Easy Copycat Cracker Barrel Fried Apples Recipe
Cracker Barrel Fried Apples are one of those rare side dishes that people remember long after the meal. Over the years, I have tested apples, slice thickness, fat choice, heat level, and timing to replicate the restaurant’s signature result: tender slices that still hold their shape, a brown sugar syrup that tastes caramelized but not burnt, and warm spices that read like comfort, not potpourri. This copycat delivers that same nostalgic flavor in one skillet, and it works just as well next to pork chops as it does over vanilla ice cream.
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Delight your family with this classic fried apple recipe that tastes like Cracker Barrel.
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Delight your family with a delicious fried apple recipe from Cracker Barrel.
These Southern-fried apples are delicious side dish when served with pork chops, but they become my easy apple dessert recipe when it is apple season. I know you will love serving this up just like the Cracker Barrel restaurants do, and when you make it at home, you can serve it up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This copycat Cracker Barrel recipe is an easy recipe. Who doesn’t love a delicious treat from your favorite restaurant?
What makes this the best copycat Cracker Barrel restaurant recipe?
Hands down, this is one of my family’s favorite apple recipes. These apples have the perfect blend of spices. Tender apple slices are perfectly cooked and wonderfully seasoned. These delicious fried apples can be served as a great side dish or as a dessert with a dollop of whipped cream. This is our go-to recipe for enjoying apples when it is apple season.
Cracker Barrel Fried Apples Ingredients
For the Fried Apples:
- Bacon drippings or butter – Provides rich flavor and prevents sticking while cooking
- Golden Delicious apples – Maintain structure when cooked and offer mild sweetness
- Lemon juice – Prevents browning and adds bright acidity to balance sweetness
- Brown sugar – Creates the signature caramelized coating and syrup
- Salt – Enhances all flavors and balances the sweetness
- Ground cinnamon – Adds warm, classic apple pie spice
- Ground nutmeg – Provides subtle complexity and traditional fall flavor
How to Make Fried Apples Cracker Barrel Style
- Core, peel, and slice the apples into 3/8-inch wedges.
- In a large skillet, melt bacon drippings or melt butter.
- Spread sliced apple evenly over the skillet bottom.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar and salt over the apple mixture.
- Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes, and stir them occasionally. Cook until the apples are fork-tender and juicy.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg, and serve.
- You can add a squeeze of lemon at the finish for enhanced flavor.
- Serve these with a slotted spoon.
To Peel or Not to Peel Apples
You can leave the peels on the apples or take them off, which is entirely up to you. I think you can deviate from the recipe a bit if you want to use different types of apples in the recipe. You can get a delicious flavor by using a couple of other apples.
Please note the video below features apples that are not peeled. You can peel the apples if you want them exactly like they are at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurant.
What are the best apples to use for cooked apples?
Cracker Barrel uses the Golden Delicious type of apple, but many other apples have a better flavor when you cook them. I recommend different kinds of apples over golden delicious. Here are a few of my recommendations.
- Granny Smith apples have a citrusy-tart flavor and are very firm, so they don’t get mushy when cooked.
- Jonagold apples have a sweet honey flavor that holds up well when baked.
- Honeycrisp apples are sweet and tart with a hint of berry.
- Pink lady apples are sweet, and tart apples, they are also slow to brown.
Want to get the best flavor imaginable? Make this recipe with a few different types of apples
Storage & Reheating Instructions for leftovers
- Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Apples will continue to soften slightly when chilled.
- Reheating Method: Reheat gently in skillet over low heat for 3-5 minutes, or microwave on medium power for 2-5 minutes, depending on quantity.
- Freezing: Can be frozen for up to 3 months, though texture becomes softer after thawing.
Love Cracker Barrel? Check out these copycat recipes!
- Broccoli and Cheddar Chicken
- Hash Brown Casserole Cracker Barrel
- Easy Meatloaf Recipe with Ritz Crackers
- Tomato Cucumber Onion Salad
- Cherry Chocolate Cobbler
- Coca Cola Cake Cracker Barrel
- Cracker Barrel Southern Fried Chicken
Here are a few more easy apple recipes your family will love!
- Dutch Apple Pie Recipe
- Low Sugar Apple Pie
- Apple Pie made with Ritz Crackers
- Apple Cider Pork Roast
- Apple Pecan Chicken Salad
- Best Apple Crisp
- Caramel Apple Bread Pudding
Be sure to take a look at my all-time favorite fall recipes and the best Cracker Barrel copycat recipes.
Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
Cracker Barrel Fried Apples Easy Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 golden delicious apples cored and cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Spread the apples evenly over the bottom of the skillet and sprinkle with lemon juice, brown sugar, and salt.
- Cover and cook over low heat until tender and juicy, about 15 minutes.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, and extra lemon juice if desired.
These were delicious, my whole family loved these.
For an adult kick in this recipe put some Sailor Jerry’s Spice Rum in a small atomizer
then spray lightly over the finished product. Yummy.
I like how you think!
When I saw the heading I thought that I would be seeing something special. Most of you
Millenials and GenXs would not know that this recipe was one of my favourites made by
my mother and grandmother back in the 1950s. I think the restaurants stole this from my
ancestors. I have this recipe in an old cookbook of Betty Crocker’s dated 1961.
I don’t think Cracker Barrel is known for modern innovative recipes. They try to recapture your Grandmother’s cooking.
The cracker barrels fried apples come in a #10 can. They are not made at the restaurants. I worked there I know.
where can this be bought?
What kinda apples are the best to use?
I like to use a combo of apples, generally a granny smith or two, some galas, or whatever is on sale.
Cracker Barrel apples are not peeled and are thicker sliced than pictured in this copy kat recipe.
To kick it up a notch, when the apples are almost done cooking, add a half teaspoon of vanilla! Delish!
I would give that a try.
CRACKER BARREL’S correct Recipe has “NO” Sugar of any kind in it! I know this because I have, and I told them, “diabetes.” That is when I was told. “No sugar of any kind is added. Only the natural sugar that is in the apples.”
They have jarred fried apples in the store that are advertised as being the same recipe as in the restaurant, sugar is the second ingredient listed. I love them, but they are not sugar free by any means.
Can you can these?
Canning perseveres anything. Just jar them and seal them as you would jam
How can you store these? Can this be frozen?
You could store these in the refrigerator for 4 or 5 days.
Why store them? Just eat them and make some more as needed. Easy to do.
Is there a printed copy of the recipes somewhere? I cannot follow videos due to my vision problems.
Yes, there it is on this page, it is in the blue section of the page that is in the middle. Hope this helps.
Thank you for your recipe. I made this recipe for my daughter as the Cracker Barrel fried apples is her favorite. I am not sure what I did wrong but it left a bitter after taste in our mouths. Do you think I might have used too much nutmeg or maybe the cinnamon was too old? As you can tell, I am not an experienced cook and would like to try it again but not sure what went wrong.
Yes you probably put to much cinnamon in it
As I was told by my mom when I was being taught how to cook different dishes not to use too much cinnamon. Because it will make your dishes bitter. Also watch the amount of nutmeg also.
It may be a matter of when you added the cinnamon. I read that cooking makes it bitter, so now in many recipes I try to add it when serving,
This is a great basic recipe that can be changed to suit your tastes- I used super juicy tart apples so added a little more brown sugar, some cardamon, nutmeg, a little cornstarch to thicken the juices and just for an extra special a tablespoon of honey jack-no leftovers!