THE SECRET TO PERFECT SOUTHERN FRIED APPLES

These perfectly spiced cinnamon and nutmeg warm fried apples are the PERFECT side dish for your holiday or ANY OTHER meal but you really have to know the secret to perfect southern fried apples.

Fried apples are a super easy deep southern staple that excite your mouth with fall and winter flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg. BUT OH MAN! Fried apples are perfect for any time of year.

Fried apples in a bowl

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

• It’s easy
• Uses fresh ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen right now
• I tell you how to layer flavors to get the BEST taste out of your fried apples
• Easy photo instructions are included in this post!

Here’s How It’s Done

STEP 1

Peel, core and slice the apples.

Peel, Core and Slice the Apples

STEP 2. 

Add a little lemon juice. 

After Sliced, apply lemon juice

STEP 3. 

Cut your butter up and start it melting in the frying pan. 

Cut up butter and melt it in the frying pan

STEP 4. 

I grate nutmeg nuts (have you seen one?) . The flavor is so much better that way! 

Spices and sugars and honey

STEP 5. 

Get ready to add it all in! 

Have your supplies ready

STEP 6. 

Everyone in the pan,  Don’t overcook those apples, you want them still a little firm when they are done. 

Cook the apples in the butter

STEP 7. 

Add the seasonings and sugar. 

When apples are nearly cooked, add the spices

STEP 8. 

All done! Time to eat!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

HOW DO YOU MAKE FRIED APPLES?

Oh, wait! Caramelized apples might be your focus too. It’s ok. They are the same thing.

It’s so easy, just follow the recipe box below for your amazingly simple recipe for fried apples! Today we will cover how to make southern fried apples.

First, I bet you have some questions about how southern fried apples, let’s get to those…

What Kind Of Apples Do I Use? 

You will want to use Granny Smith Apples – they are very tart AND also use a sweet apple to add balance and depth! 

Here’s a great article about the grades and standards for apples from the USDA!

WHAT GOES WITH FRIED APPLES?

Southern Fried apples are both tangy and sweet and that makes them the PERFECT side dish for the following

• Marinated Pork Chops
• Tennessee Onions (or any onion dish)
• Mouth Party Bacon! (or any bacon featured dish)
• Summer Party Easy Crockpot Barbecue
• Lexington Style Crockpot Pulled Pork Barbecue

CAN YOU FREEZE FRIED APPLES

Yes, absolutely you can freeze southern fried apples.

You need to know that they might be more mushy after being frozen.

• Simply place the amount that you want to freeze into a freezer safe plastic bag,
• Remove as much of the air as possible and
• Put into the freezer.
• The apples will be good for 3-6 months. Reheat after thawing over medium heat in a saucepan on the stovetop.

HOW LONG CAN FRIED APPLES SIT OUT?

Fried apples can sit out on the counter for about 2 hours after cooking them.  After that time you will want to cover them and put them in the refrigerator.

HOW LONG WILL FRIED APPLES LAST?

Once cooked, fried apples will last for about 5 days in the fridge. You can reheat them in a saucepan on the stove top or in the microwave.

Fried Apples

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR FRIED APPLES

COOKING THE APPLES 

• Make sure to cut the apples into even pieces so that they cook evenly.
• The step where you cook the apples in the butter will take longer than you think it should – about 5-7 minutes.
• Do not overcook the apples.

THE SPICES AND FLAVORINGS

• If you like more cinnamon or less. If you like more nutmeg or less – that is entirely up to you. You can always add more or take away more based on your preference.
• Some people prefer no honey – that too is up to you.
• The pinch of salt brings out the sweetness in the dish, so please leave that in. You won’t exactly taste the salt.
• If you use table salt instead of Kosher, just be careful to add only a tiny pinch.

THE APPLES

• This recipe make about 4-5 ½ cup servings (based on the size of your apples). 
• Always use both a Granny Smith and another type of apple to give your dish more depth. If you prefer more sweetness in your apples, then you may want to use 3 sweet apples and 1 Granny Smith.
• With fist sized apples, then that is almost exactly what you will get.
• The tiny apples that people sometimes pick from their own trees will make less and then you might want to add more apples.
• Those GARGANTUAN apples that you sometimes find at the grocery (looks like the prize apple from the county fair) will cause you to increase your spices and sugars incrementally based on size.
• If you want to make more fried apples for a larger crowd, simply increase the recipe.

THE EQUIPMENT

• The peeler I am using in these photos is a DEISS PEELER. The grater I am using on the nutmeg is a DEISS ZESTER. I totally recommend all DEISS products. I have been using them in my kitchen for over a year, nearly daily and they are all as sharp as they can be. Believe me, they get heavy use in my kitchen. Worth the small price. You can click the photos below to go through to Amazon and compare prices. I am an affiliate of Amazon and will receive a commission should you decide to buy (Thank you so much!). Your price does not change because of this commission.
• 

PRO TIPS:

• Use the right apples – the balance of apple flavors makes a difference.
• Allow the butter to be absorbed by the apples – that is where that soft, delicate, buttery flavor comes from.
• Use both kinds of sugars to give a depth to the sweetness.
• Using honey gives another depth of flavor to the dish.
• Stop cooking the apples when they are done because overcooking apples makes them mushy and that isn’t the preferred result.
• Adding a pinch of salt balances the sweetness and enriches the flavor.
  

  IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POST ABOUT THE SECRET TO PERFECT SOUTHERN FRIED APPLES, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY….

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Fried apples

YA’LL HELP ME OUT NOW, YA HEAR?

Please leave me a 5 star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟  comment below in the comment section, all right? I would LOVE to know if you made this recipe or even if you are planning to! Of course, head on over to Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram and tag me with some photos of your creation!

I can’t wait!

Ya’ll know I love your comments!! ❤

FRIED APPLES

Sweet warm cinnamon and nutmeg flavorful apples that are thick in their own juices and are a perfect side dish for your holiday (or any other) table.

5 from 5 votes

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Course: SIDE DISH OR DESSERT

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fried apples, southern fried apples

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 341kcal

Author: Wendi Spraker

Ingredients

• 2 Granny Smith Apple - about fist sized.
• 2 Sweet Apple - like fuji - about fist sized.
• 2 Tbs lemon juice
• 10 Tbs Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter
• 4 Tbs Dark Brown Sugar
• 4 Tbs White Granulated Sugar
• 4 Tbs Honey
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon plus a little more for garnish
• 1 Tsp Nutmeg freshly grated if possible
• Pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

• Peel the apples. Cut the apples into bite sized slices (remove the core). Coat with the lemon juice and set aside until the pan is ready.
• Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat on the stovetop (I prefer cast iron for even cooking temp - but that is your choice)
• Add the apples to the pan of melted butter and cook over medium until it appears that most of the butter is taken up by the apples. You will see that the butter turns from a milky buttery yellow to a more clear and sticky fluid. If you puncture the apples with a fork, they will be mostly cooked through at this point.
• Add the sugars, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Gently toss the apples to coat with the spices and sugars.
• The sugars will dissolve and turn into syrup and the apples will become soft. Gently insert a fork to know when the apples are done. Do not overcook. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
• Sprinkle with a little more cinnamon before serving.

Notes

COOKING THE APPLES 

• Make sure to cut the apples into even pieces so that they cook evenly.
• The step where you cook the apples in the butter will take longer than you think it should - about 5-7 minutes.
• Do not overcook the apples.  

THE SPICES AND FLAVORINGS

• If you like more cinnamon or less.  If you like more nutmeg or less - that is entirely up to you.  You can always add more or take away more based on your preference.
• Some people prefer no honey - that too is up to you.
• The pinch of salt brings out the sweetness in the dish, so please leave that in. You won’t exactly taste the salt.  
• If you use table salt instead of Kosher, just be careful to add only a tiny pinch.

THE APPLES

• This recipe make about 4-5 ½ cup servings (based on the size of your apples). 
• Always use both a Granny Smith and another type of apple to give your dish more depth.  If you prefer more sweetness in your apples, then you may want to use 3 sweet apples and 1 Granny Smith.
• With fist sized apples, then that is almost exactly what you will get.  
• The tiny apples that people sometimes pick from their own trees will make less and then you might want to add more apples.  
• Those GARGANTUAN apples that you sometimes find at the grocery (looks like the prize apple from the county fair) will cause you to increase your spices and sugars incrementally based on size.
• If you want to make more fried apples for a larger crowd, simply increase the recipe.

THE REAL SECRETS:

• Use the right apples - the balance of apple flavors makes a difference.  
• Allow the butter to be absorbed by the apples - that is where that soft, delicate, buttery flavor comes from.  
• Use both kinds of sugars to give a depth to the sweetness.  
• Using honey gives another depth of flavor to the dish.  
• Stop cooking the apples when they are done because overcooking apples makes them mushy and that isn’t the preferred result.  
• Adding a pinch of salt balances the sweetness and enriches the flavor.  

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

FRIED APPLES

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 341 Calories from Fat 180

% Daily Value*

Fat 20g31%

Saturated Fat 12g60%

Cholesterol 51mg17%

Sodium 7mg0%

Potassium 148mg4%

Carbohydrates 45g15%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 40g44%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 657IU13%

Vitamin C 8mg10%

Calcium 24mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

***This post was originally published on November 2, 2017 and has been updated with new information. Last publication was October 26,2018 and has been updated with New info for step by step instructions, nutrition information, Pro tips***

A VERSE TO SHARE

Some days we are looking for strength. I often look into my coffee cup for this at 5:30am as I muster the strength to start my day. You too? Yeah. Cheers, friend.

That isn’t where the strength is though. Not at all. The strength is in the quiet center. Where we go to connect with The Almighty. That is where self discipline and love is found too.

Isn’t that the perfect reason to lift up your heart to the Lord first thing in the morning, making him a priority first thing in the day?

I think so too.

My first prayer probably needs to be, “And help me not to fall back asleep while I speak with you though”. (smile).

Here is part of Paul’s letter to Timothy…

2 Timothy:  7-9

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.  He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.