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Apple fries are one of my favorite sweet treats! Crisp apple wedges are lightly battered and fried in a pan, then sprinkled with a cinnamon-sugar mix. Pair with our creamy, caramel-infused dip.
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I originally created this recipe because my husband and I both developed an allergy to raw apples. Apparently it was a virus that went around a few years back that made it so neither of us could eat a raw apple without our throats starting to swell and get itchy. The only silver lining is that we could still eat apples if they were cooked.
Fall came around and I was depressed that I couldn’t eat caramel apples so I decided I was going to find a way to make it work. And that is how these apple fries were born.
Apple fries with caramel dip are like eating your own little apple pie with every bite. The fried apples are lightly battered and fried in a shallow pan, then sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. The dip is creamy and rich with caramel flavor. The two together are a delicious combination and a must-try for apple season.
This light and tasty dessert is a perfect weeknight treat that is so simple to make! It is so simple to make and always a family favorite. Slice your granny smith apples and get ready for a sweet and savory delicious treat!
Ingredients to Make Apple Fries
Homemade apple fries come together quickly in just a few steps. These ingredients are all pantry staples and great to have on hand to make these over and over again. Take your apples and turn them into dessert with
- Granny smith apples – Wash and slice the green apples.
- Buttermilk – This gives the apple flavor, and helps the flour coat and hold firm to the apples.
- Sugar – A two-part ingredient. Use for part of the coating and then used again for sprinkling over top of the slices once they are hot.
- Wondra flour – Helps coat the apples and gives them a thickness before frying them. They will fry up better with this flour.
- Oil – Fill the pan with either vegetable or canola oil to fry the apples.
- Cinnamon – Sprinkle overtop the hot apples with sugar.
How to Make Apple Fries
Take your apples to the next level with sweetness and fried to-perfection apples! This fall dessert recipe is so simple and comes together quickly for all of your favorite fall gatherings. Make these in batches and enjoy a sweet treat your family will love!
- Prepare – In a frying pan, or deep fryer, heat vegetable oil for frying. Mix together the buttermilk and sugar in a medium size bowl. Peel and slice apples and add them to the buttermilk mixture as you go to prevent browning.
- Coat – Spread Wondra flour evenly in a shallow dish. Pull the apples out of the buttermilk mix, one at a time and lightly coat all sides in the flour.
- Fry apples – When the oil is nice and hot, gently place coated apples into the oil so they are not touching, when the bottom side begins to turn golden brown, flip them over and brown the second side.
- Let cool – Quickly remove to a lined baking sheet with paper towels to soak up excess grease and cool. Sprinkle immediately with cinnamon and sugar while they are hot.
Tips and Modifications for the Best Apple Fries
These apples are fried to make a great dessert, side dish, or garnish and are always a huge hit! Change the ingredients to what you have at home and best for your family. These are some suggestions and ways to make your apple fries even better!
- Flour mixture – Substitute cornstarch or all-purpose flour for the Wonda flour. They are both thicker compared to Wonda flour but will help for frying.
- Slicing fruit – Cut them into long slices for fried apple sticks or slice them into small bite-sized squares.
- Apples – A tart, crisp apple, such as a Granny Smith, is the best combination for a sweet and savory dessert. This is perfect blend with the sugar and cinnamon mixture.
- Spices – For a more desired flavor add apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, or ginger and nutmeg separately.
Homemade Caramel Cream Dip for Apples
You can’t make these apple fries without also making the delicious dip that goes with it! It’s a bit different than the usual caramel apple dip recipe. This crowd favorite is a simple combination:
- Cream cheese – an 8 ounce package, softened.
- Cool whip – one 8 ounce tub to whip into the cream cheese mixture. You can also whip heavy cream and half a cup of sugar and mix with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Caramel sauce – I like the flavor of Mrs. Richardson’s Butterscotch Caramel as an option. You can also make this with our homemade caramel butterscotch sauce. It’s so delicious and is a perfect dessert dip. If you’re in a hurry you can just use this caramel sauce without adding the Cool Whip or cream cheese layer. Store it in the refrigerator until time to serve.
- Add ins (optional) – Add toffee bits, crushed candy bar, or Heath bar bits to the dip to add a little crunch.
