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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Fall Recipes

    Fried Apples

    September 23, 2024 By Sam Merritt 30 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
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    collage of fried apples, top image is a close up of fried apples, bottom image of apples on plate with ice cream

    My fried apples recipe yields soft, buttery, perfectly spiced apples. Enjoy them plain or use them as a topping for pancakes or ice cream. Recipe includes a how-to video!

    Overhead view of fried apples in a skillet.

    The Best Fried Apples Recipe

    I’m not sure that there’s a better, easier way to prepare apples than by slicing them up and cooking them in butter, sugar, and cinnamon on the stovetop. This fried apple recipe is one of my favorite ways to use up excess apples, a predicament I find myself in year after year (I’ve accepted that I simply have no self-control when apple picking).

    I’ve been tweaking this recipe over the years and found that I actually like it with less butter than when I first published it. Sounds crazy, but using less butter actually gives us a more flavorful sauce that thickens nicely. In this updated recipe, we use 3 Tbsp butter (instead of ½ cup), a bit more cinnamon, and a bit more lemon juice. If you were a fan of the old version, don’t panic! I’ll still link to it in the recipe card below.

    Scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of a plate of apples that have been fried in butter and spices.

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • Makes a quick side dish, just like the cinnamon apples they serve at Cracker Barrel.
    • Incredible flavor despite taking just a few minutes to prepare on the stovetop.
    • Easily satisfies an apple pie craving without needing to pull out the rolling pin. This recipe truly tastes like apple pie without the crust!
    • Can be enjoyed plain but tastes divine with vanilla ice cream. Or add a fall twist to your favorite indulgent breakfast; we love serving them warm over buttermilk pancakes or brioche French toast.

    What You Need

    My fried apples recipe requires just seven ingredients. I’ll briefly review them before we get started.

    Overhead view of ingredients including apples, butter, sugar, and more.
    • Apples. I recommend a firm, tart apple for this recipe. I use Granny Smith apples, but Braeburn, Honeycrisp, and Cortland would also work. If you opt for a sweeter apple you may want to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe.
    • Sugar. We’ll use a blend of light brown and granulated sugar for a touch of sweetness and depth of flavor. Dark brown sugar could also work, but it will be richer.
    • Butter. We’ll use just a few tablespoons of butter to create a lovely sauce with lots of flavor. I used to use ½ cup of butter in this recipe, but I’ve recently discovered that I prefer it with less butter (so the apple flavor can shine and so the sauce is thicker!). I use salted in this recipe, but unsalted will work so long as you add a pinch of salt.
    • Lemon juice. This brightens our apples and keeps them from being too rich. I always recommend fresh lemon juice, but since we are using such a small amount, bottled will work too.
    • Cinnamon. Of course! Apples and cinnamon go together so nicely. You could even add a pinch of nutmeg too, if you want even more spice.

    SAM’S TIP: Try not to cut your apples too thin, or they will become mushy. I aim for about ½” thickness!

    Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!

    How to Make Them

    Collage of four photos showing apples being sliced and cooked in spices, sugar, and butter.
    1. Prepare your apples by peeling, coring, and slicing them into ½” slices.
    2. Melt the butter in a skillet, then add the sugar and cinnamon and stir well.
    3. Add the apples and stir well.
    4. Cook until they have softened to a fork-tender texture, then serve and enjoy!

    SAM’S TIP: Your apples will cook evenly if you cut them all to be about the same thickness; otherwise you may be left with some that are still too firm while the rest are tender.

    Close-up view of apples that have been fried in butter and spices.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do I need to peel my apples?

    I definitely recommend peeling your apples for this fried apples recipe. While the applesgh themselves tend to soften and become juicy while cooking, the peels actually become tough and chewy.

    If you opt to not peel your apples, this recipe will still work, and some people may not even mind the texture of the peels. For me though, it’s much better to take the extra few minutes to remove the peels.

    How is this recipe different from baked apples?

    The flavors are pretty similar, but my cinnamon baked apples recipe is a little more hands off. Today’s recipe also tends to be a little bit richer than the baked version. You really can’t go wrong with either though!

    What goes with fried apples?

    We love serving them on their own, as a side dish, or on top of breakfast foods like waffles, sourdough pancakes, or French toast. I also especially love serving them over my apple pancakes.

    Or save them for dessert and serve with ice cream! The “sauce” thickens as the apples cool, and it’s perfect for spooning over vanilla ice cream (or my no-churn ice cream).

    Plate of fried apples topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

    Enjoy!

    Let’s bake together! Subscribe to my newsletter to be notified of all the newest recipes, and find my free recipe tutorials on YouTube 💜

    Overhead view of fried apples in a skillet.

    Fried Apples

    My fried apples recipe yields soft, buttery, perfectly spiced apples. Enjoy them plain or use them as a topping for pancakes or ice cream.
    Recipe includes a how-to video!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 148kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 3 Tablespoons (42 g) salted butter
    • ยผ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
    • ยผ cup (50 g) light brown sugar firmly packed
    • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 2 lb granny smith apples¹ peeled, cored, and sliced to be about ½” thick (about 10mm).
    • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice

    Recommended Equipment

    • 1 10” cast iron skillet

    Instructions

    • Melt butter in a large skillet (I use a 10" cast iron) over medium heat.
      3 Tablespoons (42 g) salted butter
    • Add sugars and cinnamon and cook, stirring constantly, until all sugar is absorbed by the butter (about 30-60 seconds).
      ยผ cup (50 g) granulated sugar, ยผ cup (50 g) light brown sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • Add apples and lemon juice and cook, stirring frequently, until apples are softened, coated in the sauce, and tender when pierced with a fork (about 10 minutes).
      2 lb granny smith apples¹, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
    • Serve warm as you'd like, we enjoy them served with vanilla ice cream or over pancakes, though they're also delicious served by themselves!

