Fried Apples are delicious any time of the day! They can be served for breakfast, dinner, dessert, or as a snack. They can also be served either warm or cold. Any way that you choose to eat them you’ll fall in love.
SIMPLE SOUTHERN CINNAMON FRIED APPLES
Have you ever had fried apples? I thought I had tried just about every apple recipe until I was on a visit to West Virginia and learned about fried apples. My husband’s grandma, who was an amazing cook, made them for me. When I asked her how to make them she gave me a list of ingredients, but no measurements. One of the things about her is that she never measured anything when she cooked, so it’s very difficult to duplicate any of her delicious dishes.
For years I tried to duplicate her fried apple recipe, without success. It wasn’t until another visit that I learned her secret. I closely watched over her shoulder and asked many questions. What I learned was that the secret was in the pan that she used. It was an old cast iron skillet, seasoned with lard. It’s amazing what a difference that seasoned pan makes.
The Ingredients You Need for Fried Apples
To make these yummy fried cinnamon apples, you need some easy ingredients. Here’s what you need and how each one helps the dish:
- Butter – adds a rich flavor and helps cook the apples until they’re soft and golden. It also gives the dish a smooth, creamy texture.
- Apples – the best apples to use are Granny Smith, they are great for making fried apples because they have a tart flavor that balances the sweetness. They also hold their shape well when cooked, so they don’t turn mushy.
- Lemon Juice – it adds a hint of tangy flavor and prevents the apples from browning, keeping the apples looking fresh and bright.
- Sugar – White sugar is used in fried apples to add sweetness and help caramelize the apples as they cook, giving them a nice golden color and enhancing their flavor.
- Brown Sugar – it’s used to add a deeper, richer sweetness and a hint of molasses flavor. This enhances the overall flavor, adding warmth and depth.
- Cinnamon – adds warmth and spice, enhancing the natural sweetness of the apples. It complements the flavors, creating an aromatic experience.
How to Make These Delicious Fried Apples
Making cinnamon fried apples is a delicious and simple process. As you cook, the apples will become soft and flavorful, filling the kitchen with a comforting aroma. Enjoy this sweet treat as a side dish or dessert!
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat, ensuring it coats the pan evenly to prevent sticking and adds rich flavor for even cooking.
- Add sliced apples to the melted butter, drizzle with lemon juice to enhance flavor and prevent browning, and stir to coat evenly.
- Fry apples until soft and butter-absorbed, stirring occasionally for even cooking and preventing burning.
- Add sugars to apples, toss to coat, and cook until dissolved and glossy.
- Remove from heat, sprinkle cinnamon, and toss to coat evenly.
enhance flavor
HELPFUL KITCHEN TOOLS
Creative Serving Ideas
Serve your warm cinnamon fried apples as a tasty side or a sweet topping. They go great with vanilla ice cream or a bit of whipped cream, making a dessert that’s both spicy and creamy. For breakfast, try the apples over fluffy pancakes or crispy waffles, and add a little maple syrup for extra sweetness. You can sprinkle some chopped pecans or walnuts on top for a nice crunch.
Put the apples in a simple bowl or on a pretty plate. Add a sprig of fresh mint or a sprinkle of powdered sugar to make it look extra nice and inviting. Enjoy every bite!
Tips for Storing Leftover Fried Apples
To keep your leftover cinnamon fried apples fresh, let them cool to room temperature first. Then, put them in an airtight container so they don’t pick up any smells from the fridge. You can store them there for up to 4 days. When you want to eat them again, warm them up in a pan over low heat, stirring now and then. If you’re in a hurry, you can also microwave them in a microwave-safe dish for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. This way, they’ll taste just as good as when you first made them!
recipe
Southern Fried Apple
Tart apples, fried in butter until golden brown, then tossed in a mixture of sugars and fall spices.
- 1/4 cup butter
- 4 medium Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored & sliced)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- In a skillet, over med high heat, melt butter.
- Add apple and drizzle with lemon juice.
- Fry apples until they are soft and the butter has been absorbed.
- Toss the apples with the sugars and continue cooking until the sugar is dissolved.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle cinnamon.
Fried apples are a yummy treat you can enjoy any time of day. Whether you’re in the mood for a sweet breakfast, a delicious dessert, or just a quick snack, fried apples fit the bill. You can eat them warm or cold, and they are loved for their comforting and sweet flavors. Whether you add them to other dishes or eat them by themselves, they’re sure to be a hit with everyone.
