The Best Easy Fried Apples
Easy fried apples aren’t just a decadent Thanksgiving side dish and fall dessert. These apples get tossed in a mix of cinnamon, butter, and sugar for a treat of side dish or a topping for pancakes, waffles, or French toast all year long!
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There’s nothing that makes me feel cozier than the scent of cinnamon apples wafting through the area.
Unless I’ve got something deliciously pumpkiny baking at the same time.
That right there is my version of heaven.
But let me tell you these fried apples are pretty heavenly themselves.
While they aren’t a copycat version of Cracker Barrel fried apples, they are equally as delicious.
Warm, buttery, cinnamony, sort of caramely.
The kind of dish that tastes like dessert but is a decadent side on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or whatever holiday you are celebrating.
And of course you can serve them as dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or dollop of whipped cream.
Ingredients
- Apples– Small to medium crisp apples, diced. 6 small to medium apples diced
- Butter a stick
- Brown sugar– half cup of light brown sugar
- Ground Cinnamon- a tablespoon
You’ll also need a few basic kitchen tools including:
- A knife and cutting board.
- Skillet
How to Make Fried Cinnamon Apples
1. Cut the apples.
Dice the apples so they are roughly equal sized pieces.
2. Cook the apples.
Melt the butter in a medium sized skillet over medium heat. When the butter is melted, add the apples. Stir in the cinnamon. Let the apples cook for 10 minutes, stirring occassionally.
3. Stir in the sugar.
When the apples are tender, stir in the sugar. Keep stirring until the sugar has dissolved into a caramel consistency. Let the apples continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
There’s never a bad time to serve up a pan of fried apples.
We like to make them at breakfast as a topping for:
- waffles
- pancakes
- french toast
- oatmeal
For dinner they are delicious with traditional holiday meals and pair well with:
- Garlic Butter Basted Turkey
- Apple Cider Turkey Breast
- Garlic Roasted Turkey Breast
- Instant Pot Ham with Honey Glaze
- Instant Pot Roast Beef with Apple Cider Gravy
And of course you can serve these for dessert! I recommend serving them warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
What is the best type of apple to fry?
It’s a personal preference but I highly recommend using a crisp firm apple similar to a Granny Smith. They will hold up better when you cook them than a soft apple like Red Delicious.
Can I use these for apple pie filling?
Yes! If you want to use them for apple pie filling, I recommend stirring in a teaspoon of cornstarch to thicken the sauce.
Storing
Store leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave.
Tips and Tricks
- Like your apples to have a little more crunch to them? Don’t dice them quite so small or cut them into slices.
- No need to peel your apples for this.
- Want to add a little extra flavor? Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract or half a teaspoon of nutmeg.
- For extra crunch, top the skillet of apples with graham cracker crumbs.
- Turn your leftovers into Easy Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
Other Apple Recipes
Fried apples are a delicious topping, side dish, or dessert to enjoy!
Looking for other apple recipes? Try these:
- Baked Stuffed Apples
- Instant Pot Stuffed apples
- Cranberry Apple Baked Oatmeal
- Crock Pot Apple Pie Oatmeal
- Baked Apple Oatmeal
- Homemade Apple Cider 3 Ways Stovetop Crockpot Instant Pot
- Easy Apple Cider Donuts
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Ingredients
- 6 small to medium crisp apples diced
- 1/2 cup 1 stick of butter
- 1/2 cup of light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
Instructions
- D๏ปฟice the apples into roughly equal sized pieces, discarding the cores, stems, and seeds.
- Melt the butter in a medium sized skillet over medium heat.
- When the butter is melted, add the apples. Stir in the cinnamon. Let the apples cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- When the apples are tender, stir in the sugar. Keep stirring until the sugar has dissolved into a caramel consistency.
- Let the apples continue to cook for another 5 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!