And now for the last in the Southern Country Breakfast series. We enjoy fried apples for breakfast, but they also make a great side dish for a holiday ham, or even a dessert—just add a scoop of french vanilla ice cream on top of warm apples. They are very simple to make—you just need apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, sugar, and a little butter. I keep a shaker of cinnamon sugar on hand, which has 1 tablespoon of cinnamon for every ½ cup of sugar.
When Southerners talk about fried apples, there is always discussion on the best apples to use. Some people prefer Granny Smiths, some people like red apples, some people leave the skins on, some peel it off. My mother uses Red Delicious because they hold their shape well, and she peels them.
[Updated 2011]
Southern Fried Apples
Equipment
- large skillet with a lid
Ingredients
- 12 Red Delicious apples (peeled, cored, and cut into 8 wedges)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 or 5 tablespoons cinnamon sugar (or to taste)
Preparation
- Sprinkle lemon juice over the apples as you cut them to prevent browning.
- Melt butter in the skillet and add apples. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Cook stirring over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
- Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until apples are fork tender, but not mushy, about 15 minutes. Serve warm.
shnaggy says
hi andrea,
i happen to come by your blog as i searched "how to cook an apple". in my country, apples are not a common fruit, however, we can buy them in groceries and fruit stands. there are times i buy a bad apple and it sits in our fridge for sometime. so i wanna make use of them...in a simple cooking.
thanks to this recipe. i'll try it!!!
shnaggy
shirley says
dear andrea
Do you kow how to can fried apples? if so I sure would like the recipe. I have so many apples and my husband and I love fried apples.
Thank You
P.S. cracker barrel has them out in jars.
Andrea says
Hi Shirley. My first thought would be yes, they can be preserved at home. Probably the closest thing would be canning apple butter. If you cook fried apples in butter or oil, that decreases the acidity, which means they might not store well if preserved using the boiling water canning method. To be safe you could can with a pressure cooker following the instructions provided by the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
paula thames says
I had several apples and my fiance was coming home for lunch and so I quickly googled 'fried apples' and found your recipe. I am forever hearing about his grandmothers fried apples. This what my first attempt and they were a hit! Thank you.
Linda says
Ok, so I know fried apples are not a 'diet' food. But does anyone have any idea the calories, fat, etc. associated with the above recipe? Thanks.
Andrea says
Hi Linda. My rough estimate is about 1,500 calories total, so about 255 calories per serving. Not health food, but not horrible.
Brenda Le Blanc says
I just fry my apples in 1 T of Brummels and Brown and then add cinnamon...no sugar. Tastes great and my grandchildren love them.
Randi says
I just fried these up, as directed. Threw some ice cream on top and it was amazing. It was just me tho, so I only cut and peeled two apples. Thumbs up!
Joyce Savich says
Jonathans are the very best apple for frying -- juicy with intense flavor. Do not peel them.