Go Back

Cinnamon Fried Apples

Cinnamon fried apples with a glossy brown sugar cinnamon sauce. Tender apple slices are simmered in a thickened syrup until spoon-coating and warm.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Southern American
Calories: 340
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Apples and coating
  • 6 firm apples Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, cored and sliced
  • 0.25 cup butter
  • 0.3333 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 0.5 cup water
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Fry the apples
  1. Melt butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat until fully melted and shimmering (about 1 minute).
  2. Add firm apples, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, then stir until the slices look evenly coated and glossy (about 30 seconds).
  3. Cover and cook 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are just tender and steam is visible under the lid.
Thicken the sauce
  1. Whisk cornstarch with water until smooth, then pour into the skillet while stirring so no lumps form (10-15 seconds).
  2. Simmer 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and turns glossy enough to lightly coat the spoon.
  3. Stir in vanilla extract and serve warm, with spoonfuls of thick cinnamon-brown sugar syrup over the apples.

Notes

For evenly cooked slices, cut apples to a similar thickness so they reach “just tender” during the covered 8-10 minutes. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days; rewarm gently in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water. Freezing is not recommended because the sauce can thin and the apples may soften too much. For a lighter option, use 1/4 cup light butter or a plant-based butter substitute and proceed as written for a similar texture.