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Cinnamon Fried Apples

Cinnamon fried apples with a glossy brown sugar-cinnamon sauce cooked in a skillet until just tender. This Southern-style side uses a quick cornstarch slurry to thicken the syrup for spoonable apple slices.
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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: 220
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Apples
  • 6 apples firm (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), cored and sliced
Butter and aromatics
  • 0.25 cup butter
  • 0.3333 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg
  • 0.0625 tsp salt pinch
Thickener and flavor
  • 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 skillet over medium heat until it foams lightly and smells nutty. Visual cue: a thin, glossy layer coats the pan.
  2. Add the apples, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, then stir to coat every slice. Visual cue: the apples look evenly dusted and glossy from the sugar.
  3. Cover and cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are just tender. Visual cue: apple edges soften but slices still hold their shape.
Thicken the sauce
  1. Whisk the cornstarch with the water until smooth, then pour the slurry into the skillet while stirring. Visual cue: the liquid briefly turns cloudy.
  2. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and turns glossy, stirring to coat the apples. Visual cue: the syrup clings to the spoon.
Finish and serve
  1. Stir in the vanilla extract and immediately serve warm. Visual cue: the sauce looks shiny and the apples smell fragrant.

Notes

For best texture, slice apples into similar thickness so they cook evenly and stay just tender. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 4 days; rewarm gently on the stovetop with a splash of water. Freezing is not recommended because the cornstarch-thickened sauce can break when thawed. For a lighter option, use plant-based butter and a sugar substitute measured like brown sugar.