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Fried Apple Rings

Fried apple rings with a lightly lumpy batter—crispy, deeply golden rings rolled in cinnamon sugar. Serve hot with powdered sugar and caramel sauce for a classic American dessert.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Apple rings
  • 3 large firm apples Granny Smith or Honeycrisp
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1.5 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • 1 cup cold sparkling water or beer
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • vegetable oil for frying Enough for 2 inches of oil
  • 3 tbsp sugar For coating
  • 1 tsp cinnamon For coating
  • caramel sauce and powdered sugar for serving

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet
  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Slice and dry the apples
  1. Peel the apples and slice into 1/2-inch rings, removing cores with a small round cutter or knife.
  2. Pat the apple rings completely dry so the batter sticks and fries crisp.
Make the quick batter
  1. Whisk the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until evenly combined.
  2. Stir in the sparkling water or beer, egg, and vanilla extract until just combined, leaving lumps for a tender-crisp texture.
Fry and coat
  1. Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil to 375F.
  2. Dip the apple rings in batter, letting excess drip off, then add to the hot oil.
  3. Fry for 2-3 minutes per side until deeply golden, turning once for even color.
  4. Drain on paper towels, then immediately roll in the cinnamon sugar while the coating is still hot.
  5. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with caramel sauce.

Notes

For best crispness, dry the apple rings thoroughly and roll them in cinnamon sugar immediately after draining. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days; reheat in a 350F oven for 5-8 minutes to re-crisp. Freezing is not recommended because the batter texture softens. For a lighter twist, use sparkling water instead of beer.