Fried Apples
This simple 20-minute dessert is made by cooking sliced apples in a mixture of butter, sugar, and spices. These fried apples taste just like apple pie filling and are delicious served warm with a scoop of ice cream!
Fried apples are a simple yet decadent Southern dessert made by frying up apple slices in a little butter, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. And yes, they’re every bit as delicious as they sound!
The apples soften and caramelize in the pan and end up tasting just like apple pie filling. My husband and I love to eat these fried apples warm with a scoop of no-churn ice cream, but I’m sure no one would complain if you drizzled a little salted caramel sauce on top too!
This is hands down the quickest, easiest dessert you can make with apples and everyone goes crazy every time I make them. All you need is a handful of ingredients, a large skillet, and about 20 minutes of your time. That’s it!
Watch The Full Recipe Video
The Apples
I prefer using Honeycrisp apples in this recipe because they’re a little sweet and tart. If you really love tart apples, you can use Granny Smiths instead.
Any crisp baking apple will work in this recipe though, Pink Lady or Braeburn apples are great options! Just avoid using softer apples (like Gala or Red Delicious) because they tend to fall apart and become mushy.
How To Peel & Slice Your Apples
Start by using a vegetable peeler to peel the apples, then remove the core with an apple corer (or a small paring knife). You can also use an apple slicer if you want to make it a little easier!
Once the apples are peeled and cored, you can use a sharp knife to slice them into ½-inch thick slices. Just make sure not to slice them too thin because they’ll cook faster and end up turning out mushy.
Note: I like to peel my apples for this recipe, but you can leave the skin on if you prefer!
Tips For Perfect Fried Apples
- Slice the apples thick enough. You want slices that are about ½-inch thick. I like to measure the first few slices to make sure they’re thick enough, then just eye ball it from there!
- Use a larger skillet. This recipe will make quite a bit, so be sure to use a 10-inch skillet. A cast iron skillet works great too.
- Don’t turn up the heat. I know it’s tempting to crank up the heat, but you don’t want the sugar or apples to burn. Medium heat is perfect for this recipe!
- Don’t over cook the apples. You want the apple slices to still be a little crisp on the outside, but easy to pierce with a fork. If this were pasta, we’d call the apples “al dente.”
Can I Cut This Recipe In Half?
Yes, you can halve this recipe if you prefer a smaller batch! There won’t be quite as many apples in the skillet though, so reduce the cooking time to 7 to 8 minutes.
Can I Make This Ahead Of Time?
The apples are best hot and fresh, but they will last up to 4 days in the fridge. Just keep in mind that every time you reheat them, the apples will soften that little bit more, and I think they’re best when they still have some bite to them.
I truly hope you love these fried apples as much as we do! The blend of cinnamon and nutmeg complements the sweet-tart apples so well and the sauce is decadent and delicious.
Like I mentioned earlier, these are fantastic with a scoop of ice cream on top, but there’s so many other ways to use these fried apples. You can serve them over buttermilk pancakes, French toast, waffles, or even stuffed inside crepes. They also make a great addition to yogurt, parfaits, or a bowl of oatmeal!
If you try this recipe don’t forget to leave a comment below letting me know how it turned out. I’d love to hear how you used them or what toppings you added! Happy Baking!
Fried Apple Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds apples (4 large apples; I prefer Honeycrisp, but Granny Smith will work)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter sliced (57 grams; ½ stick)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 grams)
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar (50 grams)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Peel, core, and slice all of the apples into ½” thick slices. Set aside.2 ½ pounds apples
- Add the sliced butter to a large 10” skillet and place the skillet over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt and stir until fully combined.¼ cup unsalted butter,¼ cup granulated sugar,¼ cup packed light brown sugar,2 teaspoons ground cinnamon,¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg,¼ teaspoon salt
- Add the sliced apples and stir until fully coated.
- Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring often, until the apple slices are fully coated in the buttery sugar mixture and softened slightly (I usually cook mine for 8 to 10 minutes). Make sure not to over cook the apples, they should still be a little crisp.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and transfer the apples to a heat-safe bowl. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
