Fried Apple Pies
Fried Apple Pies are the classic southern dessert just like my grandma used to make. A delicious cinnamon apple filling inside a delicate flaky pie crust that is deep fried to perfection. Dip them in a powdered sugar glaze for an unforgettable dessert.
Love apple desserts? Easy Apple Cobbler is a classic dessert that everyone loves topped with vanilla ice cream and my mom’s Fresh Apple Cake is one of the easiest fall desserts you can make.
The crust on these fried pies are the star of the show. It’s different than a store bought or homemade pie dough. Any filling will work for these fried pies but apple is my favorite.
My mom shared this delicious fried apple pie recipe with me from her aunt’s recipe box. The dough puffs up as it fries and it so tender, the flaky crust literally melts in your mouth.
Ingredients Needed for Apple Fried Pies
For the Pie Dough:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Shortening
- Egg
- Evaporated Milk
For the Filling:
- Gala Apples – Granny smith apples or any firm variety will be the best apples for these little pies
- Sugar
- Water
- Cornstarch
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Salt
For Frying:
- 3 cups Vegetable Oil
For the Glaze:
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup milk
Step-by-Step Instructions for Fried Pies
For the Dough
- Sift the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Use a fork to cut in shortening. Whisk egg and milk together and mix into the dry ingredients until the dough comes together.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate one hour or until you are ready to make the pies.
Make the Filling
- Peel and core apples. Dice and place in a bowl with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt. Mix well.
- Add water and cornstarch to a pan and whisk together. Add apple mixture and stir to combine.
- Cook over medium-high heat, stirring often about 10 minutes.
- Pour into a bowl and set aside to cool.
Fill the Pies
- When you are ready to make the pies, divide the dough into thirds. Roll dough out over a well floured surface. Add additional flour to the top of the dough if needed to make it easy to roll.
Fry the Pies
- Heat oil to 375 degrees. Use an oil fry thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature of the oil.
- Cook 2 or 3 pies at a time, turning after a few minutes, cooking until golden brown on both sides. Carefully remove from hot oil with a slotted spoon. Let excess oil drip off and place on a baking sheet lined with a wire rack and paper towels.
Glaze the Pies
They are so good right out of the frying pan. I couldn’t stop thinking about how good those little apple pies are from the grocery store. You know the ones that are coated in icing? Yes!
- Make a quick glaze with powdered sugar and milk.
- Completely dunk the pies in the icing using a fork and then let them dry on a wire rack.
The icing takes these homemade fried apple pies to over the top amazing. I am thinking these are literally the best thing I’ve ever made. EVER.
Storage: Store cooled pies in an airtight container in refrigerated up to 4 days. Serve at room temperature or heat for a few seconds in the microwave.
I’m a southern girl and love my deep fried foods. I try to be moderate about such things but these fried pies are impossible to resist!
Recipe Variations
- Apples: Dried apples or store bought apple pie filling can be substituted for the filling but fresh apples are preferred for homemade apple pies.
- Filling: Any fruit pie filling will work with this recipe. We love peach fried pies, lemon fried pies and apricot fried pies. Chocolate pie filling or lemon pie filling also makes delicious fried pies.
- Homemade Pie Crust: If you are rushed for time, biscuit dough can be used for quick fried pies, much like our air fryer apple pie bombs. I have tried deep frying store-bought pie crust and it can sometimes fall apart when you deep fry them.
I’m a southern girl and love my deep fried foods. I try to be moderate about such things but a fried pie is impossible to resist!
The pastry crust for these apple hand pies is to die for but I will also say this is not the kind of dessert you whip up in a hurry.
There are lots of steps and it takes a bit of time to roll out the dough and shape the pies. However, they are worth every single minute and every single calorie!
More Apple Desserts to Try
- Apple Fritter Cake is a simple loaf cake with layers of cinnamon sugar and tart apples to bake for any day of the week.
- Apple Turnovers are super easy to make with puff pastry and a gooey apple filling with plenty of brown sugar. They are simple to make but delicious enough for special occasions.
- Apple Cobbler is an old-fashioned dessert that tastes just like grandma’s. Serve it up with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce for a favorite dessert that is easier than a traditional pie.
Fried pies always make me think of my grandma. I remember her making them when I was growing up and they were always so amazing. She often made them with dried apricots and I’ve got to try that soon.
Add these old fashioned Fried Apple Pies to your list to try immediately. They are a personal favorite and I promise you will be glad you did!
If you love this recipe as much as we do, please leave a comment and a five star review. Help us share on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook!
Fried Apple Pies
Ingredients
For the Pastry
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour plus 1 cup for rolling out dough
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 egg
- 1 cup evaporated milk
For the Filling
- 4 apples peeled, cored and diced
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
For Frying:
- 3 cups vegetable oil for frying
For the Glaze
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
Instructions
- For the dough: Sift the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Cut in shortening until well combined using a fork or pastry cutter. Whisk egg and milk together and mix until the dough comes together. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate one hour or until you are ready to make the pies.
- Add apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt in a bowl and toss together. Add water and cornstarch to a pan and whisk together. Add apples and mix together. Place over medium- high heat. Cook, stirring often about 10 minutes. Pour into a bowl and set aside to cool.
