Fried Apple Pie

Golden and flaky fried puff pastry filled with a warm apple cinnamon filling, a take on the McDonald's Fried apple pie that is better than ever!

Growing up one of my absolute favorite things was McDonald's Apple pies. There is something about the combination of golden fried pastry and a hot and gooey apple pie filling that makes them so delicious.

Or maybe it was the fact that McDonald's was an only sometimes treat. The fact that I couldn't eat them every single day probably made them that much better.

These apple pies are a recreation of those delicious fried packages but with a warming, cinnamon apple filling and a pastry fried to perfection.

No disappointment of a cold apple pie, or a soggy pie crust from the fast food chain. This will be perfect every single time!

Why did McDonald's stop frying their pies?

While most countries around the world continue to have delicious fried apple pies, the US discontinued their fried apple pies for baked ones instead.

No one knows the real reason, but it is said that they were changed due to public perception and that changing them would lead to higher purchases.

Most people thought that baked hand pies were healthier than fried pies, and in order to cater to this McDonald's switched and never went back!

If you are from the United States and are after a fried apple pie, I guess the only way you can get them is by making them yourself!

Ingredients

• Apples: I used two large apples of my favorite variety, royal gala. The exact variety doesn't matter, but make sure that it is a sweeter kind. If you have smaller apples feel free to use 3.
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar gives the apples a warm, caramelized flavor. If you like a sweeter apple pie you can add extra sugar or vice versa. It won't affect the final result!

• Ground cinnamon: A quarter teaspoon ground cinnamon gives this extra flavor and warmth! If you aren't a fan of cinnamon feel free to reduce it, leave it out, or replace it with a teaspoon of vanilla extract or even some nutmeg.
• Unsalted butter: Butter is what makes the filling creamy and delicious! It also helps the filling firm up as it chills so you can fill the pies without it spreading all over the place.

• Lemon juice: Lemon juice helps to cut through the sweetness of the apples, balancing out the flavor. It also helps the filling thicken as it cooks.
• Salt: Also helps to balance out the sweetness.
• Cornstarch: Cornstarch is added at the end to give the filling body and thickness. If you don't have cornstarch you can use any other starch. I.e. potato or cornstarch.

• Frozen puff pastry sheets: These are what holds the whole thing together! Any kind of frozen puff pastry sheet will work perfectly for these.
• Neutral oil: Make sure you use neutral oil. Oil's like vegetable or canola oil are perfect. If you use oils like olive oil the pastry will take on the flavor, and add a strange taste.

How to fry apple pies

The characteristic trait of this pie is the bubbly, flaky, golden crust. While we have taken the hard work out of it but using frozen puff pastry sheets there are still a couple of tips that will help you achieve that perfect crispy crust.

Freeze your pies before frying

Freezing your pies after they have been filled will not only make them easier to handle but will also enhance the flakiness of the crust.

The shock of the cold pastry as it hits the hot oil will cause the surface of the dough to bubble up and reach its optimal texture.

Fry at a high temperature

We want to fry these pies at a high temperature so we can get the crust golden and crispy with minimal oil absorption. If it sits in the oil for too long the thin pastry will get soggy and greasy.

As the filling is already cooked and safe to eat, the pies don't need long to fry. A quick fry at a hot temperature helps develop a bubbly, crust without making them overly greasy.

What should I serve apple pies with?

These are perfect the way they are but there are a couple of ways you can pimp these up for a spectacular dessert experience.

Roll them in cinnamon sugar

Once they come out of the hot oil roll them in cinnamon sugar for a treat that resembles a creme brulee and churro!

Serve hot with ice cream or whipped heavy cream

Plate these up with a scoop of cold ice cream for a complete after-dinner dessert. Vanilla bean ice cream with these is a personal favorite!

Make a quick glaze

Combine powdered sugar with a splash of milk for a quick and easy glaze you can drizzle over your pies!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store fried apple pies?

I would recommend eating these as soon as they are made. If you have any leftovers store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

When you are ready to eat them again place them in a toaster oven to warm up for 10-15 minutes or place them in an air fryer for 5 minutes.

Can I use different fruits?

Yes, you can! There are so many different options with these, whether you fill them with berries like strawberries and blueberries. Or with other fruits like peach, mango, pear, or pineapple!

