Learn how to make fried apples with this easy Fried Apples recipe. Juicy apple slices are fried in butter; coated with sugar and spices, and then cooked to perfection. This is the easiest dessert you will ever make! 

A white skillet filled with fried apples and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Craving apple pie? Skip the crust! These cinnamon fried apples have all the flavor and comfort you get from a homemade apple pie but with less the time, effort and cleanup. 

Clear glass mixing bowls filled with sliced apples, brown sugar, butter, pure maple syrup for fried apple recipe.

If you love homemade apple pie, you will love these easy fried apples! You need few ingredients (that you may already have in your pantry) and they come together in a pinch! 

Fried Apples Recipe

Want to add more ginger to this fried apples recipe?  Stir in 1/2 teaspoon finely grated peeled ginger to the skillet while you fry the apples. 

  • Apples. I used Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples for this recipe.
  • Lemon juice. This prevents the apples from turning brown.
  • Butter. Use unsalted butter.
  • Sweetener. We use a little light brown sugar and pure maple syrup to lightly sweeten the apples.
  • Spices. A little cinnamon and ginger add just the right amount of spice.

Find printable recipe with measurements below.

How To Make Fried Apples

  1. Prep apples. Peel, core and slice apples. Squeeze lemon juice over the slices to prevent them from turning brown.
  2. Cook apples. Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add apples and cook for about 5 minutes (cook longer if you want them more tender).
  3. Add sweeteners and spices. Stir in the sweeteners and spices and cook and stir apples until the sauce is thickened and bubbly. 
  4. Enjoy. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Melt butter in the skillet and add the apples and cook for about 3 minutes. Depending on the size of your skillet, you may want to fry the apples in batches.

A black skillet filled with sliced fruit.

Add brown sugar, pure maple syrup, cinnamon and ginger.

A black skillet filled with sliced fruit with cinnamon and sugar.

Cook over low heat until the sauce is thickened and bubbly.

A black skillet filled with the best fried apples.

A black skillet filled with fried apples.

How To Serve Fried Apples

The most popular way to serve these fried cinnamon apples is straight from the skillet to a bowl with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. But there are so many other ways to enjoy them. Here are a few suggestions.

  • Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and garnish with roasted nuts.
  • Add to a bowl of oatmeal or breakfast quinoa.
  • Serve with pancakes, waffles, Dutch baby, and French toast.
  • Slather them over croissants (sliced open) and place in the oven to heat through. Then serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and roasted nuts.
  • Serve with overnight oats.
  • Use as an apple pie filling.

Three small white skillets filled with fried apples and scoops of vanilla ice cream.

Tips For Making Perfect Fried Cinnamon Apples

  1. Use two or three different types of apples for a combo of tart and sweet flavors.
  2. If you want more sauce, then double the butter, pure maple syrup, sugar and spices. If the sauce is too thick, then stir in a little water or apple juice or 2-3 tablespoons more butter.
  3. Depending on the size of your skillet, you may want to fry the apples in two or three batches. Then add all of the cooked apple slices back to the skillet to add the sugar, maple syrup and spices. 
  4. Keep on eye on the skillet so the apples and caramel sauce don’t burn.
  5. Serve with toasted nuts. To toast nuts, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place nuts (walnuts, pecans and almonds) in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until fragrant (about 5 – 7 minutes). After the nuts have cooled, chop them and sprinkle over the ice cream and fried apples. 

Do I Have To Peel The Apples First?

It is not necessary to peel the apples first, but apple peel doesn’t break down very well and can become a little tough while cooking. Some people prefer the peels left on (for color and the added nutrients) while others don’t. If you choose to peel them, use a vegetable peeler rather than a knife, because it removes less flesh and it’s a little quicker to peel with. Then cut the peeled apples into quarters so you can easily remove the core and seeds.

Three white skillets filled with cooked fruit and ice cream.

How To Store Leftover Cinnamon Fried Apples?

Store leftover fried apples in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, melt a little butter in a skillet and add the fried apple slices. Cook for a few minutes until the apples are heated through. If you don’t want to use butter, then heat 3-4 tablespoons of apple juice or water to the skillet and add the fried apples.

Looking For More Dessert Recipes?

A white skillet filled with fried apples and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Yield: 6 Servings

Fried Apples

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Learn how to make fried apples with this easy Fried Apples recipe. Juicy apple slices are fried in butter; coated with sugar and spices, and then cooked to perfection. This is the easiest dessert you will ever make! 

Ingredients

  • 6 large apples peeled, cored and sliced
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Instructions

  1. Peel, core and slice apples and place them in a large bowl.
  2. Melt butter in a skillet and add sliced apples and cook over medium-low heat for about 3 minutes or until apples are slightly tender.
  3. Stir in the brown sugar, pure maple syrup, cinnamon and ginger and cook and stir over medium-low heat for another 3-5 minutes or until the sauce is thickened and bubbly and the apples are tender. 
  4. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream and toasted nuts (pecans and/or walnuts).

Notes

Tips For Making Perfect Fried Cinnamon Apples

  1. Use two or three different types of apples for a combo of tart and sweet flavors.
  2. To peel the apples, use a vegetable peeler rather than a knife, because it removes less flesh and it’s a little quicker to peel with. Then cut the peeled apples into quarters so you can easily remove the core and seeds.
  3. If you want more sauce, then double the butter, pure maple syrup, sugar and spices. If the sauce is too thick, then stir in a little water or apple juice or 2-3 tablespoons more butter.
  4. Depending on the size of your skillet, you may want to initially fry the apples in two or three batches. Then add all of the cooked apple slices back to the skillet to add the sugar, maple syrup and spices and finish cooking.
  5. Keep on eye on the skillet so the apples and caramel sauce don't burn.
  6. Serve with toasted nuts. To toast nuts, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place nuts (walnuts, pecans or almonds) in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until fragrant (about 5 - 7 minutes). Keep an eye on them, they burn quickly. After the nuts have cooled, chop them and sprinkle over the ice cream and fried apples. 

How To Store Leftover Cinnamon Fried Apples?

Store leftover fried apples in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, melt a little butter in a skillet and add the fried apple slices. Cook for a few minutes until the apples are heated through. If you don't want to use butter, then heat 3-4 tablespoons of apple juice or water to the skillet and add the fried apples.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 266Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 7mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 5gSugar: 35gProtein: 1g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations. See full disclaimer on About page.