Foraging For CrabApples (Plus How To Use Them!)

Crabapples or Malus sylesris, can often be found along fields in wooded areas. When cultivated in the home orchard or garden, crabapples grow up on trees that can reach up to 25 feet in height.

The flowers of the crabapples begin as white, light pink to dark pink and purple blossoms. The crabapple fruit will grow in clusters from long stems, and are usually between 1/4 inch to 2 inches in diameter. Actually, if the crabapples are larger than 2 inches, they are considered “apples” and not crabapples.

The leaves of the crabapples may have fine hairs on the underside, but will lose this hair as the leaves mature. Leaves will be 1 1/2-3 inches long and appear to be light green in the Spring, turning dark green in the Summer and have an explosion of color into yellow-orange and reddish-purple hues in the Fall.

When you are ready to go foraging for crabapples, and want to know if they are ripe, simply cut a couple of the fruits at the equator. Ripe crabapples will have a brown seed, and “give” when you squeeze them. Start watching for crabapples to be ready to harvest in August, but there are nearly 1000 crabapple varieties, and some varieties may not be ripe until later in the fall.

Crabapples are a good source of Vitamin C, and are high in pectin. Due to their high pectin content, they are popular for adding to homemade jam to make it “jam” instead of adding store bought pectin. Crabapples also balance out sweet and savory dishes with a light, tart flavor. Try this homemade stuffing for your next holiday meal or family gathering!

Cornbread with Crabapples Stuffing

For the cornbread:

• 1 ½ cups cornmeal
• ½ cup fresh ground flour
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1½ cups buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 stick butter melted

To make the cornbread:

1. in a medium sized bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients.

3. Combine the wet into the dry, and stir until just mixed.

4. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Allow to cool completely.

To make Cornbread With Crabapples Stuffing:

• 1 batch cornbread
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 4 celery ribs, diced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 cups crab apples, diced
• 2 cups chicken broth (or turkey broth) (get the DIY directions on how to make this here)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Put it all together:

1. Crumble cornbread into mixing bowl.

2. Preheat oven to 350, and grease a 9×13 pan.

3. In a heavy skillet, melt butter.

4. Add celery, onion and crab apples and sauté for 3 minutes, until soft.

5. Add to crumbled cornbread.

6. Pour stock over mixture.

7. Season with salt and pepper.

8. Stir to combine.

9. Pour mixture into pan, and bake for 45 minutes.

10. Serve hot.

Will you try foraging for crabapples this year? What will you use them for? Be sure to pin this for later!

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