Apple lovers get ready:  Our favorite fall fruit is now coming into season sooner than expected.  From the apple-growing regions of New York, Michigan, and Washington, we can expect to get a jump-start on everything apple, from pick-your-own apple orchards to frosty mugs of apple cider.  Though a simple caramel-dipped apple is our favorite, there are plenty of delicious ways to take advantage of autumn’s early bounty.  Bake apples into sweet pies and crumbles, or roast them for a savory companion to meat.

Get the Recipe: Four and Twenty Blackbirds Salted Caramel Apple Pie (pictured above)

Slice into this updated version of an American favorite.  Layers of thin apple slices are steeped in a rich salted caramel sauce and baked in a tender butter crust.

Crackly puff pastry cradles caramelized Honeycrisps.  Top these turnovers with a dollop of delectable fresh sheep’s cheese.

Get the Recipe: Crispy Fried Oysters with Smoky Bacon and Apple Ragout

Cornmeal battered fried oysters top a thick stew of savory bacon and tender, sweet apples for a salty-sweet duo that won’t disappoint.

Get the Recipe: Crunchy Fennel and Green Apple Salad

Combine this fresh fall fruit with crisp fennel and watercress and toss in a citrus vinaigrette for a sweet and refreshing salad.

Bathe matchstick slivers of Granny Smith in freshly pressed apple cider topped with a bit of bubbly for a refreshing late-summer cocktail.

• Sweet and Savory Apple Recipes
• Best Apple Dessert Recipes