Fall is apple picking season, and this delectable Fried Apples recipe is just what the doctor ordered. It takes less than 20 minutes and has five simple ingredients you may already have. Fresh apple slices cook until soft in a buttery cinnamon sauce. Prepare to be dazzled with some good ole Southern home cooking.
Enjoy this as a dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, as a side dish with chicken fried chicken, ham steak, or pan-fried pork chops, or spoon the fried apples over pancakes or waffles.
Fall is my favorite time of the year! I love everything about it, from the bonfires to the brightly colored mums and cool, crisp nights. Fall wouldn’t be the same without picking a peck or 1/2 bushel of apples. With this scrumptiously easy recipe, you will have those apples eaten up quickly. You may find yourself going back for some more apple picking.
Ingredients Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Apples: I like to use Granny Smith Apple, but Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady are also good.
- Butter: salted or unsalted
- Spices: such as ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, or cloves.
How to Make Fried Apples
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
Grab a large nonstick pan or cast iron skillet and melt a stick of butter in it over medium heat. You don’t want that butter to burn. Once the butter is melted, stir in the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. I like to add a dash of nutmeg or sometimes a couple of pinches of ground cloves. Think apple pie spice, and you can’t go wrong.
Stir the mixture so the sugar dissolves in the butter over the heat. Add the apples and continue cooking and stirring several times for about 7-10 minutes. Don’t overcook the apples; they will break down and get mushy. You still want them to have a little firmness. Cook just until fork tender. That is a big part of what makes them so yummy.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- If you peel and cut your apples more than a few minutes before starting this recipe, spritz the apple slices with lemon juice.
- For optimal flavor, use real unsalted sweet cream butter. It is the proper Southern way.
- If you don’t like nutmeg (believe me, I have readers who do), try other spices, like a couple of pinches of ground cloves or apple pie spice, to taste.
- For more texture, top with chopped pecans or walnuts.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you most certainly can. The apples will lose a bit of their firmness, but sometimes, you need to freeze some leftovers. Let the apples cool to room temperature and seal them in Ziploc freezer bags or containers. Store for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
The best apples for this recipe are Granny Smith apples, Honey Crisp apples, Braeburn apples, or Pink Lady apples. Use a variety for the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.
To reheat leftover fried apples, place them in a large skillet over low heat and warm, stirring gently several times. Alternatively, you can reheat them in the microwave for short intervals at a reduced power.
Easy Southern Fried Apples Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 medium Granny Smith apples peeled cored and sliced (see notes)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg see notes
Instructions
- In a large nonstick skillet or cast iron skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Stir in sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, stirring continuously until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add apples and cook just until the apple begins to break down and starts to become a little fork tender, stirring several times. This usually takes between 7-10 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- If you peel and cut your apples more than a few minutes before starting this recipe, spritz the apple slices with lemon juice.
- For optimal flavor, use real unsalted sweet cream butter. It is the proper Southern way.
- If you don’t like nutmeg (believe me, I have readers that do), try other spices like a couple of pinches of ground cloves or apple pie spice to taste.
- For more texture, top with chopped pecans or walnuts.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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Karen
These are the best fried apples. They are so yummy and they make the house smell so good. Thanks for the recipe, Beth!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Karen! So glad that you like the apple recipe.
Regina
I love these fried apples. They are so yummy with so many different dishes. I love them with pork chops, ham steak, and grilled chicken. Or try them over French Toast or pancakes.
Tammy
Being a southern girl, my mom used to make these all the time. They smelled so good cooking. Thanks for the memory.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Tammy!
Allyson Zea
These are so tasty especially with ice cream!!!
Catie
I am drooling over these delicious apples! Such a tasty and flavorful treat!
Beth Pierce
I agree 100%, Catie!
Erin
This is one of my favorite recipes. I love to serve it with ham steak and mac and cheese.
Dina and Bruce
THESE kicked it! Ate with ice cream!
Tay
I made these fried apples after dinner last night and OMG they were delicious! Definitely making them all fall long!
Nikki
What a quick and easy apple recipe. The flavors are perfect. I love that these Southern fried apples can be a dessert, as a topping or a side dish.
Beth Pierce
Me too, Nikki!
Anjali
These apples turned out perfectly!! They were sweet, gooey, and had a great texture. We actually used them as a topping for pancakes and it was amazing!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Anjali! We love them too!
Justine
This is one of my favorite ways to eat apples! We’re going apple picking this weekend, so this is on the menu!
Breanna
We love these. Brown sugar instead of white is better, we think! More caramelly!! Love how quick they are. Thanks for the great recipe.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Breanna!
Sheryl Jones
My husband likes these as a topping for ice cream. Great use IF there are leftovers from our grilled pork steaks.
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the reminder. I had forgotten about that!
Debbie
These are absolutely wonderful!! I’ve made these and added feta and walnuts/pecans and stuffed boneless chicken breast….it was awesome!!!!
I was wondering if I was to make a larger batch, of these, can they canned, and if so ….would the. hot water bath process work? and for how for how long? By the way, all of your recipes are absolutely fabulous!! Thank you!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! You are making me very hungry describing your meal. I am not sure about canning them as I have very little experience in canning. Perhaps one of the readers will know the answer to that.
Andrea
OH yum! These look marvelous. A perfect side to go with my fried pork chops.
Jessica Formicola
I am so ready for alllll the apple recipes! These fried apples are at the top of my list!