Not every apple has to be red to steal the show! Blondee apples bring a beautiful golden-yellow color to the orchard, along with a crisp texture and sweet, refreshing flavor. This relatively new variety is especially fun to discover because it looks a little like a Golden Delicious, but take a bite and you’ll find that Blondee has a personality all its own.
Blondee is a relatively new apple variety that was discovered as a chance seedling in Ohio in the 1990s. The variety is believed to have Gala and Golden Delicious in its parentage, which helps explain some of its familiar characteristics. Blondee was discovered by apple grower Tom McLaughlin in Port Clinton, Ohio, and was later introduced commercially. Like many interesting apple varieties, Blondee wasn’t necessarily the result of someone sitting down and intentionally creating a brand-new apple. Instead, it was a fortunate discovery that turned out to have some pretty delicious qualities!
Blondee gets its name honestly! The apples develop a beautiful bright yellow to golden-yellow skin, sometimes with a slight greenish tint. They have a smooth appearance and a classic, rounded apple shape. Inside, Blondee has creamy white flesh that is crisp and juicy. There’s another handy feature: Blondee’s flesh is known for resisting browning, making it especially nice for slicing ahead of time for snacks, lunchboxes, and fruit trays.
Blondee offers a sweet, mild flavor with a refreshing hint of tartness. Its crisp texture makes each bite satisfying without being overly hard, while its juicy flesh keeps the apple refreshing. If you enjoy apples that are sweet and crisp without being intensely sugary, Blondee is a variety worth trying. Its flavor also makes it an especially approachable apple for kids who may prefer a milder apple.
Blondee is an early-season apple, typically ripening in August. That makes it one of the varieties that helps kick off the apple harvest. When you start seeing those beautiful golden apples appearing on the trees, you know apple season is officially underway! At Apple Holler, the exact harvest date can vary each year depending on weather and growing conditions. Mother Nature makes the schedule!
If you’re planning your visit specifically for Blondee apples, check Apple Holler’s current apple availability before your trip.
Blondee is a wonderful fresh-eating apple, but its crisp texture and resistance to browning make it particularly versatile.
Try Blondee apples for:
They’re also a great choice when you’re putting together a fruit tray because the slices can stay attractive for longer than some apple varieties.
At first glance, Blondee and Golden Delicious can look remarkably similar. Both have that beautiful golden-yellow skin and both offer a sweet flavor. But Blondee tends to have a firmer, crisper texture, while Golden Delicious is generally softer and more tender. Blondee also has a slightly different flavor balance, with a refreshing tartness that complements its sweetness. If you already love Golden Delicious, Blondee is a fun apple to try side by side!
The original tree was discovered in Ohio in the 1990s, and growers recognized that its fruit had desirable qualities worth preserving. Rather than planting seeds and hoping to recreate the same apple, growers propagated the variety through grafting. That’s how apple growers preserve the exact characteristics of a particular variety from one generation of trees to the next.
Blondee is a beautiful reminder that apples don’t have to be red to be exciting! Its golden skin, crisp texture, juicy flesh, and sweet-tart flavor make it a delicious early-season variety to discover at Apple Holler. Come pick a bag and discover what makes Blondee shine!
Variety: Blondee
Origin: Ohio, United States
Discovered: 1990s
Parentage: Believed to include Gala and Golden Delicious
Color: Golden yellow
Flesh: Creamy white
Flavor: Sweet, mildly tart, crisp, and juicy
Texture: Crisp and firm
Season: Early season, generally August
Best for: Fresh eating, snacks, salads, fruit trays, and baking
Fun fact: Blondee’s pale flesh is slow to brown after being cut.