- When you are ready to make the pies, divide the dough into thirds. Roll dough out over a well floured surface. Add additional flour to the top of the dough if needed to make it easy to roll.
- Use a 4 - 5 inch circle (a small saucer or large cookie cutter) to cut pastry into circles.
- Add about 1 tablespoon of apple filling to the center of each circle.
- Fold over and pinch seams closed. Fold edges over and press edges with a fork. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Heat oil to 375 degrees.
- Cook 2 or 3 pies at a time, turning to brown both sides. Remove from oil to a paper towel lined rack to drain.
- Whisk powdered sugar and milk together until smooth in a medium sized bowl.
- Dip fried pies into icing and drain on a wire rack placed in a baking pan until icing is set, about 10 -15 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Apples: Dried apples or store bought apple pie filling can be substituted for the filling but fresh apples are preferred for homemade apple pies.
- Filling: Any fruit pie filling will work with this recipe. We love peach fried pies, lemon fried pies and apricot fried pies. Chocolate pie filling or lemon pie filling also makes delicious fried pies.
- Homemade Pie Crust: If you are rushed for time, biscuit dough can be used for quick fried pies, much like our air fryer apple pie bombs. I have tried deep frying store-bought pie crust and it can sometimes fall apart when you deep fry them.
Nutrition
These are seriously the best looking apple hand pies I’ve ever seen. That glaze!
Aren’t hand pies the best!! My great grandmother use to make peach handpies! These apple ones are going to become a new family favorite around here!
My favorite Easter dessert is spring themed spritz cookies.
Can these pies be frozen?
Hi Beverly,
You can freeze the pies in a single layer in a freezer bag. I would not glaze the pies if freezing. They should keep for about 3 months in the freezr.
~ Milisa
Now them some good looking fried apple hand pies.
My favorite Easter dessert . . .just a plain ole sugar cookie or a chocolate cadbury egg
Thank U 4 this wonderful giveaway opportunity
Can you make up the apple filling and freeze bags of it to use later for pies?
Hi Beverly,
Yes you can freeze the apple pie filling. It should keep up to 6 months in the freezer.
~ Milisa
Those pies look so good! My Mom made apricot pies, but I had no recipe. The dough for your pies looks just perfect. Can’t wait to get to the store and buy apples. Hope you and your family have a Happy Easter.
Growing up in Texas one of my friends Dad made these and they were wonderful!
These are the best thing you will ever eat when it comes to fried pies, but my favorite dessert would have to be four layer delight with chocolate and toasted walnuts.
How many pies did this recipe make? I want to try it so bad, but I have never, had any luck with pie crust. Sure would hate to waste all my fruit and hard work and mess them up. Lol
Sweeten condensed milk or unsweetened condensed milk?
Hi Bethany,
It’s unsweetened evaporated milk.
~Milisa
Can you use Granny Smith apples?
Hi Amy,
Any apple will work. I hope you enjoy!
~ Milisa
Is the dough sticky prior to placing in fridge? Making now
Hi Louise,
The dough is a bit sticky so I used a generous amount of flour to roll out the dough. I hope you enjoy them!
~ Milisa
Can you use peaches? If so how would you do that?
Hi! I made some with cherries and they are delicious. The evaporated milk made quite a difference in the dough – I’ll have to remember that!
Thanks for sharing!
El Z.
Hi El,
So glad you tried them and I bet they were fantastic with the cherries. Thanks for letting me know how they turned out.
~ Milisa
Can the sugar be omitted in the crust to make a savory (meat) hand pie?
Hi Mia,
I don’t see any reason why that wouldn’t work.
~ Milisa
i have made these fried pies numerous times, an absolute hit at my house. The kids stand around waiting to indulge. Thank you for this wonderful recipe. i wonder, could you “fry” these in an air fryer instead of the oil ?
Much Love
Hi Nova,
I haven’t tried them in the air fryer, but I think you could. I would try brushing them with a bit of vegetable oil or melted butter an probably a high temperature between 375 and 400 °. Let me know how it turns out if you try it. I’m so glad y’all enjoy them.
~ Milisa
An you prep pies and keep in fridge before frying ? If so how many days ? Want to make quite a few and if I can make the pies a few days ahead before frying would be great.
Hi Nicole,
I haven’t tried that but I think you could refrigerate in a single layer tightly covered with plastic wrap a couple of days in advance. I hope that helps.
~ Milisa
I just made this recipe. They taste so good, but apparently I messed up the glaze measurements, because the pies are sticky not dry. I will make again for sure and measure glaze ingredients more carefully
Hi Teresa,
So glad you enjoyed the pies, they are my favorite!
Made these everyone loved them did add a little water to apples as they were cooking this recipe is a keeper
Hi Jim,
So glad you got the chance to try them. I appreciate you stopping by to let me know they were a hit, made my day.
~ Milisa
New to making pie crust. Can you use butter or do I use crisco? What is the difference between the two?
Hi Susan,
This pastry is different than regular pie crust and is perfect for frying. Crisco is made from whipped vegetable oils and while regular pie crust or cookies use butter, I do recommend the Crisco shortening for this recipe. I hope that helps.
~ Milisa