    Notes

    ¹Apples

    This was 4 large apples for me. Weigh the apples before measuring. I prefer Granny Smith but any firm, tart apple will work well here.

    Butter

    May substitute unsalted butter, just add ยผ teaspoon salt when you add the sugar!

    Storing

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Original recipe

    The original fried apple recipe can be found here. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 194IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 0.2mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

    This recipe was originally published September of 2019, I’ve since updated it to improve the recipe and provide more helpful information.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura

      January 31, 2025 at 10:20 am

      5 stars
      When you put the sugar in the pan at the very end once your apples are as tender as you want them, it doesnโ€™t make a sticky mess and the cast iron pan washes up easy. I did my 8โ€ pan and it held 2 green apples just right, so I halved this recipe and used my 2 apples and it was absolutely delicious. I will make them again soon. We had ours with pork chops ๐Ÿ˜‹

      Reply
      • Sam

        January 31, 2025 at 11:40 am

        I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Laura! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    2. Leslie

      October 14, 2024 at 8:47 pm

      5 stars
      These fried apples were delicious! I served them over vanilla ice cream to guests (4 total). I used the left overs for morning French toast for two of us. My experience was using Fuji apples. I fried them for double the time listed, the apples kept their shape and a bit of firmness– just how I like them! I would cut the sugar next time if using Fuji apples; they must be a sweeter apple. I added extra spices, maybe a bit too much, but it was so good! My guests wanted the recipe so I gave them your site.

      Reply
      • Sam

        October 15, 2024 at 7:22 am

        I’m so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Leslie! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    3. Pamela Shaw

      September 23, 2024 at 2:20 pm

      Do you think I could โ€œcanโ€ these as your recipe reads for winter use?

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 23, 2024 at 3:11 pm

        Hi Pamela! Honestly I am not very familiar with the canning process so I can’t say for sure whether or not it will work here.

        Reply
    4. Elisha Cyr

      September 24, 2021 at 8:09 am

      I don’t have any lemon juice do I have to use it or can I use something else

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        September 24, 2021 at 9:34 am

        Hi Elisha. You can just skip the lemon juice if you don’t have it. We hope you enjoy these fried apples! โค๏ธ

        Reply
    5. Nan

      September 28, 2020 at 2:57 pm

      I’m thinking of making these in celebration of Fall ๐Ÿ™‚ Do you think Ginger Gold apples would work? Should I reduce the cinnamon since Ginger Gold apples have spicy undertones?

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 28, 2020 at 10:13 pm

        Hi Nan! That’s totally a matter of personal preference, I would not reduce the cinnamon but if you think you might like it with a bit less spice they would still be delicious if you do want to cut it back a bit! Enjoy, and Happy Fall! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    6. Alex

      September 22, 2020 at 10:33 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Sam! I loved your recipe and mine turned out great with your easy steps. Ill be making these more frequently and will definitely try them paired with pancakes. โ™ก

      Reply
      • Alex

        September 22, 2020 at 10:37 pm

        Also, whats your best bet on reheating from cold in the fridge? Just nuking in the microwave or would warming on the stove be better and not overcook them?

        Reply
        • Sam

          September 23, 2020 at 11:00 am

          I would just place them in the microwave for a few seconds. ๐Ÿ™‚

      • Sam

        September 23, 2020 at 10:59 am

        I am so glad you enjoyed them so much! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    7. Michelle

      September 20, 2020 at 1:48 pm

      We love the fried apples, I actually used it as a side with pork chops instead of using applesauce….which while we also love applesauce it gets boring always having the same thing all the time,so I try and switch it up sometimes.

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 20, 2020 at 9:31 pm

        I am so glad everyone enjoys them so much, Michelle! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    8. Shenaya

      May 19, 2020 at 1:22 pm

      5 stars
      SO good!! I used it as a filling for your crepes (left another comment there!) and they just got demolished! I added a spot of nutmeg too just because ๐Ÿ™‚ YUM!

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        May 19, 2020 at 1:26 pm

        A perfect filling for homemade crepes for sure, Shenaya! Yum! I am so glad that you enjoyed both recipes. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    9. Carol Moffett

      April 20, 2020 at 11:50 am

      I have enjoyed all your recipes. Keep up the good work. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        April 20, 2020 at 11:57 am

        Thank you so much, Carol! I am so glad that you have enjoyed them. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    10. Pam

      March 22, 2020 at 7:05 pm

      5 stars
      Loved these apples. Really easy to make. Taste great with ice cream on top.

      Reply
    11. Larry

      October 02, 2019 at 7:49 pm

      Made these apples tonight. Very easy and very good.

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        October 03, 2019 at 7:35 am

        Thank you so much, Larry! I am glad that you enjoyed the fried apples. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    12. Pauline

      September 30, 2019 at 2:55 pm

      How many servings does this make?

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        September 30, 2019 at 4:18 pm

        Hello, Pauline. The Fried Apple recipe makes approximately 8 servings. I hope that you enjoy it! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    13. patty watson

      September 30, 2019 at 1:20 pm

      Cracker Barrell restaurant does not peel the apples and they are good

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        September 30, 2019 at 2:21 pm

        Hello, Patty! I appreciate the feedback. I find that if you do not remove the skin, they get tough. If you prefer to leave them on, that is fine. It’s just my personal preference. I hope that you enjoy the fried apples. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    14. alivia knapp

      September 30, 2019 at 11:15 am

      ok, I have made fried apples, but not like this! it is so amazing, even with fried ice cream on top!

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        September 30, 2019 at 12:34 pm

        I hope that you enjoy this fried apple recipe. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
        • alivia knapp

          September 30, 2019 at 12:39 pm

          i did. it was good.

    5 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

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