American · Dinner

Fried Apples

Firm apples slowly cooked in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until tender and glazed. A Southern side for pork and breakfast plates, or a warm pudding.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 25 min total Serves 4 servings Easy
Jump to Recipe Method

Making Fried Apples Ahead

Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a pan or the microwave. Freezes for 3 months.

Fried Apples: The Method

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  1. Peel, core and slice the apples into wedges about 1 cm thick. Toss them with the lemon juice in a bowl so they do not brown.

  2. Melt the butter in a large, deep frying pan over medium heat. Add the apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and water and stir to coat.

  3. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring once, until the apples begin to soften.

  4. Uncover, turn the heat up slightly and fry for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring gently, until the apples are tender but still hold their shape and the syrup is thick and glossy.

  5. Stir in the vanilla and serve warm.

A Few Pointers

  • Use firm, tart apples and cut the slices thick. Thin slices of a soft apple turn to purée before the syrup has thickened.
  • Stir gently and only now and then. Constant stirring breaks the slices, and they need to sit against the pan to caramelise.
  • If the syrup is thin when the apples are tender, lift the apples out with a slotted spoon and boil the syrup for a minute on its own before pouring it back.

Behind the Recipe

Fried apples are not fried in the way that chips are. They are sliced apples cooked in a frying pan with butter, sugar and cinnamon until they soften and the sugar and juice thicken to a glossy, sticky syrup, and they are a fixture of the Southern table. In the country kitchens of the Appalachians and the South they were made from dried apples, which kept through the winter, and they were served with biscuits and sausage at breakfast, with pork chops at supper, and with ham and turkey on holidays. The fresh apple version is what most people cook today, and it is quick enough for a weekday. The apple matters. A firm, tart variety, such as Granny Smith, holds its shape and balances the sugar, while a soft one collapses into sauce. Cook them covered at first, so they steam and soften in their own juice, and then uncovered so that the syrup reduces and the edges caramelise. Fried apples are sweet enough to serve as a pudding, spooned over ice cream or a slice of pound cake, but the sharpness of the fruit and the salt make them a good match for rich, savoury meat as well, especially pork.

Good Alongside

Pork chops · Buttermilk biscuits · Vanilla ice cream

Quick Answers

How long does Fried Apples take to make?

About 25 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.

What are the key tips for making Fried Apples?

Use firm, tart apples and cut the slices thick. Thin slices of a soft apple turn to purée before the syrup has thickened. Stir gently and only now and then. Constant stirring breaks the slices, and they need to sit against the pan to caramelise. If the syrup is thin when the apples are tender, lift the apples out with a slotted spoon and boil the syrup for a minute on its own before pouring it back.

What should I serve with Fried Apples?

Pork chops; Buttermilk biscuits; Vanilla ice cream.

Can Fried Apples be made ahead or frozen?

Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a pan or the microwave. Freezes for 3 months.

Is Fried Apples suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Fried Apples?

About 232 kcal per serving, with 1 g protein, 39 g carbohydrate and 8 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Fried Apples Nutrition

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

232Calories
1gProtein
39gCarbs
8gFat
4gFibre
31gSugar
110mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.