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Looks yummy! I think I can smell them. 🙂
I’m trying this tonight. I’ll keep you posted.
Let me know what you think!
Those sound delicious! I have never heard of this recipe before but I can’t wait to try it. Pinned.
We make them all of the time, the kids really love them!
Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing with us at the Snickerdoodle Link Party! This will be one of my features this Saturday!
I absolutely love fried apples, thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party this week. Pinned.
Yum – these look amazing!! Pinning them to try for the holidays.
They’re great anytime of day!
Oh what a memory. My grandma, a southern lady, made fried apples as well. We had them with homemade biscuits for breakfast or dinner or anytime she made anything pork. Be it chops or roast or stewed, if we had pork, we had these fried apples. She also made stewed apples. Thank you for the memory and for the recipe. Like your grandma, and me too if I’m honest, no measurements were involved. Thank you for sharing with #omhgww. Socialized.
I need a good, seasoned skillet. Isn’t it interesting how you sometimes have to watch a cook to get their special touch? we will try these this week w your breakfast suggestions. Love that you have those suggestions added
xoxox Sharon
Yum! I love recipes I can use my cast iron with. Thank you for sharing with us at #OMHGWW
These look delicious! I haven’t had fried apples in years and even those were from a can. I need to make this! It would be a perfect dish to take to our Thanksgiving dinner.
Yum, I cannot wait to try this recipe out. I would love to include it in my apple recipe roundup too I will link to your post!
Happy fall,
Kippi
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Sounds so yummy!! Thank you for sharing at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week.
Can you leave the skins on the apples? It’s sounds so good and I want to try them. Thanks for sharing the recipe with us.
You can, but I prefer to remove them.
We are going to make these soon with our Lily Bug. They are so delicious!
I know that she loves them. I used to make them for her before she would go to school.
These cinnamon fried apples look absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try this recipe—it’s the perfect comfort food for fall. Love the idea of serving them over ice cream too! Thanks for sharing!
These Southern Cinnamon Fried Apples sound absolutely delightful! I can already imagine the warm, sweet aroma filling my kitchen. Can’t wait to try this recipe—it’s perfect for a cozy family dessert. Thank you for sharing!
I made these cinnamon fried apples yesterday, and they were a huge hit at my family dinner! The sweetness and spice perfectly complemented the savory dishes. I loved how quick and easy the recipe was too. I’ll definitely be making them again! Thank you for sharing!
These cinnamon fried apples look absolutely delicious! I love how quick and easy the recipe is. Can’t wait to try it out with my family this weekend! Thank you for sharing!
These cinnamon fried apples sound absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try this recipe. It looks so easy and perfect for a quick dessert or snack. Thanks for sharing!
These cinnamon fried apples look absolutely delicious! I love how quick and easy the recipe is. Can’t wait to try it out and enjoy a taste of the South!
I love serving these with pancakes or french toast, they make it all taste so much better!
These cinnamon fried apples look absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try this quick recipe. Perfect for a cozy dessert or even a sweet breakfast treat. Thanks for sharing!
These Southern Cinnamon Fried Apples look absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try this recipe; it seems like the perfect sweet treat for fall. Thanks for sharing such a quick and easy dessert idea!
These cinnamon fried apples look amazing! I can’t wait to try this recipe. The combo of sweet apples and warm spices is so comforting, perfect for fall. Thanks for sharing!
These cinnamon fried apples look absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try this recipe. It seems like such a quick and simple treat, perfect for any occasion. Thanks for sharing!
These cinnamon fried apples look absolutely delicious! I love how quick and easy the recipe is. Can’t wait to try it out as a fall treat! Thank you for sharing!
These cinnamon fried apples look absolutely delicious! I love how quick and simple the recipe is, perfect for a cozy dessert or a sweet breakfast treat. Can’t wait to try it out with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
I just tried making these cinnamon fried apples, and they were a hit at my family dinner! The flavors are amazing, and I love how quick and easy the recipe is. Thank you for sharing this delicious treat! Definitely adding this to my go-to recipes! 🍏❤️
These cinnamon fried apples look absolutely delicious! I love how quick and easy the recipe is. Perfect for a cozy dessert or even a sweet breakfast treat. Can’t wait to try this out!
These cinnamon fried apples look absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try this recipe. The combination of warm spices and sweet apples is perfect for fall. Thank you for sharing!