These fried apple pies, with a golden, crispy crust and warm, sweet apple filling, come from a treasured family recipe that has delighted dessert lovers for generations. Millions of readers can’t be wrong–this recipe has been a constant in the top ten for more than a decade! Find out why Michele says, “This is the best-illustrated recipe I have ever used! Sometimes, you just need a picture to make sure the dough is the consistency It should be.”
You’ll find it easy to follow our step-by-step instructions to master the art of making these delicious fried apple pies. Sometimes, old recipes are the best, and this one brings back warm memories of Granny’s kitchen.
For such a simple food, fried pies can be challenging to make and often end up soggy, greasy, or with a weird ratio of dough to apples. That’s why this recipe is special to so many people, especially lifelong Southerners.
We don’t deep fry the pies, and we don’t add any ingredients that you’ll have to drive two counties over to find. All you need are dried apples, sugar, flour, shortening, and water. Of course, a little butter helps, too!
This fried apple pie recipe is different from the fried pies you buy at the truck stop, in a restaurant, or even those found at apple orchards in the fall. Unlike the McDonald’s fried apple pie, this is an old-fashioned recipe, with a filling from dried apples and a crust crisp around the edges and slightly softer in the middle.
If your grandmother made fried apple pies when you were growing up, this is the recipe you’ve been searching for! You can make these delicious fried apple pies for special occasions or surprise your family on a Saturday afternoon. And once you’ve made them a few times, you’ll be ready to experiment with different fruits and fillings.
Looking for an easier recipe for baked apple hand pies? Try these French apple turnovers!
Granny’s fried apple pies
Granny would make these pies for no particular reason other than to have something sweet in the house. They never lasted more than a day or so, and although best when hot from the skillet, they are also delicious at room temperature.
A few years ago, I decided to make Granny’s fried apple pies, and when I called her to find out how, she said, “Just mix up your dough and stew your apples with a little sugar, then roll out each ball of dough and put a spoonful of apples inside and then fry it.”
Uh, ok. Could you be a little more specific, please?
I thought lessons were in order, so when Granny came to visit, we had Fried Apple Pies Day. Those turned out perfectly because she did most of the work. After she left, I tried them on my own and realized I hadn’t written anything down. So I had to have another Fried Apple Pies Day with Granny, in which I did the work and remembered to write things down.
Since then, my grandmother has passed away, and I’ve made these fried pies many times. I’ve never changed a thing because they are perfect, just the way she made them. And I get emails from readers all the time, saying this recipe is exactly the way their own grandmother made fried apple pies.
Ingredients for fried apple pies
Scroll down for printable recipe with full ingredient amounts and detailed instructions.
You’ll need a good skillet to fry the pies in, plus a rolling pin and if you choose, a pastry cutter, although I never use one of those.
- Dried apples – I use these from Amazon if I can’t get to an apple farm.
- Sugar – just use regular granulated sugar.
- Self-rising flour – always White Lily.
- Shortening or Lard – I like Crisco best.
- Butter – always unsalted Land O’ Lakes brand.
- Cold water – use ice and then strain it.
To check out all my kitchen and travel favorites, visit my Amazon Shop.
Fried apple pies recipe substitutions and variations
- Substitute dried peaches for the dried apples.
- You can use refrigerated pie biscuit dough if you’re in a hurry.
- You can use store-bought pie crust in a pinch, but we highly recommend giving the homemade pie crust a chance! You can do it!
How to make homemade fried apple pies
We’ve broken down the steps for this recipe, giving you a good tutorial. While it looks like a lot, once you get going it’s pretty easy! Please read through all the steps before starting.
Step 1. For this fried apple pie recipe, start with 3 or 4 bags of dried apples and put them in a pot with enough water to just cover the apples.
Recipe Tip: If you can’t find dried apples in your grocery store—and don’t buy the commercial ones in the aisle with all the dried fruit because they take forever to cook down and are expensive—try these I found online. The best place to get dried apples is at an apple farm if there’s one nearby. And don’t be shy about purchasing because the bags will keep for a while. Or you can make your own dehydrated apples.
