Southern Fried Apples

These sweet Southern Fried Apples are sugar, spice, and everything nice! They’re quick and easy to make, full of old-fashioned Southern flavor, and so delicious you’ll find yourself making them again and again.

Easy Southern Fried Apples Recipe

Fried apples are one of those old-fashioned Southern dishes that can go from side dish to dessert without missing a beat. They’re especially delicious when fall rolls around and crisp apples are everywhere, but Southern cooks don’t wait for autumn to enjoy them. You’ll find these sweet, cinnamon-spiced apples on country tables all year long.

They’re a scrumptious side dish alongside savory entrées like baked ham, chicken, or pork chops. And when it’s time for something sweet, spoon them warm over a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, or pile them onto hot homemade biscuits or fluffy buttermilk pancakes. If you’ve ever enjoyed fried apples at Cracker Barrel or another country cooking restaurant, you know just how good they can be. Now you can make that same down-home favorite right in your own kitchen.

Key ingredients you’ll need to make these easy Fried Apples: (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card and quantities.)

• Apples – Sliced Granny Smith apples.
• Butter – Unsalted butter or salted butter for richness.
• Sugar – A combination of granulated sugar (white sugar) and light brown sugar for sweetness.
• Lemon – Fresh lemon juice adds acidic notes to balance the sweetness.
• Spices – Salt, ground cinnamon, apple pie spice.
• Thickener – 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with cold water or apple juice to form a slurry for thickening.

How to Make the Best Southern Fried Apples Recipe

• Prep the Apples – Peel the fresh apples, remove the core and slice.
• Melt Butter in a Large Skillet – Melt butter over medium-high heat. I usually grab my cast iron skillet but any large heavy bottomed skillet will work.
• Apple Slices – Add fresh apple slices, granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, and spices to the pan. Stir the sugar mixture to combine.
• Simmer the Apple Slices – Simmer the apples on low heat per the cook time in the recipe until they have a tender texture.
• Make a Cornstarch Slurry – Stir a cornstarch slurry into the apples to thicken the sauce to your taste.
• Serve – Serve as a side dish with pork or chicken, over pancakes, waffles, homemade biscuits or pound cake.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Southern Fried Apples with Cornstarch

• Large cast iron skillet or deep saucepan.
• Apple peeler and corer.
• Knife and chopping board to slice apples.
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
• Large spoon for stirring.
• Small bowl, a fork or whisk to make the cornstarch slurry for thickening the sauce at the end of cooking the fried apples.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Apples – You can make fried apples with any variety of apples that you have on hand. It’s important to choose a firm apple that’s somewhat tart like Granny Smith apples. You can adapt this recipe using Gala apples, Honeycrisp apples or Braeburn apples. Keep in mind that each variety of apple will cook slightly different. Some are naturally more juicy than others and some will need less cooking time.
• Use Slice Apple or Cubed Apple – I choose to use sliced apples for this recipe. You could also chop the apples into bite-size cubes, but not too small or they’ll just turn to mush. Think large apple cubes allowing for the fact that they will naturally shrink while cooking.
• Adjust the Sweetness to Taste – Should you choose to make with a sweeter, softer apple such as golden delicious you will need to adjust the amount of sugar accordingly ands they will need less time to cook.
• Cornstarch Thickens the Sauce – You can thicken the sauce with cornstarch at the end of cooking to your personal taste. Start with one tablespoon of cornstarch dissolved in cold water then repeat the process until your desired thickness is reached. If you’d like a thicker coating, repeat. Likewise, If you want a thinner syrup, you may choose not to thicken at all.
• Spices – You can adjust the amount of cinnamon to your taste or use all cinnamon in place of the apple pie spice. You could use dark brown sugar in place of light brown sugar.

Storage and Leftovers

• Serving Options – Enjoy Southern fried apples cold over oatmeal or gently warmed in the microwave to serve as a side dish with any meal, spooned over pancakes and toast or with vanilla ice cream and cake for dessert.
• Leftovers – Store leftover Southern Fried Apples chilled in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
• Reheating – Gently reheat in the microwave in single servings or in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Freezer – You can cool and freeze leftover fried apples for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat before serving.

More Southern Style Apple Recipes to Make

Whether it’s the harvest season or summer pie baking time, apples are always available and everyone loves them. A few other recipes from my kitchen using apples that you may like to try:

• Start your morning with freshly baked Apple Muffins.
• Treat the family to Toffee Apple Pizza for dessert.
• Make delicious Cinnamon Apple Butter in your slow cooker.
• Lattice topped homemade Apple Pie will take you from summer holidays to fall baking.
• Apple Butter Pie is an oldie but goodie that’s spicy and sweet.
• Apple Baked Oatmeal will start your morning right.
• Chocolate Apple Kabobs from Homemade Interest.

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Helpful Kitchen Items: 

• Apple Peeler Corer
• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Saucepan