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This fried apples recipe is an easy fall dessert that has all the flavors of apple pie, without any of the work! Full of cozy spices and buttery goodness, my family loves them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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Pin RecipeEveryone loves apple pie, apple crisp, and apple dumplings, but most of us don’t have time to whip up an elaborate dessert recipe on a busy weeknight. That’s where this easy fried apples recipe comes in! This dish has all those cozy flavors you love in a quick, no-effort way.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Incredibly Easy – All you’ll need to do is peel, core, and slice the apples, and fry them in a butter and sugar mixture until they’re tender. Then, let them simmer away in those cozy fall spices to infuse them with flavor.
- The Rich, Warm Smell – Cook a batch of fried apples and I guarantee your house will smell amazing. Not only do these fried apples taste delicious, but they are also like a natural air freshener!
- Very Versatile – Serve warm fried apples with vanilla ice cream, spoon them over cheesecake or bread pudding, or eat the up on top on pancakes or waffles for breakfast. They really are great anytime!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This is a recipe that relies on ingredients you probably have on hand already!
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 6 large Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Vanilla ice cream for serving
Optional Toppings
- Candied or toasted walnuts or pecans – Especially delicious if you’re serving these apples over oatmeal!
- Caramel sauce
- Granola
- Whipped Cream
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Cook the Apples with the Butter and Sugar
Melt butter with the sugars in a large skillet set over medium heat. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Simmer
Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring often.
3. Add the Spices
Whisk together the spices and salt in a small bowl then add to the skillet. Cook for another 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Serve
Serve the fried apples with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a tablespoon of sauce.
Kasey’s Kitchen Tips
- Use baking apples for this recipe. Something like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith is ideal, since it keeps its shape when cooked.
- Don’t forget to come back to the pan to stir. This will keep the apples from sticking to the bottom!
How to Store It
If you have any apples left over, transfer them to an airtight container, and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them gently in a skillet set over low heat before serving. Or, warm them up in the microwave.
You can also freeze them for up to 2 months; just thaw them overnight in the fridge before reheating them.
FAQs
For this recipe, you’ll want to use a firm apple that won’t turn to mush when cooked. Granny Smith are usually considered the best apples for cooking and baking because of their texture and flavor. However, you can also use Honeycrisp apples, Pink Lady apples, Golden Delicious apples, or Braeburn apples.
We like to keep it simple with just cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but you can also add a pinch of cloves or ginger for even more flavor. Or, use homemade apple pie spice. And don’t forget the salt—it really helps to bring out the sweetness of the apples!
You can cook old apples (assuming they’re not spoiled!), but keep in mind that an apple that doesn’t taste good for eating out of hand won’t be great for cooking with either. If your apples are mealy and flavorless, they won’t improve when fried, although adding sugar and spices does make them slightly more palatable.
Yes, you can fry apples in oil, but we prefer to fry them in butter. The butter gives the apples a richer flavor and helps to create a nice caramelization on the outside. If you’re looking for a dairy-free option, you can use coconut oil.
What to Serve With Fried Apples
Although they’re delicious as-is, my family especially loves them with these recipes:
From My Family to Yours
This recipe is one of my favorites to make during apple season—especially after we’ve visited the apple orchard! I just know your family will love it too.
What’s your favorite way to use fall apples? Leave it in the comments—or tag me @kasey_allthingsmamma on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Fried Apples Recipe
Equipment
- saute pan
- bowl
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 6 large Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- vanilla ice cream for serving
Instructions
- In a large saute pan, melt the butter with both sugars over medium heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the apples and stir to coat everything in the butter and sugar. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, for 15 minutes, stirring often.½ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup light brown sugar, 6 large Granny Smith apples
- Combine the spices and salt in a small bowl and stir to mix thoroughly. Add to the apples and stir to combine. Cook for another 5-10 minutes or until the apples are soft and sugar is dissolved into a sauce. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a tablespoon of sauce.1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ½ teaspoon ground allspice, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, vanilla ice cream
