These fried apple rings are the perfect fall treat. They’re made with sliced apple rings, dipped in batter and deep fried and covered in cinnamon sugar. They are the perfect flavors of fall in one bite.
These amazing fried apple rings are so good served hot. They’re coated in cinnamon sugar and have the perfect apple cinnamon flavor in every bite. They’re delicious on their own, or served with some hot fudge, or hot caramel sauce!
They’re crunchy, soft, sweet, and coated in cinnamon sugar. What could be better? It’s like a real apple donut.
When I think of fall flavors, I think of pumpkin and apple. How about you? I’ve been sharing a lot of apple recipes with you, but what does it hurt to share one more? I first shared these fried apple rings over at SomewhatSimple.com several years ago, and of course I had it share it here with our readers too.
You cut your apple into thin slices, I used my mandolin to make it super easy, and then you can cut out the core, then each apple slice can be cut into 2 rings. I just used round cookie cutters for that. Then you dip each apple ring into the homemade batter. Then toss them into your preheated oil, cook for a minute or so on each side, then voila. Of course don’t forget to dip the apple rings into some delicious cinnamon sugar!
It seems a little complicated to make these apple rings, but it’s actually pretty simple. If you want to be able to eat these delicious cinnamon sugar apple rings immediately – which I promise you do – then it may be the best to have a helper in the kitchen.
Here, I’ll break it down for you.
How to make fried apple rings?
Start first by heating up your oil in a large shallow pot (mine is about 5 inches deep).
Then make your batter. You’ll combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and sugar in a medium to large bowl. In another bowl combine the buttermilk and egg. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and stir together till you have a nice and thin batter.
In a third bowl combine the cinnamon and sugar for the apple topping. Then dump it onto a plate for dipping them into. It’s best to have everything prepared before hand so that you can move quickly once you start frying them, so you can enjoy them hot.
Slice your apples into thin round slices, about 1/4 inch thick. I used my mandolin on the thick setting. Cut out the core of each apple slice to remove the seeds, then using a round cookie cutter cut each slice into 2 slices.
Dip the apple slices into the batter and allow the excess batter to drip off.
Put a few battered apple rings into the preheated oil and cook for about two minutes total, flipping after the bottom is a golden brown color.
Carefully remove the apple rings and place them on some paper towels to soak up the extra oil, then dip them into the cinnamon sugar mixture and enjoy warm!
Tips for making Fried Apple Rings:
- Use apples that are firm and won’t fall apart when you are cutting them, or get too mushy when cooking. Some good types are Granny Smith, Gala or Honey Crisp.
- You can peel your apples, or leave the peel on. I usually leave it on for ease.
- Use a mandolin slicer to cut the apples into even 1/4 inch slices so they cook evenly.
- Check your oil temperature with a thermometer to make sure it is 375 F to get an even cook on the apple rings.
- These are not a great make ahead treat. The fried apple rings are definitely best enjoyed right away. The edges are crispy if you eat them hot. (They’re still good as they get softer, but definitely best immediately).
- These are so good on their own, or topped with some hot fudge, caramel sauce, whipped cream, or served with some vanilla or caramel ice cream!
These fried apple rings are like an apple donut, meets an apple fritter. It’s like the best of all the worlds, and they’re the best fall dessert.
They’re delicious later on, but definitely best served hot almost immediately after cooking because then the batter is nice and crispy. Serve them on their own, or dipped in chocolate or caramel sauce, or with whipped cream. I promise you won’t regret it!
Looking for more apple recipes?
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Fried Apple Rings
Ingredients
- 3-4 large apples
- oil (for frying)
For the Batter:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 TBS white sugar
- 1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk mixed with 1 tsp white vinegar)
- 1 large egg
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat a large shallow pot full of about 2 inches of oil over medium heat. You want it to be about 375 Fahrenheit.
- In a medium sized bowl mix together theflour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and sugar.
- In a small bowl stir together the buttermilk and egg.
- Dump your buttermilk and egg into the flour mixture and stir together.
- In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and sugar for the topping then dump onto a plate. Set it aside.
- Slice your apples into thin round slices, about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut out and discard the core of the apples.
- Cut each apple slice into 2 rings, one smaller from the middle and one bigger from the edge. (A round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter works great.)
- Dip your apple slices into your batter and allow excess batter to drip off.
- Put a few slices at a time into the preheated oil.
- Allow to cook for about 2 minutes total, flipping over half way through when the bottom is a golden brown color. Cook until both sides are nicely golden brown.
- Remove from oil and place on some paper towels to drip excess oil off.
- Dip apple slices into cinnamon sugar mixture, and coat on both sides.
- Serve hot.
Video
Nutrition
These fried apple rings were first posted on November 17, 2014. The photos and blog text were updated on September 21, 2020.
Sandra says
I was so excited to make these but it didn’t quite work out for me and I’m not sure why
I found them to be soggy even after I fried them. I tried frying them for longer and frying fhem 2x. After all I put them on a baking sheet on 400 for some time and the crisped up a lot. They were delicious. I even made them w gf AP flour
Aimee says
I wonder if the GF flour made the mixture softer? I haven’t tested with that, so I’m not sure!
Emily Crow says
Would these hold up if fried, frozen, and refried from the frozen state?
Aimee says
I’m not sure, I’ve never tried frying anything like that
Marcia says
Have you tried a version in an air fryer? Thanks for responding.
Aimee says
I haven’t, I’m not sure if the batter would cook fast enough on this one or just drip off.
Kathleen Dalton says
Hi
I’m wondering if you are suppose to use an egg
Or NOT it is listed on the recipe with a line through it but is in the step by step
Mix with buttermilk???
Aimee says
It only shows a line through it if you accidentally clicked the box next to it. There is a check box next to each ingredient if you’d like to mark when you’ve used them. But yes, you will use 1 egg
Sharon says
Rings, smings….forget all that effort trying to make rings and simply do apple slices. Fry them us the same way. Same yummy-ness. Less headache.
Aimee says
I’d recommend at least cutting out the apple code.
Marybert Mc Kinney Smith says
Delicious, THANK YOU
Tammy says
I am really confused how you get 2 rings out of 1 slice using a round cookie cutter???
Aimee says
You can either use two round cookie cutters, or what I have done is use one that is the size of the middle of the apple, so you cut a slice that is the o in the middle where the seeds were removed then half way through, and another slice that is the middle to the edge of the apple. Does that make sense?
Elaine says
Doesn’t make sense at all to me. Very confusing..
Aimee says
So in our video we cut out the middle of the whole apple. But the step by step I had written first was using one round cutter to cut out the middle, then another round cutter to cut the apple slice into two rings. So if you watch the video you should be able to see that each apple slice is cut into 2 pieces that are both dipped in batter and fried separately. Does that make sense?
Mia says
Hey Aimee
i just wan to say i loved loved loved ur recipe it is to die for all of my friends enjoyed it too and we made a brown sugar and cinnamon sugar ice cream to go with theses apple slices and that was heaven it was literally to die 4…..🤤🤤🤤🤤👌👌👌
Aimee says
That sounds amazing! So glad you loved it!
Hi Indi says
I agree with you bindi!
Cynthia Ellis Witherspoon says
I followed this recipe to the “T” and I found that the end product was not as crispy as I was expecting. I will not make these again.
Aimee says
Sorry you didn’t love the end result. They definitely soften as they sit because of the apples in the middle, so it’s best to enjoy them as soon as they come out of the oil.
Some guy says
This was really nice but there’s a helluva lot of leftover batter that I’m not sure what to do with.
Also i cut off the nib of my finger with my mandolin but I suppose that was my fault.
Aimee says
So sorry about your finger, your apples must’ve been smaller than mine. Maybe you could use the leftover batter (if you still have it or make them again) to coat and fry some other options 🙂
Jessica Hoff says
Great, clear, easy recipe! Put mine on creole cheesecake ice cream and it was wonderful.
Aimee says
That sounds awesome! What is creole cheesecake?
Scarlette says
What type of sugar should i use?
Ellen says
I will correct the recipe but it should be white sugar. There are some many different kinds of sugars now, I understand the need to clarify.
Missy says
Oh yummm! I used the leftover batter to make little fried cakes. My son eloped make these and he loved them too. Which is nice because he is picky.
This recipe is now in my recipe box!
Elaine Grove says
Deliciousness!!
Ellen says
Thanks!
DonnaV. says
Delicious!!!! Thank you for sharing !!
Ellen says
Thanks for making them. We are so glad you like them.
Craig says
Made these today, along with a salted caramel sauce. Fantastic alone or with the sauce!
Gene E. Knoch says
Really good. Took me two times to understand and carry out recipe. Question: How is it possible to make them crunchy for some time? I did it for an Easter party and by the time I got them there they were somewhat soaked, yet they liked them and I had none to bring home. Now I’ll try something next time! I experiment! And there will definitely be a next time shortly! Thanks!
Gene E. Knoch says
Everyone liked them at our party. None to bring home. They were rather soggy when we got there. Any solutions? I will experiment next time–SOON! Thanks!
Aimee says
Sorry Gene! I usually don’t travel with these, I eat them right away. I’m not sure that they’d stay crunchy at all. Glad they were still enjoyed!
Daphne says
Would really like to make these apple rings. Can i make them in advance so as to share wish family members later in the day. Can they be storedand for how long? Thank you.
Aimee Berrett says
They definitely aren’t as good later, they lose their crunch :/ Sorry!
Kris says
Hi! I’m a graduating student in college and about to do a business plan as a requirement for graduation. I want to let you know that we are inspired by your recipe and would like to ask permission for us to use your product as the main food to be sold. Let me know what you think!
Aimee Berrett says
Hi Kris, I’m so flattered that you want to use this recipe. I’m curious if you’re actually going to be making the apple rings and selling them at like a bake sale or is it just a pretend sort of thing where you would write up a proposal about what would happen if you did something like that, in that case maybe including my recipe and photo(s) in a report? Just curious, thanks!
Melissa says
What are the best kind of apples for making these?
Aimee Berrett says
Melissa, I’ve used a couple different types of apples, granny smith and fuji I think. You just don’t want something that is too soft that will fall apart when you cut it into the rings.
Isabelle says
What type of vinegar?
Aimee Berrett says
I like apple cider vinegar
huntfortheverybest says
these look like a yummy snack!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I love these apple rings. They’re calling my name today!
Yang says
What an honor to have you make one of my recipes! Thanks for sharing! They look incredible!
Lydia @ Suitcase Foodist says
I LOVE fried apple rings. I also love that you added cinnamon sugar. Basically, I love this post.