Elstar Apple

Discover the delightful Elstar apple, a beloved European variety that perfectly balances sweet and tart flavors with a crisp, juicy texture that makes it a favorite among apple enthusiasts worldwide. Originally developed in the Netherlands in the 1950s, Elstar apples are a cross between Golden Delicious and Ingrid Marie varieties, resulting in a medium-sized fruit with distinctive yellow-orange skin often blushed with red stripes. These apples offer a complex flavor profile that starts sweet and finishes with a pleasant tartness, while their firm, white flesh provides a satisfying crunch that holds up beautifully in both fresh and cooked applications. The balanced acidity and natural sweetness make Elstar apples incredibly versatile for culinary use, whether you're enjoying them fresh as a healthy snack or incorporating them into your favorite recipes. Elstar apples excel in baking applications, maintaining their shape and texture when cooked while contributing moisture and flavor to pies, tarts, crumbles, and cakes. Their natural sweetness means you can often reduce added sugars in recipes, making them particularly popular in European baking traditions. They also make excellent additions to savory dishes, pairing wonderfully with pork, cheese, and nuts in salads or grain bowls. For the best eating experience, store Elstar apples in the refrigerator where they'll maintain their crisp texture for several weeks. Try them sliced with aged cheddar, baked into a classic Dutch apple cake, or simply enjoyed fresh to appreciate their distinctive European heritage and exceptional flavor balance.