Skip the lines at the county fair this year and make a plate of delicious fried apple rings with caramel and cinnamon sugar right at home. Sweet apple slices are dipped in salted caramel sauce, pan fried until crispy, and finished off with a cinnamon sugar topping.
Eat them fresh out of the pan, with a dollop of vanilla ice cream, or even on top of a pile of pancakes, for a decadent fall dessert that the whole family will love.
What We Love Fried Apple Rings
- They taste like warm apple pie, but even more delicious.
- The combination of slightly soft apple plus crunchy fried batter, all covered in a cinnamon sugar coating is insanely tasty.
- They’re fun to make! If you’ve ever made homemade donuts, these are very similar in terms of the frying process.
What You’ll Need:
Ingredients:
- Apples
- Salted caramel sauce
- All purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Egg
- Milk
- Baking powder
- Apple pie spice
- Ground cinnamon
Supplies:
- Medium and small mixing bowls
- Parchment lined baking sheet
- Knife & cutting board
- Frying pan
- Wooden spoon
- Food thermometer
- Paper towels
- Optional: Small round cookie cutter
Step-by-Step Directions:
To make things even easier for you, I created a simple photo guide below. For all measurements and a more detailed guide, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
Make Your Apple Rings
Place salted caramel sauce in a small to medium mixing bowl. Set aside.
Slice 2 large apples about 1/2 to 1/4 inch thick. Remove the core from the center of the slice with a paring knife or a sturdy round cookie cutter.
Thread an apple slice onto the handle of a wooden spoon or dowel rod. Use the handle to spin the edges of the apple slice in the caramel sauce until well coated.
Place the caramel apple slices on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze for at least one hour.
While the apples are in the freezer, combine ground cinnamon and sugar for the topping.
Make the Batter
Heat 1 cup canola oil over medium high heat until it reaches 380˚F.
While the oil heats up, combine all purpose flour, egg, baking powder, sugar, apple pie spice, milk, and a pinch of kosher salt in a medium mixing bowl.
Fry the Apple Rings
Dip a frozen apple ring into the prepared batter.
Immediately move to the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 2-5 minutes. Do not overcook.
Place on a paper towel to remove excess oil. Dust with cinnamon sugar topping while still warm. Drizzle with extra salted caramel sauce just before serving.
Essential Tips for Making Fried Apple Rings:
Don’t skip these tips – read them before baking to avoid any potential mistakes.
- Use firm apples that don’t get mushy when cooked. (We used Granny Smith, but you can see more options in the FAQ below)
- If your apple slices are too thin, they’ll get mushy when cooked. Make sure they’re at least 1/4 inch thick. (Some people use a mandolin to ensure the slices are even.)
- Make sure your caramel apples are frozen solid before frying. If not, the apples can get soggy when they’re cooked.
- The oil measurements used were for our high sided frying pan. You’ll want to make sure you use enough oil to come at least halfway up the sides of your pan.
- If the batter slides off the apple rings in the pan, your oil isn’t hot enough. Use a food thermometer to make sure that the temperature of the oil is at least 380˚F.
- It’s important to get the caramel coated apples in the freezer quickly, before the caramel starts to slide off of the apple slices.
- Work in batches: If your pan is overcrowded, the batter can stick together and the apples won’t fry evenly.
FAQs:
What type of apples should I use?
Fried apple rings are best with firm apples, such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Fuji.
Softer apples are likely to get soggy or fall apart after you cook them.
Should I peel the apples?
You can peel the apples if you want to, but it’s not necessary.
Can I bake the apples instead of frying them?
You might be able to bake the apple rings, but I haven’t personally tested it.
My biggest concern is that baking will take too long to cook the batter, which will make it more likely that the batter will slide off the apples while they’re in the oven.
That said, if you want to try baking them, I would recommend setting your oven to a high temperature (at least 400˚F) and check them often to make sure the batter is browned, but not burnt.
Don’t forget to let us know in the comments section if you give it a try!
Can Fried Apple Rings be Made in Advance?
Fried apple rings are best when they’re fresh. The high water content in the apples means that they soften up quickly, so they don’t refrigerate or freeze well.
Don’t get me wrong, they still taste delicious when reheated, but it’s not quite the same magical combination of crispy fried batter with a sweet apple center.
What to do with Leftover Fried Apple Rings
While you can reheat leftover fried apple rings in the oven, they won’t be as crispy. That just means they’re now perfect for other purposes, such as:
- Ice cream toppings
- Chopped up on top of pancakes or French toast
- Mixed into warm oatmeal
- Layered with yogurt and granola for a tasty parfait
If you liked my fried apple rings with caramel and cinnamon sugar, you’re going to love my easy candied pecans. Ready to eat in less than 45 minutes, they’re an addictively sweet and crunchy treat.
Don’t forget to check out my favorite apple recipes and all my other desserts recipes too.
Fried Apple Rings with Caramel and Cinnamon Sugar
Fried apple rings with caramel and cinnamon sugar! With crispy batter and sweet, juicy apple slices, fall desserts never tasted better.
Ingredients
Filling:
- 2 large apples
- 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce
Batter:
- 1 cup All Purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1 cup canola oil
- pinch kosher salt
Topping:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1-2 tablespoons salted caramel sauce for drizzling
Instructions
Make The Apple Rings
- Place 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce in a small to medium mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Slice 2 large apples about 1/2 to 1/4 inch thick. Remove the core from the center of the slice with a paring knife or a sturdy round cookie cutter.
- Thread an apple slice onto the handle of a wooden spoon or dowel rod. Use the handle to spin the edges of the apple slice in the caramel sauce until well coated.
- Place the caramel apple slices on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze for at least one hour.
- While the apples are in the freezer, combine ground cinnamon and sugar for the topping.
Make the Batter
- Heat 1 cup canola oil over medium high heat until it reaches 380˚F.
- While the oil heats up, combine 1 cup all purpose flour, 1 egg, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice, 1/2 cup milk, and a pinch of kosher salt in a medium mixing bowl.
Fry the Apple Rings
- Dip a frozen apple ring into the prepared batter.
- Immediately move to the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 2-5 minutes. Do not overcook.
- Place on a paper towel to remove excess oil. Dust with cinnamon sugar topping while still warm. Drizzle with extra salted caramel sauce just before serving.
Notes
Remember, the step-by-step photos and FAQ in the recipe post are there to help you if you feel stuck at any point.
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Irma Priemer says
Can you substitute almond flour for the AP flour in this recipe?