A great, flavorful, all-purpose apple, Empires are a peak winter apple. They have a mildly tart flavor with a wine-like aftertaste. Their snow-white flesh is crisp-tender, juicy and resists browning, which makes them a good apple choice for cheese platters and fruit salads. Empires have relatively thick skin which helps them retain their rich flavor when cooked. Avoid overcooking though when baking or sautéing.