Fried Apples Recipe

Decadent and full of classic sweet spices, fried apples make the perfect quick side! These are made with simple, kitchen staples and are naturally-sweetened for a family favorite dish you’ll make again and again.

Healthy Twist on a Southern Classic

Growing up in the South, fried apples were a staple. They’re the perfect easy side for any meal, and they quickly became one of my childhood favorites. I mean, who doesn’t love the idea of something that basically tastes just like warm apple crisp filling?

While plenty of southern foods don’t exactly fit into a healthy diet (looking at you, fried chicken), fried apples are surprisingly easy to make with healthy ingredients, you won’t even miss the refined sugar!

Whenever I end up with more apples than we can eat, this is the first thing I make. My whole family loves it (though there’s always a debate about whether or not to add nuts and cranberries on top). Anytime I need a quick side to round out a meal, this is it!

What Makes these Fried Apples Special?

• Rich, sweet flavor with plenty of cozy spices and warm flavors.
• Healthy, allergy-friendly side made with simple ingredients and no refined sugar.
• Quick & easy making them perfect for last minute!

Ingredients

• Apples – The best apples for this recipe are crunchy and have a good balance between sweet and tart. Gala, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith are some great choices. However, I’ve also used soft, slightly older apples in this recipe when I’m in a pinch, and it’s still delicious.
• Lemon juice – Freshly squeezed is always best, but bottled lemon juice also works.
• Coconut oil – If you’re not dairy-free, feel free to substitute butter.
• Molasses – For a little bit of natural sweetness and rich flavor. Dark molasses is my go-to, but for a milder flavor use light molasses. If you prefer, you can use maple syrup instead.
• Dried cranberries and pecans (optional) – These make a delicious topping for the apples, but you can leave them off if you prefer. If you would like, you can substitute walnuts for the pecans.

Tools Needed

• Extra large skillet or saute pan – Cast iron or stainless steel both work, but this is one of the few recipes where I choose stainless steel. Apples are acidic, so if your pan is in need of a good cast iron seasoning (like mine often is), they can pick up a little bit of a metallic flavor and darker color.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: First, melt the coconut oil in a large pan over medium heat.

Step 2: Then add the apple slices to the pan, and stir in the lemon juice, molasses, vanilla, and spices.

Step 3: Cook the apples on medium – medium low heat until they’re soft, usually about 15 minutes. Make sure to stir them frequently to keep them from burning.

Top them with pecans and cranberries and serve warm.

If you’re looking for more easy apple recipes, check out my moist apple muffins and apple chutney with cranberries!

Tips for Success

Evenly slice the apples – This helps the apples cook evenly and leads to a delicious, even texture.

Don’t forget to stir – To keep the apples from burning and to help them soften evenly, stir them frequently as they’re cooking.

Adjust cooking time based on taste preference – If you prefer very soft, saucy apples, cook them longer, but if you like a slightly crisper texture, they’ll need less cooking time.

Creative Ways to Serve

Fried apples are a classic side (often served with pork chops or a similar meal), but there are many other ways to enjoy them!

• Topping for homemade vanilla ice cream
• Gluten-free pancake or healthy Dutch baby topping
• Stirred into yogurt (if you’ve never made homemade yogurt, you have to try it!)
• Spooned over rice pudding or quinoa pudding

FAQs

If you try this recipe, let me know in the comments! Tag me on Instagram @violet_rightathome

Fried Apples

Decadent and full of rich spices, healthy fried apples are a quick, family-favorite side made with simple kitchen staples.

5 from 1 vote

Print Rate

Course: Clean Eating Side Dishes

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 176kcal

Author: Violet Parcha

Equipment

• Large saute pan

Ingredients

• 8 apples peeled and sliced
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice juice from one lemon
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 teaspoon molasses light or dark
• 2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries optional
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans optional

Instructions

• Place the coconut oil in the pan and melt it on medium heat.
  2 tablespoons coconut oil
• Add the apple slices to the pan.
  8 apples
• Stir in the lemon juice, molasses, vanilla, and spices.
  2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoon molasses, 2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• Cook the apples on medium – medium low heat until they're soft, usually about 15 minutes. Stir frequently to keep from burning.
• Top with dried cranberries and chopped pecans (if using) and serve warm.
  1/4 cup dried cranberries, 1/3 cup chopped pecans

Notes

Ingredient Notes

• For best results, use apples that are crunchy and have a good balance between sweet and tart. Gala, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith are some great choices.
• If you’re not dairy-free, feel free to substitute butter for the coconut oil.
• If you prefer, you can use maple syrup instead of molasses.
• You can substitute chopped walnuts for the pecans.

Store

• Refrigerate 3-5 days or freeze for up to 6 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 176kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 248mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 103IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 0.5mg

If you tried this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out for you! Please make sure to come back and leave a comment and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating.