Start the apple season off with the Ginger Gold apple. Learn the interesting history behind this apple along with how it tastes and if it's a good choice for baking.
📋 What's New In This Post (9/9/25) - Added info on baking with Ginger Gold apples as well as a more comprehensive comparison between it and Golden Delicious.
The Apple That Gets Us Excited for Apple Season
If any single apple gets my family excited for a new apple season it has to be the Ginger Gold. Every year that I see it and I bring it home for family to eat, they start getting excited about not only apple season but the end of hot days is on the horizon. The best time of year is almost here.
I have had Ginger Gold apples from all over the country. I was first introduced them in my home state of Michigan to picking them off the trees in Maine, to pulling them out of a huge bin at a farm market in Washington.
In this post, I am going to share with you what I have learned about this apple variety, teach you a little interesting history about them, and what ways you can use them. May the first Ginger Gold of the season bring a smile to your face as it does my family.
Jump to:
History of Ginger Gold
When you think of hurricanes, you think of flooding, houses being destroyed, etc. Those things of course are all bad. But in the case of the Ginger Gold apple something good came out of a hurricane. In 1969, Hurricane Camille did a number on the Virginia coast. It damaged much of Clyde and Frances "Ginger" Harvey's orchard. Near the edge of their Winesap apple trees, they found a tree that was "different". And when this tree produced fruit, the apples were yellow not red.
It turns out the Ginger Gold got its yellow color from a Golden Delicious. Its other parent is the Albermarle Pippin and one type that has never been identified.
When are They Harvested?
The Ginger Gold is an early apple, one of the first good out of hand eating apples of the year. They are harvested in mid-August, and even early in California.
It can be found at farmers markets, as well as some chain grocery stores. Whole Foods Market carries Organic Ginger Gold apples from Washington.
👅 What Does It Taste Like?
Here is what I would rate on average what a Ginger Gold tastes like:
| Crispiness | 7 |
| Tartness | 5 |
| Flavor | 7 |
| Sweetness | 6 |
| Juiciness | 6 |
💡 Tip - The shelf life on this apple is about a month before they get soft, so buy them up in September.
I often find them to be inconsistent. Sometimes they are delicious and sometimes they are bland. They need to be picked yellow for optimal flavor. But when you pick the yellow ones they are going to be softer sooner. The first ones on the market each year (around early to mid August) usually have green in the skin and the flavor isn't as good.
I think they are at their peak in early September, when you find ones that are freshly picked and yellow. Sometimes the apples will have a red blush on them as well when they are yellow like the example in the photo above.
What are Ginger Gold Best For?
Ginger Gold made my list for The 26 Best Apples for Applesauce Without Sugar.
Ginger Gold are one of the first out of hand eating apples I get for my family. The majority of the early apples are more on the tart side.
Besides out of eating, I think this apple works well in applesauce. I used some to make a peach applesauce. It's also a good apple for salads because it's slow to brown when cut.
What About Baking?
Do Ginger Gold make a good baking apple? I tested that out by making a single serving apple cobbler in my air fryer. This is my go-to method for testing to see whether an apple is good for baking without having to use more than 1 apple. Ginger Gold holds its shape really well. I would say it produces a cobbler that is more on the drier side, you don't get any excess liquid being released. The pros of that is your topping stays crisp but you might miss having just a little bit of liquid. The flavor was good.
If you are going to bake with Ginger Gold, I would suggest using the greener Ginger Gold apples that was more on the tart side.
Ginger Gold vs. Golden Delicious
Ginger Gold and Golden Delicious are two of the most widely grown yellow apples, so I thought it would be good to compare the two. Let me share with you this handy table.
| Ginger Gold | Golden Delicious | |
| Origin | Virginia, 1969 | West Virginia, early 1900s |
| Harvest Time | early to late August | late September |
| Sweetness | Sweet-tart | Sweet |
| Texture | Firm & crisp at peak | Tender |
The main differences is that Ginger Gold is more tart than Golden Delicious and come out earlier in the season. Both of these apples are best when you can get them freshly picked as possible. Golden Delicious will last longer in cold storage but that doesn't mean it's very good, it becomes mealy.
I never really get to compare the two at the same time because when Golden Delicious are picked, Ginger Gold are pass their peak.
Ginger Gold and Golden Delicious are just two types of yellow apples. I have always loved the yellow varieties and will seek out any I can find. Check out my post Types of Yellow Apples to see all the ones I have discovered.
📧 Join Our Apple Club
Want to keep up to date on what the best apples in the store currently are. Join our email Apple Club.
🍎 Other Apples to Try
Check out my favorite golden colored apple - the Blondee, a newer variety with the sweetness of a Gala and a floral like taste that is to die for! Or any of these other varieties.
Have you tried this apple? What did you think? Leave a comment below telling us. Be a helper and share where you found it. You may make someone's day with your insider info on where to get them! If you are a true apple lover, you'll want to check out all of our apple reviews.
Nathalie Boyd
Greetings from Quebec! I came across Ginger Gold apples in an orchard south of Montreal. I met people people who came especially for these apples. I found Golden Gold apples delicious, crispy with a little taste of rhubarb. Thank you so much for providing interesting information about them.
Eric Samuelson
You are welcome. Glad I could do so.