Step 2. Add about 2 cups of sugar. Turn heat to high and bring to a boil, then turn it down to a simmer and cook down until the apples are tender and juicy. This will require quite a bit of tasting since that’s the only way to know when they’re perfect.
You’ll need to take your spoon and sort of chop at the apples to help break them up. Or you can use a tool like a ground beef masher. And you’ll probably need to add additional water. Stir frequently so the apples don’t stick to the bottom of the pot, where they will scorch, and then you’ll have fried apple pies that taste very bad.
Scorched apples = bad fried apple pies.
After about an hour, your apples should be the consistency of a chunky applesauce. Taste them again and make sure they’re sweet enough and softened enough.
Step 3. Remove the apples from the heat and let them cool while you prepare the fried pie dough.
Recipe Tip: Place some of the apples in another dish or spread out on a baking sheet to help them cool faster.
Making the dough for fried apple pies
Step 1. For the fried pie dough, start with four heaping cups of self-rising flour and add shortening and butter. Mix the shortening and butter into the flour with a fork or pastry blender, or do what I do and dig your fingers in there.
Recipe Tip: I recommend White Lily flour because it’s lower in protein and gives you a more tender, flaky crust.
Mix well until the flour crumbles and has chunks a little smaller than peas. Make sure to incorporate all the shortening and butter into the flour. This is what’s going to make your fried pie dough tender.
The dough should get crumbly like this.
Step 2. Stir ice water into the flour mixture with a fork, scraping underneath the dough to mix in all the dry flour. Mix until the dough is sticky and there is no way to pick it up.
Step 3. Dip both hands in flour, then sprinkle a little flour on top of the fried pie dough, lift it, and sprinkle a bit more flour along the sides. Again, you want to get the dough where you can easily lift and turn and begin to knead the dough.
Once you can pick up the dough, turn it onto whatever lightly floured surface you will use to roll it out. Sprinkle on additional flour so the dough doesn’t stick to your hands, and knead it well until you have a smooth, non-sticky dough for your fried apple pies.
Assembling fried apple pies
You have the dough and the apple filling, so let’s talk about how to make fried apple pies—time to put it all together!
Step 1. First, pinch off small pieces of fried pie dough and roll into balls. The balls should be slightly smaller than a ping pong ball. I usually get about 30.
Step 2. Take each dough ball and roll out until it’s thin, then put a heaping spoonful or two of apple filling on one side, leaving an edge for sealing. It usually takes one or two pies to be able to judge precisely how much filling to spoon on. If you put too much, the apples will break through the dough in places and ooze out once you start frying.
You want just enough to make a nice pocket when you fold over the dough. For me, that’s usually about a tablespoon and 1/2.
Step 3. Dip your finger in water, rub the edge around the apples, then carefully fold the dough and press down. The water acts as a sealant and will keep the dough from separating. Then take a fork and crimp the edges together even more.
Recipe Tip: Sealing the pies with a dab of water is essential. If you miss this step, the pies can seep open during frying, leaking out filling and making a real mess in your skillet.
Step 4. Lay each pie on a large cookie sheet and continue until they are all ready.
Recipe Tip: You want to have this part fully completed before you start frying because they will only take a minute or two per side to fry.
How to fry homemade fried apple pies
Once you have all the fried pie dough rolled out and all the pies made, add about 3/4 cup of shortening and a couple of tablespoons butter (depending on the pan size) to a large skillet and turn to medium-high heat to melt.
Keep the shortening nearby because you will be adding more. The melted shortening should come up to not quite an inch in the pan, so it doesn’t cover the pies but comes about halfway up the sides.
Keep the temperature of the hot oil at medium-high, and when it sizzles, if you drop in water, it’s ready to go. Carefully lay two or three pies in the skillet, only two if your skillet is small, as you don’t want to overcrowd them.
To make this process foolproof, use a thermometer and keep the oil at 375°F. Cook the pies for 01:15 on each side. They will turn out perfectly every time!
