Cracker Barrel fried apples are an incredibly tasty treat that you can enjoy as a side dish, dessert, or snack! Pair them with some pork for dinner, waffles for breakfast, or just enjoy them on their own! Not to mention, this scrumptious copycat recipe is so easy to make that you won't even miss going out to the restaurant!
Cracker Barrel Fried Apples Copycat Recipe
Cracker Barrel's fried apples are a delicious and iconic side dish that has been enjoyed by many for years, but what if you could recreate that same mouthwatering taste at home? With just 6 simple ingredients, you'll have your own batch of delicious fried apples that will rival the original!
To start, you will need some fresh Golden Delicious apples, apple juice, sugar, butter, apple pie spice, and cornstarch. The result is a warm and comforting dish that is perfect for any time of day!
Jump to:
If you love Cracker Barrel as much as I do and want to try more recipes, check out my page full of the best Cracker Barrel copycat recipes!
🥘 Cracker Barrel Fried Apples Ingredients
This easy and delicious recipe only requires 6 simple ingredients to make a fantastic dessert or side dish that everyone will love! I like using Golden Delicious apples personally, but you can use your favorite type of baking apples if desired.
- Apples - 4 large Golden Delicious apples (peeled, cut into wedges, about 8 cups of apples).
- Apple Juice - 2 ½ cups of apple juice (divided into portions of 2 cups and ½ cup).
- Sugar - 4 tablespoons of granulated sugar.
- Cornstarch - 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.
- Apple Pie Spice - 1 teaspoon of apple pie spice (try my recipe or use your favorite brand).
- Butter - 4 tablespoons of butter (softened, at room temperature).
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Cracker Barrel Fried Apples
This delicious fried apples recipe is incredibly easy to make and only takes a total of 35 minutes! To get started, you will need a medium-sized skillet, a serving dish, a small mixing bowl, measuring spoons, and a silicone whisk.
4 large apples will make about 8 cups or 6 servings! You can easily scale up or down the ingredients as needed.
- Add ingredients. Take out a medium-sized skillet or pan, add your 4 large Golden Delicious apple wedges and the first 2 cups of apple juice, and place it over medium-high heat.
- Cook. Bring the apples to a simmer and cook them until they can easily be pierced with a fork, but are not mushy (around 20 minutes), making sure to stir frequently.
- Transfer apples. Using a slotted spoon, remove the cooked apples from the sauce and place them into a serving dish.
- Whisk ingredients. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining ½ cup of apple juice, 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, 1 teaspoon of apple pie spice, and 4 tablespoons of sugar.
- Pour mixture. Pour the mixture over the hot apple juice in the skillet, whisking constantly on medium-high heat until the juice bubbles and begins to thicken, then mix in the 4 tablespoons of butter until melted.
- Serve. Drizzle the hot apple juice sauce over your cooked apples, then serve immediately.
These fried apples are wonderful to enjoy on their own or as an addition to many meals! I like to serve them on top of my pan-seared pork chops, homemade pancakes, or creamed corn cornbread! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- Try my tasty apple pie spice recipe or pick some up at the store! If you can't find any (and don't want to make some), you can always swap it out for a combination of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and cardamom, depending on what you have on hand.
- You can choose to leave the peels on your apples or go ahead and peel them, they will be delicious either way!
- I really like the way Golden Delicious apples complement this dish, but you can try out the recipe with any of your favorite baking apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Braeburn!
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Keep your apples stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. These apples can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Allow them to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheating Cracker Barrel Fried Apples
Reheat your apples on the stovetop over medium heat until they are heated all the way through.
>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<
❓ Recipe FAQs
Great question! I recommend using Golden Delicious apples, but it's really up to your personal preference. You could also use Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn if you'd like. Check out my article that covers all of the tips and tricks on the best apples for baking and cooking!
Absolutely! Fried apples are a wonderful side dish to make ahead of time! Allow them to completely cool off then store them in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
It's really up to you! I peel the apples before cooking them because I prefer the texture of peeled apples over unpeeled ones. Either way, this recipe will taste wonderfully delicious!
😋 More Tasty Copycat Recipes
- Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits - If you're like me then you can't get enough of these delicious biscuits, but now you can make them at home anytime you'd like!
- Taco Bell Mexican Pizza - This delicious and easy-to-make Mexican pizza is perfect for any weeknight dinner!
- Panda Express Fried Rice - Fried rice is a wonderfully tasty and versatile side dish that you can pair with your favorite Chinese dinners!
- Boston Market Meatloaf - This comforting meatloaf recipe only requires a few simple ingredients that you may even already have at home!
- Panda Express Chow Mein - This delicious chow mein recipe is full of amazing flavor and will pair wonderfully with many dishes!
- Big Mac - If you're a fan of Big Macs, now you can make these tasty double patty burgers in the comfort of your home!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Subscribe to the newsletter today (no spam, I promise)! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!
📖 Recipe Card
Cracker Barrel Fried Apples
Ingredients
- 4 large Golden Delicious apples (peeled, cut into wedges, about 8 cups of apples)
- 2½ cups apple juice (divided into portions of 2 cups and ½ cup)
- 4 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice (try my recipe or use your favorite brand)
- 4 tablespoon butter
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Take out a medium-sized skillet or pan, add your 4 large Golden Delicious apple wedges and the first 2 cups of apple juice, and place it over medium-high heat.
- Bring the apples to a simmer and cook them until they can easily be pierced with a fork, but are not mushy (around 20 minutes), making sure to stir frequently.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the cooked apples from the sauce and place them into a serving dish.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining ½ cup of apple juice, cornstarch, apple pie spice, and sugar.
- Pour the mixture over the hot apple juice in the skillet, whisking constantly on medium-high heat until the juice bubbles and begins to thicken, then mix in the butter until melted.
- Drizzle the hot apple juice sauce over your cooked apples, then serve immediately.
Notes
- Try my tasty apple pie spice recipe or pick some up at the store! If you can't find any (and don't want to make some), you can always swap it out for a combination of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and cardamom, depending on what you have on hand.
- You can choose to leave the peels on your apples or go ahead and peel them, they will be delicious either way!
- I really like the way Golden Delicious apples complement this dish, but you can try out the recipe with any of your favorite baking apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Braeburn!
- To store: Keep your apples stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To freeze: These apples can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Allow them to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- To reheat: Reheat your apples on the stovetop over medium heat until they are heated all the way through.
Beckie says
I would not have thought of this as a side dish… yet it is “Simply Delicious!”
Thank you for providing this recipe ♥️
MaryNissley says
Can you dehydrate this recipe?
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
I have never tried, but I wouldn't think so. If you try let us know!