Fried Apples, or Caramelized Apples are soft and warm apple cubes cooked in a sticky, thick sweet cinnamon buttery glaze on the stovetop.
Inspired by Cracker Barrel‘s popular dish, fried apples is a Southern American dish that is simple and delicious. It can be served as a side dish, snack, dessert, or even a topping on top of pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, yogurt, and more!
Check out other Southern dessert favorites such as Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake, Chess Squares and Chocolate Chess Pie as well!
Southern Fried Apples, AKA Caramelized Apples
I was introduced to this delightful classic Southern Fried Apples dish when I was living in Tennessee. It is essentially apples, the iconic Fall fruit, either cut into cubes or wedges, cooked in sugar, cinnamon and butter until it is caramelized and soft, coated in a thick brown sugar cinnamon glaze.
It’s basically apple pie without the crust, bringing you all the wonderful flavor of Fall in one bite.
Cracker Barrel, the popular Southern American chain restaurant, popularized and brought fried apples to mainstream American fast casual dining. They serve it year round, so it’s really not just a Fall thing!
Although, i must say, this way of cooking apples under they are tender in brown sugar and cinnamon is not just a southern. Also known as caramelized apples, baked apples etc, it is a classic way to enjoy apples in the Fall and is popular all over the United States.
This caramelized apple recipe calls for a only handful of simple pantry friendly ingredients, and a little bit of patience as we simmer apple pieces in butter, cinnamon, sugar, and brown sugar until it is soft and tender.
This is the best homemade fried apples recipe ever. The thick and sticky sweet cinnamon sauce has a touch of vanilla extract and it perfectly coats those fresh apples…chewy, soft, absolutely divine!
Whenever Fall rolls around, I get a dozen apples or so, make a whole lot of fried apples and fill my house with scent of cinnamon apples. And that makes my heart very happy. 🧡
My favorite way to enjoy fried apples? With a scoop (or two) of vanilla ice cream. It’s one of my favorite Fall desserts ever.
Ingredients
Here is everything you will need to make fried apples:
- apples – Granny Smith apples, Fuji apples, Honey Crisp, and Gala apples are awesome choices. If you like tart apples, go with something like granny smith, but if you prefer sweeter apples go to honey crisp or fuji. Avoid using soft apples such as Red Delicious apples, because it doesn’t hold its form and can get mushy.
- unsalted butter – I typically use unsalted butter (vs salted butter) because it gives me more control over the amount of salt in my fried apples. I just add the amount of salt I want to add, instead of relying on the salt in the butter. If you choose to use salted butter, skip the pinch of salt.
- brown sugar – either light or dark brown sugar works. I like to add brown sugar to get more of that caramelized flavor in my homemade fried apples.
- granulated sugar – you can adjust more or less of the amount of granulated sugar based on your preferences.
- ground cinnamon – a classic Fall spice that really makes these caramelized apples taste like Fall
- vanilla extract – use the good quality stuff for the best flavors
- all-purpose flour – used as a part of the slurry to thicken the sauce of the fried apples.
- salt – used to open up the flavors in the fried apples.
How to Make Fried Apples
Once you make homemade fried apples, you’ll never look back.
You can make fried apples in a saucepan or a skillet. I personally like to make it in my cast iron skillet because the good heat retention cooks the apples more evenly and faster.
The process of making a batch of delicious caramelized fried apples takes under 30 minutes from start to finish.
Simply melt butter then add diced apples, brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt into a skillet.
Stir and bring fried apples to a boil, using medium heat, so as not to burn those apples.
Lower the heat to medium low and let it work its caramelized magic.
Let thatapple mixture simmer for 15-17 minutes, or until the apples are soft and tender.
While apples are cooking on the stove, make a slurry…or more simply known as ‘white flour water’.
This basically means, grab a small bowl, and mix water and white (or all-purpose) flour together.
When the apples are soft, add slurry to the skillet, and let the sauce cook until caramelized and thickened.
Stir and let the caramelized apples thicken. Before you know it, you will have a sticky piece of heaven.
Moist, caramelized, and every bit infused with lovely flavors of cinnamon and brown sugar.
OH MY…I think I can smell it.
Scoop a small teaspoon so you can taste test them (be careful as they are hot), and feel free to add additional cinnamon or brown sugar if you like them more seasoned and sweet.
