Guide to Jonagold Apples: 5 Ways to Enjoy Jonagold Apples

In the mid-twentieth century, Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station bred ‘Jonagold’ apples (Malus domestica ‘Jonagold’), which are a crispy apple cultivar. The US Apple Association ranks these as among the most popular apples in the United States, and Belgium and New Zealand, in particular, consume ‘Jonagolds’ heavily.

‘Jonagold’ apples are perhaps most notable for their unique parentage: They descend from a combination of ‘Jonathan’ apples (tart red apples) and ‘Golden Delicious’ apples (sweet yellow apples). Once they ripen, ‘Jonagolds’ have a large size and thin skin that’s yellow-green with a red blush. When you bite into their yellow or white flesh, you can expect a tangy, tart flavor mixed with a degree of sweetness.

Both home and commercial growers will find ‘Jonagold’ apples grow best in warmer climates. They can grow from either regular-sized or genetically modified semi-dwarf fruit trees. You can expect to prune these apples from either type of tree from September to January, which means you can enjoy eating apples that you grow yourself for several months throughout the year.

You can deploy ‘Jonagold’ apples in a variety of different dishes and apple recipes. Here are just five potential uses for ‘Jonagold’ apples:

1. 1. Apple pie: Cooking apple pie with ‘Jonagold’ apples will accentuate the fruits’ natural sweetness. Use this cultivar alone in apple pie or consider mixing it with ‘Granny Smith,’ ‘Honeycrisp,’ and ‘Gala’ apples.
2. 2. Applesauce: Use tart-and-sweet apples like ‘Jonagolds’ as the base for an applesauce recipe. You can supplement it with ‘Empire’ apples (a cross between ‘Red Delicious’ and ‘McIntosh’ apples) and other cultivars and varieties of apples to create a well-rounded flavor.
3. 3. Apple tarts: The innate tartness of ‘Jonagold’ apples makes them an obvious choice for apple tart treats. Consider combining them with the similarly sour ‘Braeburn’ type to make a tangy dish.
4. 4. Hard cider: If you’re open to using apples alcoholically, ‘Jonagolds’ can give your cider a perfect mixture of sweet tartness.
5. 5. Salads: Slice and dice your ‘Jonagold’ apples and add them to a salad of your choice. They can complement the crispy crunch of lettuce leaves and the savory taste of salad dressing. Think about combining them with apple varieties from Japan, like the green ‘Mutsu’ or sweet and crispy ‘Fuji’ apples.

If you’re planning on planting ‘Jonagold’ apple trees, keep in mind they are triploids—types of plants that can be fairly difficult to pollinate. These apple trees need additional varieties of apples surrounding them for pollination. If you have ‘Jonathan’ or ‘Golden Delicious’ trees nearby in the same orchard, they will naturally help you to pollinate this hybrid plant. Otherwise, you can just enjoy these apples when you find them at the grocery store or farmers’ market.

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