Copycat cracker barrel fried apples are a unique side dish or dessert; they are perfectly seasoned, buttery cooked apples you can’t get enough of.
Do you need a recipe for a potluck or barbecue? Bring a pot of baked beans and also a pot of these fried apples for the best side dishes you can make!
What are fried apples?
Southern Fried apples aren’t necessarily fried; the apples are cooked in the oven or slow cooker along with butter and plenty of brown sugar, maple syrup, and spices.
You can find fried apples on the menu at Cracker Barrel Restaurant as a side dish. I love them so much and am happy I can make a fresh batch at home in my crockpot any time I want. If it’s apple season and you have a large batch of apples, this is your recipe!
Ingredients
- Apples – Gala apples are lovely, though you can use granny smith, fuji, or honey crisp. Pretty much any fresh apple will work for this recipe.
- Seasonings – The flavorings for crock pot fried apples are cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. A touch of lemon juice will keep the apples from browning and add depth of flavor to the dish.
- Butter – Melted salted butter will give the apples a fried flavor.
- Brown Sugar – Adds sweetness and a caramelized flavor to the slow cooker fried apples recipe.
- Cornstarch – Thickens the apples, so they have a nice texture. You don’t want soupy apples.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Peel, core, and slice your apples into wedges. Add the sliced apples to the slow cooker. Sprinkle over the cornstarch and sprinkle over the lemon juice. Toss this together. There will be a milky liquid at the bottom; this is ok.
Step Two – Add the brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and melted butter.
Step Three – Stir and cook on HIGH for two hours. Stir the apples at the halfway point.
How to serve
- Breakfast – Serve the crockpot fried apples on the side of breakfast for a fruit side or spoon over pancakes or waffles and top with whipped cream. Another idea is to serve a bowl of the apples with a sprinkling of granola for a healthier breakfast.
- Dinner – Great alongside ham, pork loin, or pork chops! Try a little of the cinnamon fried apples with every bite of pork.
- Dessert – It’s like an apple crisp without the topping! Serve warm right out of the slow cooker and top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Drizzle with caramel for an extra flavor punch.
Variations
- Raisins – Add a 1/4 cup of regular raisins or golden raisins at the beginning of the cooking time. The raisins will become plump while cooking.
- Cardamon – If you have ever tried cardamom spice, then you know how well it goes in fall-flavored dishes. Try this fried apple recipe with a 1/2 teaspoon of ground cardamom.
- Pecans – Add 1/2 cup of chopped pecans for added texture and flavor to the slow cooker fried apples.
Recipe FAQs
It’s best to peel the apples for fried apples. The apple peels do not soften in the crockpot and will ruin the texture of the soft, buttery apples.
Either! They are great warm as a dessert or chilled alongside pancakes or pork. Make the apples the day before you need them if you want them chilled.
If you happen to have leftovers, let the apples cool on the counter for a bit before chilling. Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to three months.
This is not a canning recipe. Refrigerate or freeze this cracker barrel fried apple recipe instead.
Fried Apples Recipe
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 6 medium size apples (I use gala) peeled, cored and cut into wedges.
- 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
- 3 tsp. lemon juice
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 2 tsp. pure maple syrup can use pancake syrup
- 1/4 cup salted melted butter
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Peel apples and cut into wedges. I used an apple corer & slicer.
- NOTE: I am a slow apple peeler, so what I like to do is fill a bowl of cold water, I even add some ice cubes in it, once I am done peeling and cutting into wedges I put them in the water, submerged. This way they don’t have time to turn brown before I put them in my slow cooker.
- Place the apple pieces into the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle the cornstarch and the lemon juice. Mix until all apples are coated. You will have a milky liquid in the bottom, and it is ok.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Add the maple syrup, melted butter and vanilla.
- Mix until all apples are coated with the sugar/spices.
- Cook on High for 2 hours. Stir halfway, gently. Check your apples for doneness they should be soft, cook for an additional 30 minutes if needed.
- Once the apples are cooked, gently mix.
- Serve and Enjoy!
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
- Raisins – Add a 1/4 cup of regular raisins or golden raisins at the beginning of the cooking time. The raisins will become plump while cooking.
- Cardamon – If you have ever tried cardamom spice, then you know how well it goes in fall-flavored dishes. Try this fried apple recipe with a 1/2 teaspoon of ground cardamom.
- Pecans – Add 1/2 cup of chopped pecans for added texture and flavor to the slow cooker fried apples.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
What’s the best container to freeze these in?
Freezer ziplock bags are great, or canning jars and leave an inch of room for expansion.
If I wanted to double this, how long should I cook it?
Probably just a little longer. It’s hard to say without testing it.
Can I use unsweetened canned apples instead of fresh….and just add all the seasonings and sugar?
Awesome!
5star
Cracker Barrel fried apples are canned, and they leave the peelings on. So this is not really Cracker Barrel’s recipe. Kind of misleading.
It’s better than cracker barrel actually
Recipe was perfect as written. And delicious
Great recipe. I put it on a scoop of vanilla ice cream, delicious!
Don’t you have to add a lot of liquid when using a slow cooker?
No, there is plenty of moisture in this recipe. Don’t need to drown recipes when using the slow cooker. The apples create their own liquid and the added butter is the liquid.
A bowl of cold salted water also keeps the fruit from going brown
When do you add the pecans
Add them at the beginning of the cooking time.