I love my caramelized apples hot and fresh off the skillet, but I also enjoy them cold…so save those leftovers and serve them straight out of the fridge because they taste amazing as well!
These luscious fried apples can also be served over pancakes, waffles, crepes, oatmeal. It takes a simple breakfast to the next level.
Or be indulgent and top it with a scoop (or two!) of vanilla ice cream.
Omg, it is so. Dang. Good.
I’m in my apple era and am so darn happy.
Ways to Serve Fried Apples
I’ll be honest with you, I eat this saucy fried apples with a lot of things. If you have more ideas on how you eat, them, let me know in the comments below because I’ll put this thing on anything!
- Elevate your breakfast/brunch by pouring fried apples over pancakes, waffles, crepes, or even oatmeal.
- Serve with toppings such as ice cream, whipped cream, cool whip etc.
- By itself! It’s such a delicious snack it holds up just fine on its own! I especially love having it during the Fall season.
Variations and Substitutions
The basic concept of fried apples is simple. It is also very versatile. Here are a few ways to make it your own:
- other seasonings: to bring more flavor to the apple filling, add additional spices such as ground nutmeg, ground ginger and ground cloves.
- substitute flour for cornstarch: cornstarch is another excellent thickener along with flour. When using cornstarch, you will also want to dissolve it in water to make a slurry before adding to fried apples.
- dried fruits or nuts: Adding dried fruits such as dried cranberries and raisins, or nuts such as pecans or walnuts at the end (as garnish, after cooking the caramelized apples) can enhance the textures of your apples.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover fried apples in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
They can be frozen for up to 3 months as well. Bring to a full defrost before reheating. When reheating, you may want to add a few drops of water before heating on the stove.
Tips and Tricks
- Choose the Right Apple Variety: Not all apples are created equal, especially when it comes to frying. Select apples that hold their shape and have a balance of sweetness and tartness. Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, and Fuji apples are ideal choices.
- Use Quality Ingredients: Invest in high-quality ingredients such as high quality vanilla extract and unsalted butter. Good quality ingredients can dramatically enhance the taste of your fried apples.
- Control the Heat: Start with medium heat to melt the butter, then reduce the heat to medium-low to prevent the sugar from burning. Slow cooking allows the flavors to meld together beautifully. Adjust the heat accordingly to make sure apples are cooked slowly.
- Stir apples: Stir every few minutes while apples are cooking and softening. Don’t walk away for the 15-17 minute window completely because the bottoms of the pan might burn. You don’t have to stand next to the stove the whole time, but you do want to check on it and stir occasionally.
- Get Creative with Spices: While cinnamon is a classic spice, don’t be afraid to experiment with other warm spices like nutmeg, allspice, or cloves. Adding more salt can also open up the flavors more and enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Incorporate Texture: Consider incorporating toasted nuts (such as pecans or walnuts) or dried fruits like raisins or cranberries for added texture and flavor dimension.
Frequently Asked Questions
This comes down to personal preference. Leaving the skin on can add texture to the fried apples, but peeling also gives a smoother texture. Peeling does take a lot of time so I often just leave the skin on. I don’t mind having the skin on at all and barely notice it!.
Feel free to experiment with substitutions such as coconut oil, margarine, or ghee for a different flavor profile.
Choose a healthier cooking fat (such as one of the options under Question #6) and/or reduce the amount of sugar used. Apples naturally contain natural sugars, so adjust accordingly to your taste preferences.
Alternatively, try using honey or sugar substitutes (such as Monk Fruit). The key is to cook the apples until they are caramelized and tender. Do note that refined sugar does yield the caramelized texture better.
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More Apple Recipes
- Baked Apple Oatmeal
- Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder
- Apple Crumble Pie
- Apple Cinnamon Bread
- Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling
- Apple Stuffing with Celery Herbs and Onions
Fried Apples
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 cups apples diced; approx 4 apples
- 3 tbsp butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- ½ cup water
- 2 tbsp flour
Instructions
- Heat skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add butter and allow to melt.
- Add diced apples, brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. Bring to a boil.
- Lower heat to medium-low and simmer for 15-17 minutes or until apples are soft, stirring occasionally.
- While apples are cooking, make a slurry by mixing water and flour. When the apples are soft, add slurry to the skillet. Allow to cook until sauce has thickened.
- Serve and enjoy!