What are the best apples for apple pies?

Most people will use granny smith apples as they are good for cooking with. However, I find granny smith apples tend to lack flavor and I wanted the apple flavor to shine through in these!

McDonald's uses granny smith apples so if you want to recreate them exactly feel free to use those. Just make sure you add extra sugar as they won't be sweet enough otherwise.

Can you make these ahead of time and freeze them?

Yes! I would make the filling and fill the pies, then freeze the unfried pie. When you are ready to eat them all you need to do is fill up a pot of oil or a deep fryer and fry them for a couple of minutes until golden brown.

Can you fry apple pies in the air fryer?

Yes, you can! But keep in mind that if you cook them in the air fryer they will turn out closer to baked apple pies than fried ones. They won't have that same bubbly texture on the skin, but rather a smoother, flakier one.

If you are air frying them, heat your air fryer to 200C and brush or spray your pies with oil. Then place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer and fry for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Are homemade fried apple pies healthier than McDonald's?

Homemade will always be healthier than store-bought. Store-bought food, particularly fast food, has a lot of added chemicals and preservatives used to keep everything fresh and food safe.

At home, you can choose to use fresh ingredients!

Of course, as these hand pies are deep-fried they aren't the healthiest. Deep-frying always adds extra calories and fat.

But when these are homemade you have the option to control whether you want to deep fry them, or use less sugar!

Do I have to use a thermometer?

Having a thermometer is great as you are able to have complete control over the temperature of the oil. However, I know a lot of you don't have one!

If you don't have one the easiest way to check whether the oil is hot enough is to throw a small piece of white bread into the hot oil. If the bread bubbles and turns golden brown it is ready to fry the pies.

The dough is sticking to my countertop as I'm trying to fill my pies!

As puff pastry begins to thaw it'll slowly begin to stick to your work surface. There is a couple of ways to avoid this:

• Work quickly: The faster you work, the less likely the pastry will melt and stick on your countertop
• Work on a lightly floured surface: Dust your workstation with a little flour before placing the puff pastry down
• Work on a sheet of parchment paper: Parchment paper will also prevent the pies from sticking. Even if they do you can peel them right off!

Let's Get Cooking

If you liked this recipe make sure to leave me a comment and rating down below, I would love to know how you went. Also don't forget to tag me on Instagram @catherine.desserts so I can see and share your desserts.

Follow me on facebook, pinterest, youtube and tiktok for more of my baking creations and updates! Until next time... happy caking!

📖 Recipe

Fried Apple Pie

Print Recipe

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5 from 3 reviews

Golden and flaky fried puff pastry filled with a warm apple cinnamon filling, a take on the McDonald's Fried apple pie that is better than ever!

• Author: Catherine Zhang
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 8 Pies 1x
• Category: Pie
• Method: Easy
• Cuisine: Australian

Ingredients

Units MUS Scale 1x2x3x

Apple Filling

• 2 Large apples, a sweet variety
• 45g Brown sugar (¼ cup)
• ¼ tsp Ground cinnamon
• 30g Unsalted butter (1 tbsp)
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tsp Cornstarch

Assembly

• 4 Frozen Puff pastry sheets
• Neutral Oil, for frying

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Instructions

Apple Filling

1. Peel the apples and cut them into small cubes
2. Combine the apples, sugar, cinnamon, butter, lemon juice and salt in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until the butter has completely melted
3. Reduce the heat to low and cover
4. Cook for 15 minutes, or until the apples have softened
5. Uncover and add the cornstarch, stirring constantly until thickened
6. Remove from the heat, cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill completely

Assembly

1. Remove the puff pastry from the freezer and thaw for 5 mins, until slightly softened
2. Meanwhile, transfer the chilled apple filling to a piping bag and cut off a large opening
3. Cut each puff pastry sheet into 8 equal rectangles
4. Pipe a line of apple filling down the center of 8 rectangles
5. Top with another rectangle of puff pastry and use a fork to seal the edges
6. Place in the freezer for 1 hour to chill
7. Heat a heavy bottomed pot of neutral oil to 200C/390F
8. Carefully lower the pies into the oil, be careful as they will splatter
9. Fry three at a time, for 2-3 mins, turning halfway, until golden brown
10. Place on a wire rack or paper towel to drain for 5 minutes and enjoy hot!

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