Some people think that Golden Delicious is simply the yellow cousin of the Red Delicious apple. But, in fact, they are related in name only. This honey sweet apple is a special treat all on its own.

The Golden Delicious apple is an excellent “all purpose” cooking and eating apple with a thin skin and firm, crisp, juicy flesh that retains its shape when baked or cooked. Its rich, mellow flavor is an asset to any recipe. The Golden Delicious skin is so tender and thin that you can skip peeling it for many recipes. Because it is so sweet, Golden Delicious can be used for pies and sauces with little or no sugar. It’s also a great apple to blend with other in cider.

Golden Delicious began as a chance seedling on a farmer’s hillside near Bomont, West Virginia in 1914. In that same year, the Stark Brothers bought the trees for five thousand dollars and protected it with a cage and burglar alarm.

The apples ripen in October in Wisconsin. Skin that is pale yellow is desirable, as opposed to the chartreuse of a Golden picked prematurely or the darker yellow of one picked too late. This variety should keep well if refrigerated in a crisper or plastic bag. Try using Golden Delicious as an attractive fruit bowl and fresh eating apple. [I love the way Empire’s and Golden Delicious look together!]