CopycatSpices
Copycat Cracker Barrel Fried Apples
Make Cracker Barrel's famous cinnamon fried apples at home — tender, buttery, and perfectly spiced with brown sugar and cinnamon.
copycat · cracker-barrel · casual-dining · side
🕑Prep10 min
🍳Cook15 min
⏱Total25 min
🍽Serves6
⭐DifficultyEasy
Ingredients
- 6 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup apple juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- 1.Melt the butter. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat until it just starts to foam.
- 2.Cook the apples. Add the sliced apples to the skillet and toss to coat in the melted butter. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples begin to soften.
- 3.Add the sugar and spices. Sprinkle the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt over the apples. Stir to coat and continue cooking for 3-4 minutes as the sugar melts into a syrupy sauce.
- 4.Thicken the sauce. Mix the cornstarch with the apple juice until smooth. Pour into the skillet and stir. The sauce will thicken within 1-2 minutes into a glossy glaze.
- 5.Finish. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. The apples should be tender but still hold their shape — not mushy. Serve warm as a side dish or dessert topping.
Cracker Barrel’s fried apples are the quintessential Southern side dish — tender apple slices simmered in butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until they are glazed in a sticky, sweet sauce. They are served as a side at Cracker Barrel, but they are equally at home spooned over pancakes, biscuits, or vanilla ice cream. This copycat recipe is incredibly quick and easy.
Why This Recipe Works
Granny Smith apples are essential because they are tart enough to balance all the sweetness from the brown sugar, and they hold their shape when cooked instead of turning to mush. The cornstarch slurry thickens the cooking juices into that signature glossy glaze that coats every slice. The butter is not just a cooking medium — it adds richness and helps the spices adhere to the fruit.
Pro Tips
- Do not overcook the apples. They should be tender with a slight bite, not applesauce.
- Slice the apples to a uniform 1/4-inch thickness so they cook evenly.
- For extra flavor, add a splash of bourbon or apple cider to the sauce.
- These reheat well in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. They are also delicious served cold the next day.
