Just like the classic southern side dish from your favorite restaurant, these Cracker Barrel Fried Apples will melt in your mouth! It's perfect for dinner or dessert!
Love these? Next time try Cracker Barrel Cheesy Potatoes!
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
What's your favorite menu items at the Cracker Barrel restaurants? I bet fried apples is one of them! Well, have I got a great recipe for you! This copycat recipe tastes just as good {better?!!!} than what you get at the restaurant! No need to buy a jar and bring it home anymore!
It's apple season, yay! You're going to love this new apple recipe! It's complete comfort food! Bonus? It only takes about 20 minutes to make! Seriously in less than a 30 minutes you'll be enjoying this classic dish and it's SO GOOD!
The only issue you'll have is that it will get gobbled up in minutes! Best tip? Double the recipe!
🗒️ Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- melted butter is your go-to, but you know what? Bacon grease is awfully tasty too!
- Granny Smith apples are my first choice but you can use any eating apples. Braeburn, pink lady, Rome or even sweet apples like red delicious. If you have an apple tree, then this is the recipe for you!
- dark brown sugar or light brown sugar - though you can use white sugar as well, I prefer brown sugar (with molasses), because I love the rich flavor it gives the dish.
- ground cinnamon and kosher salt - no cinnamon? Use apple pie spice, that would be yummy as well!
- fresh lemon will keep the apples from browning.
⏲️ Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions for the apple recipe. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
- Peel and core apples. Slice into ½ inch wedges. Squeeze ½ lemon overtop and give it a quick mix.
- Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. If you're using bacon grease, melt bacon drippings.
- When it's hot and bubbly, add the sliced apples. Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.
- Cover and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes until fork tender. Stir occasionally. Enjoy!
Slow Cooker Copycat Cracker Barrel Apples Instructions
- Prepare the crockpot by spraying with nonsticking cooking spray or use a slow cooker liner - it just makes clean up a breeze!
- Prepare the apples as directed above. Place in sliced apples in crockpot. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Cover and cook on low for two hours.
And for dessert, this will be your favorite easy recipe... all you'll need is a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a delicious treat just serve and enjoy!
🔪 Equipment
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- A large skillet is perfect. I use my 12" cast-iron skillet - I love the durability of cast iron!
- small pairing knife or vegetable peeler
🙋♀️ FAQ's
Granny Smith apples are the best option. They are firm and tart and fry up so nicely!
You bet - the tart apples will hold their shape best, but eating apples will also work.
Not at all, it's personal preference! I preferred the texture without the apple peels, but you can skip that step if you prefer unpeeled apples. It's up to you.
The Cracker Barrel recipe suggests Golden Delicious apples, but they are delicate and bruise easily. I recommend Honey crisp, Granny Smith, Braeburn or Pink Lady - both Granny Smith and Braeburn apples are firm, crunchy apples and readily available at our market.
A tablespoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water. Mix together a slurry, pour it into the apples and bring to a boil for a minute. It will thicken up the apples nicely.
No, I think it's perfect just the way it is - but if you'd like to, use the cornstarch slurry.
📓 Variations
- Now, if you have some bacon grease, substitute that for the butter. It will be amazing!!!
- A pinch of chili powder will give them a hint of spice.
- Top the finished apples with a pie crust. This recipe really makes the perfect apple pie filling!
- Bourbon would be an amazing addition! Add a splash (a tablespoon or two) before you put it over the flame. The alcohol will cook out, leaving you with THE MOST delicious fried apples!
Now I don't know if I'd still call them Cracker Barrel apples. But for sure I'd call them fabulous!
👍 Tips
Be sure to squeeze the lemon over the apples to keep them from browning.
Use a tart apple - it balances the sugar in the recipe and will give you the best flavor.
🤔 What I've learned
What have I learned about making this recipe? Double the recipe! We love these copycat Cracker Barrel Fried Apples! You won't have leftovers; if you make a double batch, you can freeze some later!
This is a great sweet side dish!
Storage
To store allow leftover fried apples to cool completely and store the apple mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This dish can be frozen up to three months.
To reheat, place leftovers in a microwave safe dish and heat in 30 second intervals until it's hot and bubbly.
Serving suggestions
Goodness, this is just the best dish! You can serve it with your main course as a side with pork chops, grilled ribs, or meatloaf.
The Copycat Cracker Barrel Fried Apples is an easy dessert recipe as well! It's perfect served in a small bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (serve the apples warm!), Topped with a drizzle of caramel or butterscotch? Drool worthy!!! 🤤
Or serve the fried apples as a great side dish, and then this recipe for Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings would be a wonderful dessert!
It would also be a lovely filling in hand pies too, YUM!!!
Related recipes
I love restaurant recipes here on the blog - here are some of my favorites.
- One of my copycat recipes on the blog is this recipe for Cracker Barrel Potato Cheesy Potato Casserole - YUM!!! It's so good and leftovers freeze great!!
- This Cheesecake Factory Chicken and Broccoli recipe is rich, creamy and delicious!
- Of course, this Pollo Tropical Cilantro Garlic Sauce is great for dipping chicken, fries even ribs! It's ridiculously good!
- Have you tried the Cheesy Pineapple Casserole yet? It's amazing and will be the first thing gone on the buffet!
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When you make this please comment below and let me know what you think! I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @bowl_me_over or #bowlmeover - so I can see your photos!
Cracker Barrel Fried Apples
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 5-6 tart apples peeled, cored, cut into ½-inch wedges (about 2 lb)
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch salt
- 1 lemon substitute with bottled lemon juice
Instructions
- Peel and core apples. Slice into ½ inch wedges. Squeeze ½ lemon overtop and give it a quick mix.
- Melt butter in cast iron skillet over medium heat.
- Place apple slices in the melted butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.
- Cover and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally. Enjoy!
Notes
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Prepare the crockpot by spraying with nonsticking cooking spray or use a slow cooker liner - it just makes clean up a breeze!
- Prepare the apples as directed above. Place in sliced apples in crockpot. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Cover and cook on low for two hours.
Camden Rusincovitch says
These fried apples are exactly what I've been craving with fall being right around the corner! So excited to make these with a mug of tea.
Alyssa says
My family and I just went to the apple orchard today. I can't wait to use them to make fried apples!
Kristen M Yard says
I'm considering making fried apples instead of apple pie for Thanksgiving this year! SO much less work, and just as yummy (if not even better!).
Bowl Me Over says
I will be a hit, I promise! AND you can make these ahead and freeze them. How fabulous is that? Enjoy the recipe!
Cynthia Rusincovitch says
Love me some Cracker Barrel fried apples! I made these with some apples that were too tart for my kids's tastes. They certainly ate them after I cooked them!
Suzie Ellis says
I make this when I get extra Granny Smith apples and then can it. Shelf stable. I use it as apple pie filling or add a jar to my oatmeal. Yummy
Bowl Me Over says
Excellent Suzie, that sounds fantastic! I've never canned it, how long do you can it for?
Brittany says
My husband loves these fried apples!
Cat stevens says
Fried apples is is my favorite. I like it better than pie. Nice to have the precise ingrediants. Thanks Deb.
Billie Jo says
Can you premake these and reheat in a crock pot? If so, for how long and what setting?
Bowl Me Over says
What's so fabulous about these potatoes is the crispy topping. This recipe for Cheesy Potato Casserole would be a great make ahead recipe for the slow cooker. You can prepare up to 24 hours in advance. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. If you'd like it extra cheesy, top it with an extra cup of shredded cheese for the last 30 minutes of cooking.