Cracker Barrel fried apples are one of the most popular menu items at the Cracker Barrel. These are a favorite of so many. Fried apples make a great addition to any meal.
Thankfully, Cracker Barrel restaurants are on many major freeways so when you are traveling you can find a great breakfast or even a tasty lunch or dinner. I love their home-cooking style. It is hard to beat a good plate of meatloaf, chicken tenders, or a hearty breakfast. Their menu is diverse enough that everyone will find something they can enjoy.
If you are really lucky you might even have one of these restaurants in your hometown. They are always super busy.
For those of us to have to drive to the Cracker Barrel, you can always make a copycat recipe to tide you over until you get to the real restaurant. The Cracker Barrel Fried Apples are delicious when you make them at home. In the restaurant, they aren’t made fresh, but you can make a copycat of their fried apples using fresh ingredients at home.
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make fried apples:
- Bacon drippings or butter
- Tart apples
- Lemon juice
- Brown sugar
- Salt
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
How to Make Cracker Barrel Fried Apples
- In a large skillet, melt bacon drippings or butter.
- Spread sliced apples evenly over the skillet bottom.
- Sprinkle the lemon juice over them, followed by the brown sugar and salt.
- Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes, or until apples are tender and juicy.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg and serve.
- You can add a squeeze of lemon at the finish for enhanced flavor.
You can leave the peels on the apples or take them off, it is completely 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. I think by using a couple of different apples you can get a delicious flavor.
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. The portion of cooking with the lid on was omitted. You can add a little squeeze of lemon for enhanced flavor.
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
More Fall and Apple Recipes
- 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.
Copycat Cracker Barrel Fried Apples
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup bacon drippings, or 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
- 6 tart apples peeled, cored, and sliced - (video demonstrates this with apples that were not peeled, personal choice should be made).
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
Instructions
- In a large skillet, melt bacon drippings or butter. Spread the apples evenly over the skillet bottom. Sprinkle the lemon juice over them, followed by the brown sugar and salt. Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes, until apples are tender and juicy. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg and serve. You can add a squeeze of lemon at the finish for enhanced flavor, this is optional.
Katie
What kinda apples are the best to use?
Stephanie
I like to use a combo of apples, generally a granny smith or two, some galas, or whatever is on sale.
camellia nolen
Cracker Barrel apples are not peeled and are thicker sliced than pictured in this copy kat recipe.
Bill
To kick it up a notch, when the apples are almost done cooking, add a half teaspoon of vanilla! Delish!
Stephanie
I would give that a try.
N.C.M.
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.”
Christina
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.
Diane
Can you can these?
Samantha Gallegos
Canning perseveres anything. Just jar them and seal them as you would jam
Kris Cecala
How can you store these? Can this be frozen?
Stephanie
You could store these in the refrigerator for 4 or 5 days.
Ozark Lady
Is there a printed copy of the recipes somewhere? I cannot follow videos due to my vision problems.
Stephanie
Yes, there it is on this page, it is in the blue section of the page that is in the middle. Hope this helps.
Bob
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.
Wanda Nelson
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.
Grammie
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,
Terry
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!