September and apple harvesting go hand in hand. And, as we slip into the crisp autumn air, it’s also the best month to roll out an apple party on the patio.

For this month’s edition of my Invite column, I’m decorating, toasting, and tasting everything apple, from Honeycrisp and Cosmic Crisp varieties to Granny Smith and Pink Lady.

Here’s what I have on the lineup. Sparkling apple sips. An oven-dried apple appetizer “dish.” An apple galette with nutty Gruyère cheese and smoky caramelized onions. A simple apple loaf cake.

Let’s light a tiny taper atop an apple tower, grab a guitar, and gather round the flame for an evening of fall entertaining and a campfire song or two.

Set the Scene 

Nostalgic layered checker-patterned fabrics create a cozy fall feel, and a delicious (albeit precariously stacked) apple tower in an earthy wicker pedestal bowl has us seeing red. September can be the last chance to tote indoor tables outdoors for the night. Add the elegant charm of a French country lantern, plus carafes and golden tubs of fresh cider and sparkling wine. Those touches will set a fanciful fall mood for an outdoor apple adventure.

Fun Fall Details

• Apple bits, peeking out of an antique caviar pot

• Apple branches dotting serving trays

• Rustic baskets of potted zinnias

• An 1890s-era white beer bottle boasting the last of the garden dahlias

• Campfire songs

Have a Why-Not-Now Attitude

I took up acoustic guitar almost two years ago, learning songs like “Stand by Me,” “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay,” and “Brown-Eyed Girl.” With each song, my instructor, Michael, said, “This is a great campfire song.” I wasn’t exactly sure what he meant, since I don’t do much camping. I finally “got it,” though, when we took the lesson outside one evening and started playing and singing around the fire pit. It was magical. I highly recommend it — campfire songs and starting something new. Thank you, Michael.

The Harvest Apple Cider Spritz 

Makes 2 cocktails

Serve a mouthwatering fall spritzer with local, fresh apple cider and top it with Champagne and a splash of club soda. The festive cinnamon sugar rim and aromatic fall garnishes of sliced apple, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and house-dried orange slices help further turn this simple cocktail into a seasonal sensory experience.

  • 4 ounces fresh, unfiltered apple cider
  • 4 ounces Champagne
  • Splash of club soda
  • Cinnamon sugar (for the rim)
  • A heap of fall garnishes

Apple ‘Dish’ Appetizers with Cream Cheese Toppings 

Oven-dried apple slices create a delicious “dish” for mini scoops of flavored cream cheese — and they’re very easy to make and assemble. Using a mandoline, thinly slice your apples of choice and lightly toss the slices in a bit of lemon juice to prevent browning. Place the slices on a parchment-lined baking tray and bake at 200 degrees for two hours or until they are dry and the edges begin to ruffle.

For the cream cheese topping, choose your own adventure. I folded a 1/4 cup crème fraîche into a brick of room-temp cream cheese and added finely diced shallots, chopped dried cranberries, pomegranate seeds, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Using a melon baller, create small scoops of the filling. Top each apple “dish” with snipped chives and toasted almonds.

Apple, Gruyère, and Caramelized Onion Galette

This combination of tart sliced apples, smoky caramelized onions, and grated Gruyère is so good.

For the dough, you can make my pâte brisée pie crust (whose recipe can be found here) or use store-bought pie dough.

Roll out dough between two parchment sheets and transfer the bottom sheet, along with the dough, onto a baking sheet to prevent sticking.

Fold together 1 cup of ricotta cheese, a splash of crème fraîche, a heaping teaspoon of Dijon mustard, a dash of nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste.

Spread the base onto the dough, leaving a 1-inch-or-so border around the edges. Layer on the toppings of 2 unpeeled sliced apples, ¼ cup of thinly sliced caramelized onions, and a smattering of torn fresh herbs of choice. Fold over the dough border and brush with egg wash. Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for approximately 35–40 minutes, until the crust is deeply golden brown and the apples are tender. Finish with a nice drizzle of honey.

Apple Loaf Cake 

With its crisped-up top and light and airy texture, the apple loaf cake is the perfect closer for an autumn apple party.

I use a basic fruit-loaf cake recipe (find a solid fruit bread recipe at allrecipes.com). Then fold in up to 1 1/2 cups of peeled, roughly chopped apples, generously spiced up with ground cinnamon, a dash of nutmeg, a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, and a few tablespoons of granulated sugar.

Apple Loaf Tips

• Use a metal pan to create a crustier exterior. (I love my Staub loaf pan for this!)

• Cream the butter and sugar together for up to 5 minutes — until very light and fluffy.

• Load the top with a mix of coarse sparkling sugar and cinnamon before baking.