This southern-style Cracker Barrel fried apples recipe is even more delicious when homemade! Tender apples are cooked in a sweet cinnamon and brown sugar syrup to create your new favorite side dish. Perfect for a weekday or the holidays, you won’t believe how quickly they disappear!
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Why I Love Cracker Barrel Fried Apples
If you know me personally, you probably know that my kids LOVE Cracker Barrel. We can’t go on a road trip without making a pit stop for all of our favorite foods and to raid the gift shop. Ellie and Milo specifically beg for the fried apples – so much so that we don’t even have to be on a road trip for them to request their favorite side dish. Since I got tired of driving to our local Cracker Barrel to satisfy their cravings, I started making fried apples at home with this copycat recipe. According to those two (who are also quite the little critics), these are even better than the real deal. How bout them apples?
- Nostalgic: Fried apples in a sweet cinnamon and brown sugar syrup are an old-school Southern side dish. Sweet and tender, just like grandma used to make!
- Easy: Made in one-skillet in just 35 minutes, cooking up a batch of fried apples is a very simple process. The hardest part is slicing the apples!
- Perfect Pairing: Serve as a mouthwatering side for any chicken or pork dish. I often serve them as a dessert instead, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
- Make Ahead Friendly: You can easily prepare these apples a day or two in advance, making them perfect for busy holidays!
Looking for more Southern style comfort food? Try these sweet candied carrots, easy jiffy corn casserole or these hearty Southern chicken and dumplings!
Key Ingredients
You probably already have everything that you need! So grab your apples and spices and let’s get started. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact amounts!
- Apples: I prefer to use Granny Smith apples over red or golden delicious apples. Green apples are crisp, tart apples, that will keep their shape and texture better while cooking. However any variety will work.
- Unsalted Butter: If using salted butter, reduce the amount of added salt to 1/4 teaspoon.
- Sugar: Use half regular, white granulated sugar and half light or dark brown sugar. You can also use all brown sugar for a deeper molasses flavor.
- Cinnamon: Plain old cinnamon works is classic, but feel free to also add a pinch of nutmeg and ground ginger. You can also use apple pie spice.
How to Make Fried Apples
There are just a few very easy steps to make fried apples – seriously, anyone can make this warm and scrumptious side dish. Below is a quick recipe overview, but please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full instructions.
- Prep: Peel your apples if you do not like the skin, then core and slice.
- Sauce: Melt butter in a cast iron skillet, or heavy bottomed skillet, over medium heat. Stir in the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.
- Apples: Stir the sliced apples into the sauce. Cover and cook over low heat for 20 minutes, until fork tender. Stir often so they cook evenly and don’t scorch.
- Thicken: Remove the lid and turn heat to medium-high. Stir and cook for 5 to 10 minutes more, until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Enjoy: Serve warm, as desired!
Chef’s Tips and Variations
- Slice evenly: Make sure to cut the apple slices to about the same thickness. Thick and thin slices won’t cook evenly – the thin ones turn to mush, while the thick ones may not cook through.
- Don’t rush: Start to finish, this recipe for fried apples takes about 30 minutes. Don’t rush them! You want the apples to cook through completely and become perfectly tender.
- Double up: These Cracker Barrel fried apples always disappear quickly! Make a double batch if feeding a crowd!
- Keep warm: If you are attending a potluck or party, you can keep these fried apples warm in a Crockpot set to warm. Just give them a good stir every once in a while!
- Lemon juice: If using a sweet or blander apple variety, enhance the overall flavor by squeezing in a bit of lemon juice. This brightens up the dish by adding a little needed acidity.
What to Serve with Fried Apples
- Pork: Serve on top these crispy chuleta frita (fried pork chops) for an irresistible sweet and savory combination.
- Chicken: For a quick dinner option you just can’t beat this Southern chicken fried chicken. Add a side of these apples, and you’ve got one unforgettable meal!
- Breakfast: Serve these sweet apples on the side, or top of, this easy overnight french toast or a stack of fluffy pancakes.
- Holiday: For the holidays, try these apples with my favorite Crockpot ham, a side of garlic mashed potatoes and the best green bean casserole from scratch!
Fried Apples Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large green granny smith apples, cored and sliced (peeled or unpeeled)
- ½ cup butter
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon, or apple pie spice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- lemon juice, optional
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Instructions
- Melt butter in a cast iron skillet (or large heavy bottomed skillet) over medium heat.
- Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Stir to combine and fold in apple slices.
- Cover and cook over low heat for 20 minutes or until apples are tender, stirring frequently.
- Remove cover and raise heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring often, for 5 to 10 minutes more until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Taste apples, and if they taste a little bland, add a little lemon juice (starting with about 1 to 2 teaspoons) and stir to combine. A little acid can help make the flavors pop! Serve warm, as desired.
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So nice and simple dessert! I guess these fried apples go nice with cream cheese and pancakes. Delicious! That’s the perfect treat for kids.
Thank you for sharing this recipe, Jessica!
The best and easiest Fall dessert! I love these flavors!
These sweet Southern style Fried Apples would disappear in our house!
MY favorite fall dessert from Cracker Barrel and I bet it is only better when made homemade. I can’t wait to make these and they sound fantastic right now.
My kids would go crazy for these!
These are my absolute favorite to make during the fall and winter! So delicious!
Oh YUM, that looks so good! Pass me a bowl with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
Perfect for this cold weather. I cant wait to give it a try!
Hello. What would you use as a substitute for brown sugar? Need a recipe for sugarless, fat free. I’ll use margarine, cinnamon and sweetener. Just need brown sugar taste. Thanks
Hi Vicky, some low carb recipes that want to give the flavor of brown sugar with artificial sweeteners add just a tiny splash of molasses. Hope this helps!
Omg, can’t wait to try it out. Sounds delicious and easy. Will post when I make them…