Yield: 6 servings
Fried Apples Recipe
These sweet Southern style Fried Apples are just like the ones you get at Cracker Barrel, but even more delicious when homemade! Great side dish for every day, the holidays, or even for dessert with a scoop of ice cream.
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
Want to save this recipe?
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.
Video
Notes
Store: Allow the cooked apples to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheat: Pop the desired portion in a saucepan or skillet, cover, and heat on medium-low until warmed through. Or microwave for about 1 minute, stirring half way through, until warm.
Freeze: To freeze, cool completely. Spoon into a freezer-safe container or disposable bag. Seal, date, and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
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.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 283kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 41mg, Sodium: 320mg, Potassium: 182mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 33g, Vitamin A: 557IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 35mg, Iron: 0.4mg