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Cinnamon Fried Apples

Cinnamon fried apples with a glossy cinnamon-brown sugar sauce. Cook apple slices in a skillet until just tender, then simmer into a thick, spoon-coating syrup.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Southern American
Calories: 315
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Apples
  • 6 firm apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), cored and sliced
Butter and aromatics
  • 0.25 cup butter
  • 0.33 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 salt (pinch)
Thickener and finish
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 0.5 cup water
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Cook the apples
  1. Melt the butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, letting it foam slightly. A shiny, melted layer should coat the bottom of the pan.
  2. Add the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, then stir to coat every slice. The mixture should look evenly speckled and glossy as it clings to the apples.
  3. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the apples are just tender. You should see slight softening but still hold their shape when pressed.
Thicken the sauce
  1. Whisk the cornstarch with the water until smooth, then pour it into the skillet. The liquid will look cloudy at first as it hits the hot apples.
  2. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring as needed, until the sauce thickens and turns glossy. The syrup should coat the spoon and look glossy rather than watery.
  3. Stir in the vanilla extract and serve warm. The final sauce should cling to the apples in a saucy scoop.

Notes

Pro tip: slice apples into even thickness so they become tender at the same time. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; rewarm in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water if needed. Freezing is not recommended due to texture changes. For a lighter option, use light butter and reduce the brown sugar to 1/4 cup for a similar cinnamon flavor with less sweetness.