12 Great Apples for Baking

With its perfect round shape and deep red color, Rome Beauty qualifies as one of the prettiest apples. Mildly sweet and tart, "it's pretty middle-of-the-road, flavor-wise," Dodd says. "This is one I'd mix with something else because it has a real good consistency but not a strong flavor." The hard green/white flesh keeps its shape in the oven; it also sautés well. Romes ripen late in the growing season and can be found throughout the Midwest.