This copycat Cracker Barrel Fried Apples recipe is as close as you can get to eating the real deal. You might as well be sitting in the restaurant, instead you're enjoying it in the comfort of your own home. Deliciously soft, sweet and full of fall spices.
Any apple recipe is going to be more popular in the fall (it's apple season) and this copycat recipe is no exception. It's perfect as a Thanksgiving side dish. However, it's actually a favorite of mine - that means in my house it's served any time of year.
This classic southern side dish has been a fixture on the menu of Cracker Barrel restaurants for years and for good reason. I think it's most people's favorite thing on there.
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- Fried apples have so much versatility. Enjoy as a sweet side dish for a main course, as I mentioned earlier, with, for example, some pork chops or add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy as a dessert.
- It's a super easy recipe to make with very few ingredients.
- Absolutely everyone loves fried apples.
- It's basically the same as apple pie filling and so you could make a large batch and make a pie too.
- You could add it to your slow cooker, as another easy cooking option.
- You could serve as a side for your Thanksgiving meal, it pairs perfectly with a Thanksgiving turkey.
🧅 Ingredients
- Apples - I like to use Granny Smith Apples or Honey Crisp, tart apples are best for this recipe plus they hold their shape better.
- White Sugar - for sweetness.
- Brown Sugar - for sweetness and texture.
- Butter - to fry the apples in.
- Apple Juice - for added fluid to make the sauce.
- Apple Pie Spice - this just makes life a little easier than adding separate spices.
- Cornstarch - for thickening the sauce.
See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.
🥣 Instructions
- Step 1: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Step 2: Add the sugars, apple pie spice and cornstarch to a resealable bag and shake well to mix.
- Step 3: Add the peeled sliced apples to the bag with the spice mixture and shake well, moving the apple slices around to mix and become coated, evenly.
- Step 4: Add the apple mixture to the hot skillet along with the apple juice and move the apples around to cover the skillet.
- Step 5: Turn down to low- medium heat and cover the skillet.
- Step 6: Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Step 7: Once the apples are nicely softened serve immediately.
Hint: If you don't have a lid for your skillet you can cover with aluminum foil.
🔄 Substitutions and Variations
- Apples - The best apples are the more tart varieties like granny smith however, some like to use a sweet apples like golden delicious or a pink lady.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - try adding a spoon full.
- Bacon Drippings - Melt bacon drippings in the skillet, instead of butter.
- Apple Cider - instead of the apple juice.
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🔌 Equipment
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I have a list of equipment I may have used in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
I would recommend a cast-iron skillet though, for a nice even heat distribution.
📘 Other Cracker Barrel Recipes
- Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese - deliciously creamy and full of cheese mac and cheese is a staple side dish for any meal.
- Cracker Barrel Chicken and Rice - this recipe is a long time favorite in the south.
- Cracker Barrel Sweet Potato Casserole - a simple classic that is perfect for the holidays.
- Cracker Barrel Fried Apples - these apples are perfect as a side dish, next to some turkey or pair with some ice cream and it tastes great as a dessert. So flexible.
Check out this list of awesome Thanksgiving Side Dishes.
🧊 Storage
Once cooled completely store leftover fried apples in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
💡 Tips
Expert Tips: Sprinkle lemon juice over your apple slices to stop any browning from occurring.
👩🍳 FAQs
Granny smith, honey crisp or pink lady. They have a delicious tart flavor and their texture holds up well to frying without disintegrating.
Depends if you're serving as a dessert recipe or a side dish to a main course. If you'll be offering as a dessert, then you could offer ice cream or heavy cream.
If this will be a side dish for you then it pairs perfectly with pork and chicken.
If you’ve tried this Cracker Barrel Fried Apples Recipe or any other great recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section below, how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers!
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Cracker Barrel Fried Apples Recipe
Delicious soft and sweet with cinnamon and nutmeg spice these Cracker Barrel Fried Apples are as close to the real deal as you can get.
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons Butter, unsalted
- 4 Large Apples, peeled, cored and sliced
- ⅓ Cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar, packed
- 2 Teaspoons Apple Pie Spice
- 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- ½ Cup Apple Juice
Instructions
- Add the butter to a large skillet and turn on medium-high heat.
- In a large resealable bag add the sugars, apple pie spice and cornstarch and shake to mix.
- Peel and core the apples then slice into ¼" thick slices.
- Add the apple slices to the resealable bag with the sugar and spice and shake well to mix. Make sure all the slices are evenly coated.
- Once the butter has melted add the apple slices to the skillet along with the apple juice and move around a little to even out.
- Cover, turn down the heat to medium-low and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the apples have nicely softened serve immediately.
Notes
If you don't have a lid for your skillet you can cover with aluminum foil.
If you don't have a resealable bag go ahead and using a mixing bowl. I feel moving the slices around in the bag really helps distribute those ingredients nicely.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 203Total Fat 6gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 15mgSodium 8mgCarbohydrates 39gFiber 4gSugar 32gProtein 1g
Malia says
So do you add apple juice after hot butter process and right before covering to simmer?
Melanie Cagle says
Hi Malia,
Yes, you are right, I didn't mention when to add the apple juice. Add it at the same time as you add the apples to the pan. I'll go ahead and amend the recipe to make sure it includes it. Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention!