Description
Homemade fried apple pies deliver pure comfort straight from Southern kitchens, packed with sweet fruit filling and golden crispy pastry that crackles when you bite into them. Grab some ripe apples, pull out your skillet, and prepare for a delightful dessert that connects you with generations of traditional cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsalted butter, chilled
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup cold water
Filling Ingredients:
- 2 cups diced apples or peaches
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Frying Ingredient:
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Blend flour, ¼ cup sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry mixture that will form your pie crust’s foundation.
- Incorporate ½ cup chilled butter into the flour blend, using your fingertips to break it down until the texture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Drizzle ¼ cup cold water into the mixture, gently stirring until a cohesive dough forms without overworking the ingredients.
- Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for precisely 30 minutes to allow the butter to firm and gluten to relax.
- Combine 2 cups diced apples or peaches with ½ cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ensuring each fruit piece gets evenly coated.
- Roll the chilled dough to ⅛-inch thickness on a floured surface, then cut into 4-inch diameter circles using a round cutter.
- Position 2 tablespoons of fruit filling on one half of each dough circle, leaving a small border around the edge.
- Fold the dough over the filling, creating a half-moon shape, and press edges firmly with a fork to create a tight seal.
- Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F in a heavy-bottomed skillet, preparing for even frying.
- Carefully slide 2-3 pies into the hot oil, cooking for 2-3 minutes per side until they turn a deep golden brown.
- Transfer the fried pies to a paper towel-lined plate, allowing excess oil to drain and letting them cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to ensure a flaky, tender crust that separates into delicate layers when you bite into it.
- Use cold butter and work quickly when mixing the dough to keep the butter from melting, which helps create those perfect, light pastry textures.
- Choose firm, ripe fruits that hold their shape when cooked, and cut them into small, uniform pieces for even cooking and easy filling.
- Seal the pie edges completely with a fork to prevent filling from leaking during frying, and maintain a consistent oil temperature around 350°F for even, golden-brown crusts.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Pies
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 422 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 149 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg