These fried apple pies are a McDonald’s copycat recipe that feature a homemade apple pie filling encased in pastry and deep fried to flaky perfection. The pies are finished off with a dusting of cinnamon sugar for a unique and delicious dessert option.
I grew up eating fried apple pie at McDonald’s, and I have to say, this homemade version is WAY better than the restaurant recipe! The addition of cinnamon sugar really takes these pies over the top. These pies are one of my favorite ways to enjoy apples along with Dutch apple pie, caramel apple dip and apple fries.
These fried apple pies are an amazing dessert that kids and adults both love. You can enjoy them on the go or at a picnic or dress them up with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce for an elegant dessert.
If you like this dessert, try some of my favorite fall desserts like pumpkin dip, baked apples and pumpkin bars.
Fried Apple Pies Ingredients
To make these fried apple pies you will need puff pastry sheets, apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, butter, cornstarch, sugar, caramel sauce and oil for frying.
HOW DO YOU MAKE FRIED APPLE PIES?
Start this fried apples pies recipe by laying out thawed puff pastry dough. Cut each sheet into 4 pieces and place them on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Make your apple filling by placing cut apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves in a pan and heating them. Cook them for 6-8 minutes until the apples become tender and stir in butter. Mix cornstarch in cold water and pour the mixture in with the apples and cook until thickened.
Next, spoon your delicious apple cinnamon mixture into the middle of each puff pastry. Brush the edges with water and fold over the the dough to make rectangles around the apple mixture. Crimp the edges with a fork. Allow the pies to chill in the freezer for a bit, then fry them in batches to golden brown perfection. Mix together sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle the mixture over the cooked pies. Let them cool down to room temperature before devouring with caramel sauce!
Tips For The Perfect Fried Apple Pies
- While homemade apple pie filling is fantastic, if you are short on time or just don’t want to make your own apple filling, canned filling will work.
- I use Granny Smith apples because I like the tartness of the apples with the sugar in the filling. I recommend Granny Smith apples or other similar tart apples like Pink Lady apples or McIntosh apples.
- Make sure to allow the pies to cook the appropriate amount of time. If they don’t cook long enough, the pastry won’t cook all the way through and you’ll end up with gooey pastry in the middle.
- If you find that the outside of your pies are browning too quickly, turn the heat down.
- After they cook, place the fried pies on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Be careful to use enough oil to submerge the pies but not too much that will spill or bubble over the side.
Quick Tip
Use a frying thermometer or candy thermometer to make sure that your oil stays at the correct temperature.
Recipe FAQs
The easiest way to fry hand pies is in an electric deep fryer. You can also fry pies in a pot or a pan on the stove. Just make sure that you have enough oil to submerge your pies and not too much oil so that it bubbles over the edge.
You can keep fried apple pies fresh on the counter in an airtight container up to 2 days. In the fridge, they will stay fresh up to 4 days. You can reheat refrigerated pies in a toaster or in an oven at 350 degrees F.
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Flavor Variations
These fried apple pies are delicious as-is; however, you can change the recipe to suit your taste.
- Filling: You can fill these pastries with fruit fillings like my cherry pie filling, canned blackberry pie filling, canned blueberry pie filling or canned peach pie filling.
- Toppings: I recommend serving these pies with caramel sauce but you can also enjoy them with powdered sugar, whipped cream, ice cream or even chocolate sauce.
- Nuts: You can add chopped walnuts or pecans to your filling.
- Glaze: Feel free to drizzle your pies with the vanilla powdered sugar glaze from my cherry bars recipe.
These fried pies might look like they’re difficult to make but they take very little effort. They work great as a quick dessert or even as a treat for breakfast.
More Apple Recipes You’ll Love
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Apple Pork Chops
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Slow Cooker Apple Cider
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Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Fried Apple Pies
Ingredients
- 17.3 ounce box puff pastry sheets thawed
- 3 cups Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and diced
- 6 tablespoons brown sugar
- 4 teaspoons cinnamon divided use
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- caramel sauce for serving optional
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Cut each sheet of puff pastry into 4 pieces. Place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
- Place the apples, brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in a pan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer.
- Cook for 6-8 minutes or until apples are tender. Stir in the butter.
- Whisk the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water and add to the apple mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until apple filling has thickened.
- Spoon approximately 2 tablespoons of the apple mixture onto one side of each piece of puff pastry. Brush the edges with water and fold over to make a rectangle.
- Crimp the edges of each puff pastry rectangle with a fork.
- Chill the pies for 20 minutes in the freezer.
- Heat 3 inches of oil to 350 degrees F.
- Cook 2-3 pies at a time, for 5-6 minutes or until golden brown and pastry is cooked through.
- In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar all over each pie as it comes out of the oil.
- Repeat the frying and cinnamon sugar sprinkling process with all of the remaining pies.
- Let the pies cool and enjoy with caramel sauce if desired.
Notes
- While homemade apple pie is fantastic, if you are short on time or just don’t want to make your own apple filling, canned filling will work.
- Use a frying or candy thermometer to make sure that your oil stays at the correct temperature.
- After they cook, place the fried pies on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Be careful to use enough oil to submerge the pies but not too much that will spill or bubble over the side.
Wow these are absolutely amazing! Came out perfect! !
Is rather bake these in the oven. Same results? What temperature and how long? Thanks!
400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until browned!
We have an apple tree which is full now and I made these hand pies and they were really yummy!
can they be baked in oven also
Yes that should be fine!
Just made these. Can’t wait to try them. My question, can they be frozen after frying and for how long will they last? My boys are home for Thanksgiving and I would like to send some home with them to heat up in the dorm.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I have never tried freezing them before, but I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t! I’d reheat them in a toaster or oven so that the outside gets crispy.
Yes, this looks like another “must make” recipe – definitely worth 5 stars! 😉 I do like the MacD’s version, but as you said – it’s always better when you can make your own and be in charge of what goes into the recipe. I’m thinking the same process might work for making those delicious pumpkin pies, too!
Carmel and apples, I feel fall coming! Can’t wait to try these!
Yummy!!!! This is the perfect recipe for next fall party! I am sure that my kids will go crazy for these apple pies.
I wonder if these would work in an air fryer? They look incredible. YUM.
I love pies, but I don’t think I’ve ever had fried apple pies before. That looks good. Thanks for the recipe.
Every time I fry something I think about how much easier it would be with a fryer. I don’t really fry things that much to actually get one though.
These fried apple pies look so delicious! They remind me of the ones my family made and enjoyed when I was a child.
The McDonald’s here do not have apple pie in the menu. But thanks to this, I’ll be able to somehow taste it. I’m sure it is delicious!
I love this recipe and my kids love this and they always requested it to me., Delicious and healthy .
OMG! These pies are so mouthwatering! I love that can make them at home. Homemade is always better!
This fried apple pies recipe looks so easy to prepare and looks really delicious. I will try to make this with my sister, thanks for sharing!
Oh that looks so good! I love hand pies. These just look amazing especially as an autumn treat. I tried my hand at peach pie and it turned out pretty good. I’ll have to try this recipe next.
Fun! That looks like a super easy recipe to have a girls day with friends or with family! I could see it as a bonding day 🙂
Holy delicious! I have had a love affair with McDonald’s apple pies since my early childhood. I can not wait to make these!
Yum, I don’t mind the McDonald’s Fried Apple Pies, but these look so much better! Homemade is always better though, right? YUM.