Use this caramel cream dip for as a dipping sauce for not just apples, but all sorts of things. It’s a delicious after school snack. Just pile a serving dish with all kinds of fruits, crackers and pretzels and a pot of homemade caramel apple dip. Try it with these snacks:
- Sliced pears
- Pretzels
- Bananas
- Graham crackers
- Bread stick dippers
Storing and Reheating
Store the extra apple fries in an airtight container in the fridge for five to seven days. When ready to reheat, place in an air fryer, oven, or microwave. Heat up until they are all warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use any kind of apple for this apple fries recipe but the best apples we prefer are tart and honeycrisp, fuji, granny smith or pink lady apples. Braeburn and galas work great for this recipe too. Never make it with a really sweet and soft apple like a red delicious, though. These types of softer apples cannot withstand the frying process. They will get mushy and the flavor is not as good.
Use a cutting board and set the apple upright. Slice it in half and place the half cut-side down. Cut it in half and into thinner slices by cutting at an angle. You can also use an apple slicer that is round and has several sharp dividers to cut and slice the apple into sections.
We love to dip our apple fries into the caramel cream dip, butterscotch caramel, or homemade caramel. You can also scoop vanilla ice cream on top and drizzle with caramel for an extra special treat or make it simple and top with whipped cream.
READ NEXT: 100+ Snack Ideas for Kids
More Apple Recipes
If you have an abundance of apples this year or are just looking to try some new recipes, we have several to share with you! From baking to cooking, each recipe is simple and delicious!
Apple Fries
Video
Ingredients
For the Apples:
- 4 to 5 tart apples Granny Smith or Pink Lady
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup Wondra flour
- vegetable oil for frying
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/8 cup cinnamon
For the Dip:
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 8 ounces Cool Whip or 1 cup whipping cream with ½ cup sugar- whipped until stiff
- 1 cup caramel sauce store bought or homemade (see above)
Instructions
- In a fry pan, or deep fryer heat vegetable oil for frying. Mix together the buttermilk and sugar in a medium size bowl. Peel and slice apples and add them to the buttermilk mixture as you go to prevent browning.
- Spread wondra flour evenly in a shallow dish. Pull the apples out of the buttermilk mix, one at a time and lightly coat all sides in the flour.
- When oil is nice and hot, gently place coated apples into the oil so they are not touching, when the bottom side begins to turn golden brown, flip them over and brown the second side.
- Quickly remove to a tray lined with paper towels to soak up excess grease and cool. Sprinkle immediately with cinnamon and sugar while they are hot.
For the dip:
- Mix together the the cream cheese and cool whip until completely blended then stir in the caramel sauce. Place into a bowl for dipping and drizzle a little extra caramel sauce over the top.
Notes
- Flour mixture – Substitute cornstarch or all-purpose flour for the Wonda flour. They are both thicker compared to Wonda flour but will help for frying.
- Slicing fruit – Cut them into long slices for fried apple sticks or slice them into small bite-sized squares.
- Apples – A tart apple is the best combination for a sweet and savory dessert. This is perfect blend with the sugar and cinnamon mixture.
- Spices – For a more desired flavor add apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, or ginger and nutmeg separately.
Hi abby peele
I’m going to use coconut flour or almond ..closer to Paleo …and leave off sugar but sprinkle with cinnamon and agave… Can’t wait.
This looks really yummy…. Also where did you get the apple peeler?
Thank you, Kerry! They are yummy! The apple peeler was a gift, so I’m not certain where it was purchased. Here is a link to one on Amazon that is similar to mine, but is made out of heavy duty cast steel, which would be more durable than the one I have… and it’s on sale!
https://www.amazon.com/OFF-CAST-Spiralizer®-Durable-Stainless-Included/dp/B015GX0GZO/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1472492937&sr=1-4&keywords=apple+peeler
I have the same weird allergy to raw fruits and veggies!
This is pure genius. Can’t wait to try. No such thing as wondra flour in New Zealand though. Do you think plain flour would work, or would it not cook long enough to lose the floury taste? Thanks.
You can try it with plain flour but it might be a little heavier. You will probably be fine!
Just try sifting it at least 3 times
I have the same kind of allergy with runny egg yolks its weird cause I wasn’t when I was younger.
Awesome post tho
That’s crazy, I haven’t heard of that allergy.
Can you bake these by any chance? Or do you have to fry them?
I haven’t tried baking them yet, but you may still need to spray them with some oil for them to crisp up.
These sound yummy! I can relate to the raw apple thing, because that happens to me with uncooked cabbage, but I can eat it cooked!
Thanks for recipies. My husband and son have similar allergy traits as yours and cooking always seems to take eliminate it. Happens with other fruits too so thanks again x
I was just wondering if you could use pancake batter, for the frying?
I haven’t tried that so I’m not sure what the consistency would end up like.
