Cast Iron Skillet Fried Apples Recipe
Fried apples are a sweet, tart hug in a bowl! Simmer firm and crisp apples in rich brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter for a velvety texture. Enjoy them on top of vanilla ice cream, pancakes, waffles, or simply in a bowl with a spoon!
This fried apples recipe is simple and sure to be loved by the whole family. Toss it in cast iron and in minutes you can enjoy a fresh, hot batch of home-cooked apples! Pull out your cast iron skillet recipe and get your Cracker Barrel fried apple fix at home.
Let’s take a look at how to make this apple recipe using basic kitchen staples and a skillet.
Ingredients
For this sweet treat, you need the following ingredients:
- 6 medium Honeycrisp apples – You can substitute any firm apple, like Granny Smiths.
- 4 tablespoons butter – This is equivalent to half of a stick of butter.
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon – The fresher the better. Check the expiration date on that bottle you have in the pantry and replace it if it has expired.
- ½ cup sugar – We’re talking regular granulated sugar. Organic is always a great option!
- ¼ cup light brown sugar – Same as above, only light brown sugar.
- 1 tablespoon corn starch – This will be used to thicken the sweet syrupy goodness.
- 2 tablespoons cold water – Cold is the key.
Instructions
There are five steps to this basic recipe.
Step 1: Peel apples and slice them, or coarsely chop them into uniform size pieces. Your choice.
Step 2: Add apple slices, butter, cinnamon, sugar, and brown sugar to a large cast-iron skillet or medium saucepan. Cook on medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring frequently, until the apples are fork-tender.
Step 3: In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and cold water with a fork until smooth. Raise the heat on the apples to medium. Pour the mixture into the apples, stirring constantly. When the apples start to boil, stir for one minute and then turn off the heat.
Step 4: Allow the fried apples to cool for 10 minutes. The sauce will continue to thicken as it stands.
Step 5: This will be your favorite – Serve over vanilla ice cream, waffles, or pancakes. You can even enjoy them as a delicious side dish – again, think Cracker Barrel.
Of course, you can always just scoop them into a bowl and enjoy them with nothing but a spoon.
Kitchen Notes
Mixing cornstarch and water together makes what’s called a cornstarch slurry. A slurry should always be made with cold water, and a slurry should only be added to boiling water, stirring constantly until the liquid comes back up to a boil. If you over-thicken your sauce, you can add a splash of water to thin it.
Tips
- Any firm, crisp apple would work well. Granny Smith are wonderful if you’d like a more tart topping. Mealy apples such as red delicious do not hold up well to cooking.
- Try adding a pinch of nutmeg and/or ginger, and a splash of vanilla extract.
- To make your house smell amazing, place the apple peels and apple cores in a simmering pot of water along with some cinnamon. Be sure to keep an eye on it and don’t let the water cook out (completely evaporate).
How To Store
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge and eat throughout the week.
- Freeze in quart-size freezer bags: fill bags and remove all air, freeze flat. When you’re ready to eat, cut away the plastic bag with kitchen shears and thaw in a saucepan on low, covered.
Got apples? In addition to this apple recipe, you can use them to make these tasty recipes using apples:
Fried Apples
Equipment
- cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 6 medium honeycrisp apples
- 4 tablespoons butter (½ stick)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- Peel apples and slice, or coarsely chop into uniform size pieces.
- Add apples, butter, cinnamon, sugar, and brown sugar to a large cast-iron skillet or medium saucepan. Cook on medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring frequently, until apples are fork-tender.
- In a small bowl, mix corn starch and cold water with a fork until smooth. Raise the heat on the apples to medium. Pour the mixture into the apples, stirring constantly. When the apples start to boil, stir for one minute and then turn off the heat.
- Allow the fried apples to cool for 10 minutes. The sauce will continue to thicken as it stands.
- Serve over vanilla ice cream, waffles, or pancakes.
Notes
- Any firm, crisp apple would work well, Granny Smith are wonderful if you’d like a more tart topping. Mealy apples such as red delicious do not hold up well to cooking.
- Store in an air-tight glass jar in the fridge and eat throughout the week.
- Freeze in quart-size freezer bags: fill bags and remove all air, freeze flat. When you’re ready to eat, cut away the plastic bag with kitchen shears and thaw in a saucepan on low, covered.
- Try adding a pinch of nutmeg and/or ginger, and a splash of vanilla extract.
Nutrition
Apple Quotes
- An apple a day keeps the doctor away! ~Benjamin Franklin
- Surely the apple is the noblest of fruits. ~ Henry David Thoreau
- A plate of apples, an open fire, and a jolly good book are a fair substitute for heaven. ~Lucy Maud Montgomery
- Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness. ~Jane Austen
Be sure to check out the post on Porch.com on how to make your kitchen a semi-pro Space!
