For more tasty apple beverage options and to get some in-cider information, take a look at the list below.
- Casa Nova Fine Beverages Sparkling Apple Wine, 1606 Good Cheer Cider, Buddy’s Original Craft Cider & Crabby Granny Cider: Available at their retail shop, select markets and through online ordering.
- Coldstream Clear Distillery Homemade Apple Pie Liqueur: Available at their retail shop, NSLC, Bishop’s Cellar and through online ordering.
- Dr. Kombu Brewing Company Spiced Apple Kombucha: Available at select retailers across Nova Scotia and through online ordering.
- Domaine de Grand Pré Novados Apple Brandy, Pomme d’Or Apple Cream Liquor and Pomme d’Or Ice Cider: Available at the winery, NSLC, Bishop’s Cellar, and through online ordering.
- Ironworks Distillery Sweet Apple Brandy: Available at the distillery, at NSLC and through online ordering.
- Planters Ridge Rummed Cider: Available at the winery and through online ordering.
- Raging Crow Distillery Apple Spice Rum: Available at the distillery, at select markets and through online ordering.
- Sea Level Brewing Valley Blossom Cider: Available at the brewery.
- Still Fired Distilleries Granny’s Apple Pie Moonshine: Available at the distillery, select retailers and farmers markets across Nova Scotia and through online ordering.
- Saltbox Brewery A Little Peck Cider, Hibiscus Chardonnay & Cider Blend, Hopscotch Hopped Cider, Three Churches Cider and Stirling Farms Cider: Available at their retail shop, at NSLC and through online ordering.
- Tangled Garden Autumn Arabesque Liqueur: Available at their retail shop and through online ordering.
- The Tea Brewery Sweet Apple Orchard Tea: Available at their retail shop and through online ordering.
Show us how you celebrate!
Above are just a few of ideas of the MANY ways to celebrate this treasured Taste of Nova Scotia – how do you celebrate apple season? What’s your favourite recipe? Don’t forget to tag us @TasteOfNS (#TasteOfNS) in your apple adventures this fall so we can share in the joy with you!
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