After about a minute, peek underneath one of the fried apple pies, and if it’s golden brown, then go ahead and turn them. The dough is thin, and the apples are already cooked, so it only takes about three minutes to cook the pies.
You must watch them the entire time so they don’t burn because it can happen quickly. After a few batches, you’ll probably need to add more shortening and butter to the skillet, so let it heat before you add more pies.
Recipe Tip: You may need to clean out the skillet and start over with fresh oil if the oil starts burning.
Lay the fried apple pies on a large platter lined with paper towels or parchment paper lined wire rack. Cover the platter with tin foil if not serving immediately until you’re ready to serve.
Or sit the platter out on the counter, and the fried apple pies will mysteriously disappear. Of course, these homemade fried apple pies are best eaten within two days, which is usually not a problem.
How to store fried apple pies
The fried pies don’t have to be refrigerated. Place in an airtight container on the counter.
Can I freeze fried apple pies?
I would not freeze the cooked pies. You can freeze the dough balls and freeze the apple filling separately, then thaw and follow the steps.
To freeze the dough balls, place on a baking sheet overnight. Once frozen, place the dough balls in a large freezer bag.
Recipe for fried apple pies FAQS
No. This recipe works best with dried apples. Fresh apples will have too much liquid and will have a different consistency.
You can use puff pastry or refrigerated biscuit dough, although, if you’re trying to capture the nostalgia, homemade fried pie dough is the only way to go.
You can use peanut oil or another neutral-flavored oil; just be sure it has a high smoke point.
You probably could, although we have never tried it. Not sure you would get the same crispy texture.
I do not recommend a deep fryer. One side at a time in a skillet works best for this recipe.
Since you’re not baking these pies, you do not need an egg wash.
Yes! You can cook the apples several days before making the pies and make the dough a day in advance. Then, wrap the finished dough in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. When ready, allow the dough and the apple filling to come to room temperature, and then make the fried pies.
More from Southern Food and Fun
Join Southern Food and Fun Community group
and Southern Potluck group!
And please follow us on social media:
Fried Apple Pies Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 (6 oz.) bags dried apples
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 cups self-rising flour, heaping
- ¾ cup Crisco shortening
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 ½ -2 cups ice water
- Additional flour for mixing dough
- 2 cups Crisco shortening
- 4 tablespoons butter
Instructions
For apples:
- Put apples in a large pot or Dutch oven and add enough water to almost cover. Stir in two cups sugar.
- Turn heat to medium-high and bring to a boil.
- Turn heat down just a little so apples continue to simmer, breaking up apples with spoon as they cook. Cook until apples are tender and juicy, stirring frequently. You may need to add more water as they cook. Do not allow the apples to get dry. Remove apples from heat and allow to cool.
For dough:
- Start with 4 heaping cups of self-rising flour and cut in 3/4 cup Crisco shortening and 1/4 cup butter with a fork or your fingers. Mix well until shortening/butter is incorporated into the flour.
- Add 1 1/2 cups of ice water to flour, and add additional ice water as needed to get all the dry flour mixed in. Mix with a fork until dough is sticky.
- Dip hands in flour and sprinkle additional flour onto dough so that you can knead it. Use additional flour as needed to be able to knead the dough until smooth and non-sticky.
- Pinch off pieces of dough to make balls slightly smaller than ping pong balls. You should get about 30 balls.
- Roll each ball out until thin.
- Add a spoonful or two of apples to one side of rolled dough. After the first couple, you will learn exactly how much apples to place on the dough. If you put too much, the dough will not cover without tearing.
- Dip your finger in water and rub around the edges of the dough where the apples are. This will help seal the pies.
- Carefully fold the dough over and press the edges together lightly to seal. Using a fork, crimp the edges to fully seal.
- Once all the pies are ready, add about 1/2 cup Crisco shortening and 2 tablespoons butter to a large skillet and heat on medium-high or 375°F.
- Once the grease is hot enough to sizzle from a drop of water, carefully lay two or three pies in the skillet.
- Cook about a minute to a minute and half on each side until they are golden brown. (Set a timer for 01:15.)
- Lay pies on a large platter lined with paper towels and serve immediately.
Notes
Tips for the Filling for Fried Pies
- If you can’t find dried apples in your grocery store—and don’t buy the commercial ones in the aisle with all the dried fruit because they take forever to cook down and they are expensive—try these that I found online.
- As the apples are cooking, you’ll need to take a wooden spoon and break them up a bit.
- Watch the apples carefully and add additional water if the water starts cooking down too much.
- Stir frequently so the apples don’t stick to the bottom of the pot and scorch.
- Once the apples have cooked completely, you can place some of the apples in another dish to help them cool faster.
Tips for the Dough
- Sprinkle on additional flour to the ball of dough so the dough doesn’t stick to your hands and knead it well until you have a smooth, non-sticky dough for your fried apple pies.
- You want to make sure all the shortening and butter is incorporated into the flour.
Tips for Frying the Pies
- The oil needs to stay hot. Pies will cook quickly and also burn quickly.
- While frying the pies, you may need to clean out the skillet and start over with fresh oil if the oil starts burning.
- Remove cooked pies to a paper-towel lined platter.
Tips for Storing Fried Pies
- These fried pies do not need to be refrigerated. They will keep for a few days in an airtight container but are best eaten within two days.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published April 14, 2011, and on April 21, 2023, was updated with one or more of the following: step-by-step photos, video, updated recipe, new tips.
These came out great! I used fresh apples for the filling. this dough was one of the best so far didn’t make the icing trying to cut back on sugar
thanks
My mother made peach, apricot and raisin fried pies. She would fry some on top of stove, but also put a small amount of oil on sheet pan at higher temp and turn them in between cooking. These were even more delicious. But always dried fruit. I am 73 and going to try and make some for our church dinner. Good ole days!
I can’t wait to try these! I’ve looked at videos, read recipes and then I find yours and it’s looks like you’re channeling my Mother. Though she’d not approve of self rising flour. Lol. I’ve been making my own apple chips in the oven on cookie cooling racks at 200F. But my first recipe had me sprinkle with sugar & cinnamon. If I made them around the clock I couldn’t make enough for me. Lol. So I will have to order those. Because I don’t think my body would let me dry apples without the cinnamon and sugar. Lol.
Thank you. Now off to FB to join your group!
I’m so intrigued by this make-your-own in the oven! Please let me know how your fried pies turn out after you make them! Thanks so much for following Southern Food and Fun. xoxo
I can’t wait to try these! I’ve looked at videos, read recipes and then I find yours and it’s looks like you’re channeling my Mother. Though she’d not approve of self rising flour. Lol. I’ve been making my own apple chips in the oven on cookie cooling racks at 200F. But my first recipe had me sprinkle with sugar & cinnamon. If I made them around the clock I couldn’t make enough for me. Lol. So I will have to order those. Because I don’t think my body would let me dry apples without the cinnamon and sugar. Lol.
Thank you. Now off to FB to join your group!
So many people TRY to make FRIED PIES and they fail horribly. Fried pies are not meant to be DEEP FRIED IN A VAT OF OIL. They are meant to be done EXACTLY LIKE YOU DID THEM. My Grandma (God Rest Her Soul) use to make apple and peach pies. For years and years I would help her dry the apples and peaches and then later we would make a batch of pies sometime. Do I ever have memories. Thank you so much for share with the world THE TRUE AND PROPER way to make FRIED PIES FROM DRIED FRUIT.
God Bless
Michele,
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! Sounds like your Grandma was a lot like my Granny! Of all the recipes on my site, this one is probably the most near and dear to my heart because I made it with her and now she’s in a nursing home and doesn’t recognize me. So my memories are sustaining right now. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season! xoxo
Lucy
I’ve eaten many fried pies that were made by my mom & grandmother, but the pies I made just didn’t live up to theirs. My crust was either bland or tough. That is until I found this recipe! They are awesome!!!! Crisp around the edges, slightly soft in the center & FLAKY. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve eaten many fried pies that were made by my mom & grandmother, but the pies I made just didn’t live up to theirs. My crust was either bland or tough. That is until I found this recipe! They are awesome!!!! Crisp around the edges, slightly soft in the center & FLAKY. Thank you for sharing.
