What Does a Golden Delicious Apple Taste Like?

Golden Delicious is a classic for a reason. With its golden-yellow skin and naturally sweet flavor, this apple is a great choice for anyone who prefers a milder, less tart apple.

Sweet, Mild and Naturally Delicious

Golden Delicious has a mild, sweet flavor with subtle buttery and honey-like notes. Unlike tart apple varieties, it has very little acidity, making it an easy apple to enjoy on its own.

Its gentle flavor also makes Golden Delicious a versatile apple in the kitchen. Try slicing it for a snack, adding it to a salad, or using it in your favorite apple crisp or pie. Its sweetness can also pair especially well with more tart apples when baking.

So if you like your apples sweet rather than tart, Golden Delicious is one to add to your list this fall.

Pick up Golden Delicious apples at Lyman Orchards and taste this classic variety for yourself!

 

Roasted Squash and Apple Salad Recipe

Fall is the perfect time to bring together some of the season's best flavors, and this roasted squash and apple salad does just that. Sweet roasted squash, crisp apples, dried cranberries and toasted pecans come together with a simple maple vinaigrette for a salad that feels just as fitting for a weeknight dinner as it does for a fall gathering.

The best part? You can use your Honeynut or Butternut squash, so you can make this recipe with whichever one you have on hand.

Honeynut or Butternut Squash: Which Should You Use?

Both Honeynut and Butternut Squash work beautifully in this recipe.

Honeynut squash is smaller and naturally sweeter, with rich orange flesh that caramelizes beautifully when roasted. Its smaller size also makes it a convenient choice when you're cooking for just a few people.

Butternut squash has a mild, slightly sweet flavor and creamy texture that makes it a classic for fall cooking. It's a great option when you're making a larger batch of this salad.

Whichever you choose, roasting the squash brings out its natural sweetness and gives the salad a delicious caramelized flavor.

Ingredients

For the Salad

For the Maple Vinaigrette

How to Make Roasted Squash and Apple Salad

1. Roast the Squash

Preheat your oven to 425ºF. Peel the squash, remove the seeds and cut it into bite-sized cubes. Toss the squash with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Spread the squash in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for about 25-30 minutes, turning once halfway through. The squash should be tender and lightly caramelized around the edges.

2. Toast the Pecans

While the squash is roasting, place the chopped pecans in a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Toast for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Be careful not to let them burn. You can also toast the pecans in the oven for a few minutes while the squash cooks.

3. Make the Maple Vinaigrette

Add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup and Dijon mustard to a small bowl or jar. Whisk or shake until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Assemble the Salad

Add the mixed greens to a large bowl. Top with the sliced apples, dried cranberries, toasted pecans and roasted squash. Drizzle with the maple vinaigrette and gently toss to combine. Serve immediately while the squash is still warm.

Easy Ways to Customize It

This salad is easy to make your own depending on what you have in the kitchen.

A Perfect Fall Side Dish

With roasted squash, crisp apples, maple syrup and cranberries, this salad brings together some of the best flavors of the season. It's colorful enough for a holiday table but simple enough to make for dinner on a chilly fall evening.

And since both Honeynut and Butternut squash work well, you don't have to worry about finding a specific variety. Just pick up whichever one looks good and get roasting!

Looking for more ways to enjoy fall produce? Stop by Lyman Orchards Apple Barrel Farm Market in Middlefield, Connecticut, to find seasonal fruits and vegetables, along with plenty of other fall favorites.

The Apples You Don't Want to Judge by Their Looks

Not every apple needs to look perfect to make a great pie.

If you're planning to peel, slice, chop or cook your apples anyway, Bakers Grade Apples can be a great choice for your favorite fall recipes. They may have some cosmetic imperfections or an unusual shape, but they're still ready to be turned into something delicious.

So before you pass them by, let's talk about why Bakers Grape Apples are worth bringing home.

What Are Bakers Grade Apples?

Bakers Grade Apples are apples that may not meet the cosmetic standards for our regular retail display. You might notice a blemish, unusual shape or other surface imperfection, but that doesn't mean they can't be delicious in the kitchen.

In fact, when you're making apple pie, apple crisp, applesauce or another favorite apple recipe, you're likely going to peel and cut the apples anway.

That's where Bakers Grade Apples really shine.

They're a practical option for anyone who wants plenty of apples for baking and cooking without needing every apple to look picture-perfect.

Why Use Bakers Grade Apples for Baking?

When you're baking with apples, appearance isn't usually the most important thing. What matters is having apples that work well in your recipe and bring plenty of apple flavor.

Bakers Grade Apples are perfect for recipes where apples are going to be:

And if you're planning a weekend of fall baking, having a larger quantity of apples on hand makes it easy to make more than one recipe.

Don't Judge an Apple by Its Looks

The next time you're stocking up on apples for fall baking, don't overlook the ones that don't look quite perfect.

Bakers Grade Apples are ready to be peeled, sliced, chopped, baked and turned into something delicious. Whether you're making a homemade apple pie, a warm apple crisp or a big batch of applesauce, these apples have plenty of possibilities in the kitchen.

Because sometimes the best apple for your recipe isn't the one that looks perfect in the basket.

Looking for Bakers Grade Apples? Stop by Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, Connecticut, and pick up a supply for your next baking project.

Pick For Pink: Middlesex Health Comprehensive Breast Center Fundraiser

Make your fall pumpkin picking count! Join us at Lyman Orchards for Pick for Pink, a special October fundraiser supporting the Middlesex Health Comprehensive Breast Center.

When you visit Lyman Orchards for Pick Your Own Pumpkins on select weekends and holidays in October, we'll donate 2.85¢ for every pound of pumpkins picked to Middlesex Health Comprehensive Breast Center.

The 2.85¢ donation is a special nod to our 285th anniversary this year. So grab your family, head to the pumpkin patch, and pick your pumpkins while helping support breast health care in our community.

Pick for Pink dates: October 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31.

Come enjoy one of our favorite fall traditions, pick your own pumpkins, explore the farm and make a difference while you're here!

Fundraiser is for pumpkins picked at our pick your own locations.

Directions: 105 South Street, Middlefield, CT 06455 | Follow the signs along the side of the road for the parking location as fields vary by day. 

Pick Your Own Pumpkin Pricing for 2026:

$8 for a small pumpkin (1-10 lbs.)

$11 for a medium pumpkin (10 - 15 lbs.)

$14 for a large pumpkin (15 - 20 lbs.)

$17 for a jumbo pumpkin (20+ lbs.)

5 Things You Might Not Know About Honeycrisp Apples

Honeycrisp is one of those apples that's hard to miss. Known for its incredible crunch, juicy bite and sweet-tart flavor, it has become a favorite for apple lovers everywhere. But there's more to Honeycrisp than its famous crunch! Here are five things you might not know about this popular fall apple.

1. It's a sub-acid apple.

Honeycrisp is considered a sub-acid apple, meaning it has a moderate level of acidity. That acidity helps balance its natural sweetness, giving Honeycrisp its refreshing sweet-tart flavor without being overly sour.

2. That famous crunch comes down to its cells.

Ever wonder why a Honeycrisp has such a satisfying crunch? Its flesh contains unusually large cells that burst with juice when you bite into them. That unique cellular structure is a big part of what gives Honeycrisp its famously crisp and juicy texture.

3. It can stay crisp for months.

Honeycrisp has an impressive storage life. When properly refrigerated, it can maintain its flavor and texture for seven months or more under the right storage conditions. That's pretty impressive for an apple!

4. It helped inspire a new generation of apples.

Honeycrisp has had a big influence on apple breeding. Because of its desirable qualities like crispness, juiciness and flavor, it has been used in breeding programs to help develop newer varieties. Cosmic Crisp, for example, is one of the newer apples with Honeycrisp in its lineage.

5. Cooler climates help it develop its signature color.

Honeycrisp prefers cooler growing conditions, and cooler nighttime temperatures can help the apples develop their red color. In warmer regions, Honeycrisp can have a harder time developing the same level of color, which is one reason the variety is particularly well suited to cooler climates.

Ready for that famous crunch?

Whether you enjoy them straight from the orchard, sliced into a salad or packed up for a snack, Honeycrisp is a delicious way to enjoy the flavors of fall.

Stop by the Apple Barrel to pick up Honeycrisp apples or come pick your own while they are in season!

Two New Fruit Pies Have Arrived at Lyman Orchards!

We're adding two delicious new flavors to the Lyman Orchards pie line up!

Crimson Berry Crumble

An irresistible combination of sweet strawberries and tart cranberries, paired with warm spices and finished with our buttery crumble topping. It's the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and cozy for fall.

Blueberry Lemon

A delightful blend of juicy blueberries and bright lemon, topped with our buttery crumble topping for a deliciously sweet and tangy finish.

Looking for something new to bring home this season? Stop by the Apple Barrel Farm Market and give one of our newest fruit pies a try! Whether you go for the warm, spiced flavors of Crimson Berry Crumble or the bright, fresh flavor of Blueberry Lemon, there's a new pie waiting for you.

Which one will you try first?

Currently available in 6" fruit pies. Available while supplies last.