I also have allergy to raw apples and other fruit and raw veggies and some nuts. It’s called Oral allergy syndrome.
Thanks Sandra! I’m going to look that up. Did you always have it?
No I didn’t always have it. I started to notice it in my mid 20’s. I also developed seasonal allergies around the same time. It started with just apples,then carrots. Eventually it was peaches, pears, plums and cherries. Hazelnuts and almonds were the last of them. I just avoid all those foods raw. But I avoid the nuts altogether. I have an allergy to Tree pollen Birch in particular. It seems all these foods are related to the Birch allergy.
I have the same weird allergy to fresh fruits and veggies! My half-sister does, too.
Hi, I wanted to comment that my daughter developed an allergy to fruits & vegetables when she was 17. We took her in for allergy testing, and she was diagnosed with an oral pollen allergy. They explained that when fruits & vegetables are growing, they are exposed to pollen. For those with allergies to pollen, the food can trigger an allergic response! She’s fine as long as fruits & vegetables are steamed, grilled, baked, poached, or fried, but she misses being able to bite into an apple.
Thank you so much for this comment! I could never understand why l can’t eat raw bananas or walnuts but have no problem when they’re cooked. Just googled OAS and it all makes perfect sense. So good to finally have a logical explanation.
I’m not alone! I’m also thankful for an explanation . That day as a college freshman when I bit into an apple and then a pair only to have my lips swell was so sad . We just bought peaches and it did the same . I had surgery recently and the doctor also had the allergy so that made me feel better .
Try organic apples and wash really good. I have the same issue with raw apples. I have no idea what I’m allergic to, but I can eat some organic apples. Since the only way to know I’ll be able to eat apples is cooking, I’ll enjoy the recipe.
I have an allergy to raw apples too! Actually all raw stone fruits!!! Thanks for sharing this recipe! 🙂
It’s not an allergy to the fruit…it’s an allergy to the pollen the tree that grows the fruit produces. It’s called an oral allergy. Check your seasonal allergies and you will most likely have seasonal allergies the same time apple trees flower.
Me too. Allergy to raw apples, carrots, unprocessed soy, and stone fruit. It’s not a California thing. My allergy developed in Japan. Before moving there, I was eating all of the fruits with no problem.
If anyone finds a solution to this allergy other than cooking the food, please let us know. I’d love love LOVE to eat a fresh apple again! 🙂
Me too. 🙁
I have the same allergy! Everyone thinks I’m crazy! Thanks for confirmation I’m not. (I mean my itchy ears are confirmation enough for me!) Will definitely be trying this. Thank you!!
Can’t wait to try this recipe. I also am allergic to raw apples, with the exception of red and golden delicious. All others close my throat. I love apples and am always looking for new recipes.
Thanks for posting this one.
Thanks for sharing this recipe! I have the same allergy so it’s nice to have some ways to still enjoy my favorite fruit 🙂
I have the same allergy to fresh tree fruit. But I have found if I take allergy medicine daily which I have to due to the pollen.
think these sound great but I really want to thank you for the cool whip substitution since I don’t like it and a lot of recipes call for it!
Hi
This recipe sounds wonderful but I have two questions. What is Wonder Flour? is that what we would call self raising flour in Australia. Also, the caramel sauce, is that like caramel icecream topping or is it more like the caramel you make from condensed milk ?
Thankyou for any advice.
Tracy
Wondra Flour is just a really fine flour. You could use regular flour, or even use a food processor to make regular flour more fine.
The caramel sauce would be more similar to an ice cream topping. There is a link to a really good recipe on the post.
I made these with regular flour because it’s 10x cheaper than wondra flower. They still came out really good but you get a little more lumpiness. I do have 2 questions…all I have is canola oil in the house…can I use that? Also do you recommend re warming these once I get to my families house? Thanks
Hi Tara, Canola oil should work fine for frying the apple fries. I definitely suggest warming them if you are not serving them immediately after frying. They are much better served warm. Thanks for asking!
Sounds very yummy!
Thanks, they are really good!
These sound amazing! I hate to fry anything, but these may be the exception! Thanks for sharing.
Wishes for tasty dishes, Linda
Wondering if I could use an air fryer for the apples instead of frying on oil?
I haven’t tried an air fryer with this recipe, so I’m not sure. Let me know how it goes if you do try it!
I think your apple allergy is actually a reaction to the pesticides they use on apples. My son has the same thing. You might try organic apples and see if you still react. Just thought I’d share!
I will try that! I’ve also heard that it could have something to do with the structure of the protein in the apple.