These cinnamon fried apples will melt in your mouth! Softened apples in a butter, sugar and cinnamon mixture. A delicious side dish or dessert recipe.
Apples are often used in desserts…and sometimes used in sheet pan dinners or soups. But sometimes just a good old fashioned bowl of cinnamon fried apples are what is needed for a side dish or afternoon snack.
Cracker Barrel Fried Apples
Have you ever been to Cracker Barrel? They are restaurants that are popular across the south and midwest United States. Their menu is huge, and some of their most popular dishes are the side dishes.
Hash brown casserole…and fried apples. That’s what we love to get at Cracker Barrel. This fried apple recipe is a copycat version of Cracker Barrel apples. So delicious, warm and sweet.
What are the best apples for fried apples?
There are so many varieties of apples in the grocery store. How do you know which to pick for your recipe?
For this recipe you’ll want to choose a tart apple that will hold up to the heat and not get mushy. Look for Granny Smith, Fuji or Pink Lady. (source) These are all common apples that we have in Aldi or Walmart so you shouldn’t have a problem finding them.
How to Make Fried Apples
- Peel and core apples.
- Squeeze lemon on them as you go to prevent browning.
- Chop into bite-sized pieces.
- In a pan with high sides, add sugar, butter and cinnamon.
- Cook over low-medium heat for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently until melted.
- Add apples.
- Continue to stir and cook for about 12-14 minutes, until softened. The exact timing will depend on how big the apple pieces are.
When the apples are tender, they are done and ready to eat any way you like them.
Can you freeze apples?
Yes! If you have an abundance of apples, you can freeze them either fresh or cooked.
To freeze them fresh, peel the apple, core it and cut it into slices. Lay the slices on a baking sheet that you’ve lined with parchment. Allow the apples to freeze on the sheet first, then store them in ziploc bags in the freezer.
You can also freeze the apples cooked as in this fried apple recipe. Store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What to Serve with Fried Apples
At Cracker Barrel you get fried apples in a bowl and eat them with a spoon. They are delicious. But if you’re looking for something a little different try serving fried apples on:
Other Apple Recipes
- Danish Pastry Apple Pie Bars
- Upside Down Apple Dumpling Pie
- Apple Butter Pie
- Apple Butter Pie Tarts
- Apple Pie Crepes
- Best Ever Apple Pie
Cinnamon Fried Apples
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped apples
- 1 lemon (for juicing on the sliced apples)
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Peel and core apples.
- Squeeze lemon on them as you go to prevent browning.
- Chop into bite-sized pieces.
- In a pan with high sides, add sugar, butter and cinnamon.
- Cook over low-medium heat for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently until melted.
- Add apples.
- Continue to stir and cook for about 12-14 minutes, until softened. The exact timing will depend on how big the apple pieces are.
- Serve warm.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
I love to use honey crisp apples for about all my apple recipes.. These look very tasty.
Did those apples need refrigerated after cooking? And about how many days do they last?
The Apple’s was real good thanks for the recipe.
My mom has made these for years and they’ve always been one of my favorite side dishes!!!! Will be making them a lot with Apple season coming up soon for sure! Thanks for an awesome recipe
Even better without the cinnamon. I’ve never measured my ingredients for this recipe but it always turns out great with the brown sugar and butter making a wonderful caramel sauce for the apples. And I would recommend peeling the apples to prevent a choking hazard.