Also, my dog loves apples! And they are apparently a healthy treat for dogs (just avoid the seeds, which have trace amounts of toxins). So I feed any extraneous skins (in moderation) to the pooch. :)

Make pectin?

Our pup likes apples too!! We avoid regular apple treats though as I think it makes him a bit....gassy. :/ Another good use is in a simmering pot with some cinnamon sticks and brown sugar. Makes the house quite yummy smelling.

grind them up and put them into the applesauce. Back in the olden days, we had johnathan apples with deep red skins. The apple sauce blooped on the stove for hours, and the applesauce took on a lovely muted pink color.

Put them in jelly for natural pectin.

Cut into shoestring size and garnish a salad! You may have to lemon them up so they don't brown on the inner side, just like you would a slice of apple.

But they're right... dogs + apple peel= happy

Sounds crazy, but I like to save a few peels and cores to throw into the pot when I make vegetable stock.

Other than throwing them over your shoulder to find out the initials of your future spouse? :)

Simmer pot! I like to throw them in a pot with some cloves, cinnamon sticks and maybe some orange peels

The River Cottage Preserves book has what the author calls 'compost jelly' - I also found the recipe on some blog:

http://creatingnirvanatoday.blogspot.com/2010/10/compost-heap-jelly.html

put some in a pitcher of water for subtle flavor.

throw them on the soil by your plants - good fertilizer. Do the same with edamame shells and egg shells.

Our rabbit loves our apple peels. If I offer him a piece, he will take it and run away so that he can eat it in peace and without having to share any of it. I don't know where this rationale came from because we never make him share his treats. He must just be very suspicious of us.

boil them in water - makes a lovely tea, or if chilled, a refreshing beverage

We leave the peels on and put the cooked sauce through a food mill. Lovely colour and taste, no strange texture, and no peeling!

I'm with JDK-- I grind them up in my food processor and add them to my applesauce. It makes for a prettier color, I feel better about less waste, and I have this vague feeling that it's healthier.

It's healthier perhaps if they're organic apples, but if they're not, better off peeling them to begin with and throwing away the skins, because they're saturated with pesticides.

Compost!

They could go in the cole slaw.

How about sauteeing in a little butter with cinnamon?

Apple marmalade?

Apple tea!

Apple syrup from an old colonial recipe: Boil the peels and cores in water with cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. Strain liquid into another pan, add a few cups of sugar (the recipe didn't have specific amounts) and reduce down until thick. It makes a great syrup for pancakes, biscuits, etc.

EAT THEM

CANDIED APPLE PEEL FOR GARNISHING
OVEN 400F

strips of peel from at least 6 apples
sugar

Toss peels with sugar & arrange on a foil-lined baking sheet. Heat oven to 400F, turn off & place sheet in oven overnight. Cool & store peels in an airtight container in a cool place.

second vote for EAT THEM

Thanks to all who answered Justin's question. I am his Dad and the one who was seeking guidance. SO, here's where I landed... After all the apples are peeled for apple sauce (usually 11 pounds of apples, or 24-28 apples), I take all the peels and microwave them for 15 minutes. That REALLY softens them. Then I sprinkle them with cinnamon and splenda (feel free to use sugar). My daughter LOVES them, especially since each of the strands is SO long... they are fun, they are tasty and they are loaded with fiber. Enjoy...