Description
These homemade fried apple pies are a delicious McDonald’s copycat featuring a tender apple filling wrapped in flaky puff pastry and fried to golden perfection. They’re sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and optionally served with caramel sauce for an irresistible dessert treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 17.3 ounce box puff pastry sheets, thawed
Apple Filling
- 3 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced
- 6 tablespoons brown sugar
- 4 teaspoons cinnamon, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Finishing
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Caramel sauce, for serving (optional)
- Oil, for frying (about 3 inches deep)
Instructions
- Prepare Pastry: Cut each sheet of thawed puff pastry into 4 equal pieces and place them on a parchment-lined sheet pan, ready for filling.
- Make Apple Filling: In a medium pan over medium heat, combine diced apples, brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Bring to a simmer and cook for 6-8 minutes until the apples are tender. Stir in the butter until melted.
- Thicken Filling: Whisk cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water until smooth, then add to the apple mixture. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes until the filling thickens. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Assemble Pies: Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the apple filling onto one side of each puff pastry piece. Brush the edges with water, fold over to form a rectangle, and press edges firmly. Crimp edges with a fork to seal.
- Chill Pies: Place assembled pies in the freezer for 20 minutes to help them hold their shape during frying.
- Heat Oil: Heat about 3 inches of oil in a deep pot or deep fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, using a frying or candy thermometer to maintain temperature.
- Fry Pies: Fry 2-3 pies at a time for 5-6 minutes or until golden brown and pastry is cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
- Prepare Cinnamon Sugar: While pies fry, mix granulated sugar with the remaining 3 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Coat Pies: Immediately sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the hot fried pies to coat evenly.
- Serve: Let pies cool slightly and serve warm with optional caramel sauce for dipping.
Notes
- If short on time, canned apple pie filling can be used instead of homemade filling.
- Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350°F for best results.
- Drain fried pies on paper towels to remove excess oil before sprinkling cinnamon sugar.
- Ensure oil depth is sufficient to submerge pies without risk of overflow or splattering.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fried apple pie
- Calories: 340 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
