This 18th-century heirloom variety takes its name from Esopus, New York, where it was discovered. Esopus Spitzenburg apples are fairly large and oblong, with golden-yellow skin brushed with deep red. Their firm, crisp, juicy, yellow flesh offers a rich, complex flavor that deepens with time. Like many late-season apples, they become even more delicious after a few weeks in cool storage, allowing their full flavor to develop. Enjoy them fresh, bake them into rustic apple tarts or baked apples, or simmer with warming spices to create a fragrant, flavorful compote.