Do you know if these pies can be frozen for storage prior to frying?
Do you know if these pies can be frozen for storage prior to frying?
I am glad to finally get the recipe for the dough. I have been using canned biscuits for years. Even if they are much easier to make the homemade dough is so much better. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Fried apple pies also freeze well. After you let them drain on a paper towel and cool down wrap them individually in Saran Wrap then wrap in Reynolds Wrap. Then put them in a large freezer bag. I take one out at a time and zap it in the microwave for about 30 seconds. They are just as crisp after microwaving as they were when I fried them.
Fried apple pies also freeze well. After you let them drain on a paper towel and cool down wrap them individually in Saran Wrap then wrap in Reynolds Wrap. Then put them in a large freezer bag. I take one out at a time and zap it in the microwave for about 30 seconds. They are just as crisp after microwaving as they were when I fried them.
I am glad to finally get the recipe for the dough. I have been using canned biscuits for years. Even if they are much easier to make the homemade dough is so much better. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Yes Amazon has them . Our Piggly Wiggley has them .
These are so much like my Mama made!! She did use spices to give them a very distinct flavor. I will test the different spices until I get the taste of hers. Thank you so much for the details so I can share this with my granddaughters and nieces. To put a spin on fried pies, one summer Mama canned fresh pears and let them cook too long and they turned into a sauce like apple sauce. They made the BEST fried pies (tarts) we ever had. Can’t wait to make some!!!! BTW: Love your Blog!
These are so much like my Mama made!! She did use spices to give them a very distinct flavor. I will test the different spices until I get the taste of hers. Thank you so much for the details so I can share this with my granddaughters and nieces. To put a spin on fried pies, one summer Mama canned fresh pears and let them cook too long and they turned into a sauce like apple sauce. They made the BEST fried pies (tarts) we ever had. Can’t wait to make some!!!! BTW: Love your Blog!
I believe this recipe is just what I was looking for! I was too young and stupid when Granny passed away to realize how much I would value her recipes one day. I deeply regret not spending the time to have her show me – Gosh, those would have been some great memories. I do have one question though, why do you dry the apples first? Are fresh apples too juicy?
Stephanie, sorry to be so late replying to you! I believe it’s because fresh apples would be too juicy.
The apples are not dried just for this recipe.
We always dried apples for the winter. Its a fun family thing to do. Peel slice dry and store.
Dried apples make such a tasty snack.
Grandma Dorothy
I believe this recipe is just what I was looking for! I was too young and stupid when Granny passed away to realize how much I would value her recipes one day. I deeply regret not spending the time to have her show me – Gosh, those would have been some great memories. I do have one question though, why do you dry the apples first? Are fresh apples too juicy?
my mom used to make fried peach pies but i can not find the dried peaches or apples at the stores where i shop.
Check on Amazon
Yes Amazon has them . Our Piggly Wiggley has them .
@Mayrene, you can order apples, peaches and other fruits from Bellaviva orchards.
I wish the last ten minutes of my life would be spent eating Mama’s fried apple pies and a glass of milk. We called them “apple jacks”. Her recipe was made with which ever was on hand, dried apples or fresh apples made into extra chunky applesauce. Try using cinnamon, cloves, &/or apple pie spice. Also, I use very little or no sugar in the sauce. Just once, try frying in organic lard if available. No, it is not the healthiest way, but the flavor will knock you back fifty years to Mama’s kitchen! Glad you still have your Granny around. Mama died without ever having her recipes written down, so it took a lot of years to get things right. The one thing I have is plenty of southern comfort family recipes.
Just found your blog (from ShawnsPlate) and can’t wait to check it out. These fried pies are just like my mama made with the dried apples & Crisco. Can’t wait to make these for my family. Thank you for the recipe!!!!!
I made these fried pies twice with my Granny, trying to get them just the way she made them. And of course she doesn’t measure, so it was a process! I still think hers are better, but these are pretty close. Hope you enjoy!