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Sweet, crispy, and ready in under 20 minutes! These fried apples are a fall favorite everyone loves.
A Quick Fall Treat
Enjoy the flavors of fall with this classic dessert – fried apples! These thinly sliced apples are bathed in a warm butter bath, allowing them to soften and caramelize to perfection.
This fall dessert is incredibly versatile too! Enjoy it on its own, with a scoop of Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream, or elevate it to a new level with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar, a dollop of Whipped Cream, or even a drizzle of Caramel Sauce.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Pantry staples. This 5 ingredient recipe uses common pantry staples making it a budget-friendly and accessible dessert. No need for fancy ingredients!
- Quick and easy. Fried apples come together in under 20 minutes, perfect for a last-minute easy dessert recipe for kids or a spontaneous treat.
- Warm comfort food. The combination of warm, softened apples, spiced sugar, and a touch of butter creates a comforting and nostalgic dessert that everyone enjoys (it’s even gluten free!)
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 6 minutes
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar – reduce the amount of sugar for a less sweet version. You can also try using ⅓ cup light brown sugar.
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon, or to taste – Add a pinch of nutmeg or cloves to the cinnamon for a more festive fall flavor, or use apple pie spice.
- 4 golden delicious apples, peel, core, and slice – use Granny Smith apples for a tart twist, Honeycrisp for a sweet and juicy option, or Pink Lady apples for a sweet and tart flavor. You can even use a combination of different apples for a more complex flavor.
How to Make Fried Apples
- SAUCE. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt ½ cup butter.
- Add ½ cup sugar and 2 tablespoons cinnamon and whisk. Cook until the sugar dissolves.
- APPLES. Add 4 peeled and sliced apples, stirring to coat, and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until softened.
- ENJOY! Serve warm with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream or Caramel Sauce. You can also pour them over Fluffy Pancakes, Buttermilk Waffles, or mix them into oatmeal.
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Fried Apples
Sweet, crispy, and ready in under 20 minutes! These fried apples are a fall flavor explosion.
Equipment
- skillet
- apple corer
- slicing knife
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon, or to taste
- 4 golden delicious apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter.
- Add sugar and cinnamon. Stir and cook until the sugar dissolves.
- Add apples, stirring to coat, and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until softened.
- Serve warm with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream or Caramel Sauce.
Video
Notes
How to Store Fried Apples Recipe?
- Store leftover fried apples in their juices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The texture will soften further, but they’ll still be delicious. Freezing isn’t recommended as the apples will lose their texture upon thawing.
- Reheat them in the microwave or a skillet.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g, Calories: 404kcal, Carbohydrates: 53g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 15g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 61mg, Sodium: 185mg, Potassium: 219mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 44g, Vitamin A: 819IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 58mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Recipe FAQ
Fried Apples vs Apple Pie Filling?
- While similar, the two are different enough that they cannot be substituted. Canned apple pie filling is pre-cooked, sweetened, and thickened, while fried apples are coated in a thin simple sugar and spice mixture.
Why Are My Fried Apples Mushy?
- Slice thickness matters for texture. The thickness of your apple slices will affect how quickly they cook. Thinner slices cook faster and become softer, while thicker slices take longer and retain a bit more bite. Choose a thickness based on your desired texture.
- Don’t overcook! Keep an eye on your apples as they cook. You want them to be tender but not mushy. Overcooked apples will lose their shape and become unpleasant.
How to Store Fried Apples Recipe?
- Store leftover fried apples in their juices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The texture will soften further, but they’ll still be delicious. Freezing isn’t recommended as the apples will lose their texture upon thawing.
- Reheat them in the microwave or a skillet.
Everyone at home loved these fried apples! It’s super easy to make, it really just took me 20 minutes to finish this recipe. We love the sweet and crispy fried apples!
I made these and doubled the recipe to store the other half. The apples were perfectly tender with all the flavor!!
I loved how simple these apples were to make and how yummy they were! Cannot wait to make these again!