Fried Apple Pies (Amish Apple Fry Pie Recipe)

These homemade fried apple pies are the ultimate fall dessert—crispy, golden, and filled with warm cinnamon apples that practically melt in your mouth. The filling is cooked until soft and caramelized, then wrapped in buttery pie dough and fried to perfection before being coated in a simple sugar glaze. The result is a handheld pie that’s every bit as nostalgic as the classic McDonald’s fried apple pie, but even fresher and more indulgent.

Why You'll Love These Fried Apple Pies

These fried apple pies are a combination of a classic Amish apple fry and the iconic McDonald’s fried apple pie. Every bite captures a comforting apple-cinnamon flavor with a fresh twist on an apple pie. Instead of being baked into one large pie crust, the apple filling is tucked into individual pockets of flaky dough, fried until golden brown, and glazed while warm.

The filling itself is what makes these pies irresistible: fresh apples simmered with cinnamon and sugar until tender and slightly caramelized, creating a gooey, spiced center. Once enclosed in the dough and fried, the contrast between the crisp, golden shell and the soft apple filling is nothing short of addictive.

And don’t let the idea of frying intimidate you—this recipe is incredibly approachable. With minimal prep and a quick fry time, you can have a batch of crispy fried apple pies on the table in under an hour. I often make them as a special weekend treat, and they’re always the first thing to disappear. Trust me—once you bite into one, you’ll be tempted to find excuses to make them again and again.

Ingredients

The ingredients used to make fried pies are all really simple baking ingredients. If you're a regular baker, I guarantee you have most of them at home already!

Here's what you'll need for the apple pie filling:

• 2 large apples 
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoon apple juice
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Here's what you'll need for the pie dough:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 4 tablespoon butter, cubed
• 2 egg yolks
• ⅓ cup warm milk

Lastly, here's what you'll need for the sugar glaze:

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

You can use a lot of these ingredients to make my apple pancakes, this classic apple dump cake, or these apple empanadas, so consider giving those a try next!

How To Make Fried Apple Pies

Step 1: Prepare the Apples

Begin by peeling, coring, and chopping the apples.

Step 2: Make the Apple Filling

Add the apple slices, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a large saucepot. Cook the apples over medium heat for 3 minutes until juices start to form. Then, mix the apple juice with cornstarch in a bowl. Add it to the simmering apples and let it cook for another 3 minutes, then remove them from the heat.

Step 3: Make the Dough

Sift flour into a large bowl, then add baking powder. Add butter cubes and work them into the dough using a pastry cutter or your hands. Add egg yolks and milk and stir until the dough begins to form.

Step 4: Shape the Dough

Divide the dough into 6 equal parts and shape each part into a small ball. Roll out each dough ball into a circle using a rolling pin.

Step 5: Stuff the Apple Pies

Fill each circle with 2 tablespoons of the apple filling. Fold the dough in half and pinch the edges or close them using a fork.

Step 6: Fry the Apple Pies

Heat oil in a deep pot or deep fryer. Once the oil reaches 350°F, slide the pies into the hot oil. Fry the apple pies for 2 minutes per side until golden brown.

Step 7: Make the Glaze

 Combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Mix until you have a smooth glaze. 

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

When the deep fried apple pies are fully cooked, remove them from the pot and brush them with the glaze. Serve warm, and enjoy!

Expert Tips

• Cook the filling until it’s just thickened. Whether you use fresh apples or canned filling, make sure the mixture isn’t runny. A watery filling will leak into the dough and prevent the pies from crisping properly. The filling should coat the back of a spoon and cling slightly.
• Don’t skip drying the apples. If you wash your apples before peeling/slicing, pat them completely dry. Excess water releases steam when frying and can cause the crust to bubble unevenly or even split.
• Monitor your oil temperature carefully. Frying at the right heat—around 350–360°F—is key. Too low and the pies absorb oil and turn greasy; too high and the outside burns before the inside heats through. Use a deep-fry thermometer if you have one.
• Seal the edges well. Use a fork to crimp the dough edges tightly or brush with a little beaten egg before sealing. This prevents filling from leaking into the oil, which can cause splattering or burned bits.
• Fry in small batches. Overloading the fryer drops the oil temperature and leads to soggy, unevenly cooked pies. Fry just 2–3 at a time, then reheat the oil to the proper temperature before adding the next batch.
• Adjust your glaze for consistency. For a thicker glaze that sets opaque and glossy, add extra powdered sugar. For a thinner glaze that soaks lightly into the crust, whisk in a splash more milk. Always glaze while the pies are still warm so it adheres evenly.
• Take them over the top with toppings. While they’re amazing on their own, fried apple pies are next-level when dusted with cinnamon sugar, drizzled with salted caramel, or served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For a café-style presentation, add a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg.
• Plan for make-ahead. You can make and refrigerate the filling up to 2 days in advance, and assemble/freeze the un-fried pies for up to 2 months. Fry straight from frozen, just adding an extra 1–2 minutes cook time.
• Serve warm, not piping hot. Let the pies rest for 5 minutes after frying. This keeps the glaze from sliding off and prevents burnt tongues—plus, the flavors meld as the filling thickens slightly.

FAQS About This Fried Pies Recipe

How long do leftover fried pies last?

These fried pies will last in the fridge for up to 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

How do I reheat the leftover fried pies?

To reheat, transfer leftover apple pies to a baking sheet and bake them at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or until they're fully reheated. You can also heat them in an air fryer at 400°F for 3-4 minutes. Add more reheating time for frozen apple pies.

What are the best apples to use for fried apple pies?

I like to use Gala apples, but you can really use any flavors you want. A combination of Granny Smith apples and something like Red Delicious apples or Honeycrisp apples will give you a good balance of flavors.

Can I make baked fried apple pies?

Yes! Just prepare the apple pies and put them on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for about 15 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350°F and bake for another 15 minutes or so until they're golden and crispy.

Can I use storebought pie crust for this recipe?

Yes, you can definitely use store-bought pie crust instead of making a homemade pie crust. It will save you some time, and you can also use puff pastry as well.

More Dessert Recipes

• Apple crisp without oats
• Crescent roll apple dumplings
• Fried apples
• No bake pumpkin pie
• Cream cheese banana bread
• Cinnamon rolls with heavy cream
• Grandma old fashioned apple pie recipe

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Yield: 6 servings

Fried Apple Pies (Amish Apple Fry Pie Recipe)

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These homemade fried apple pies are the ultimate fall dessert—crispy, golden, and filled with warm cinnamon apples that practically melt in your mouth. The filling is cooked until soft and caramelized, then wrapped in buttery pie dough and fried to perfection before being coated in a simple sugar glaze. The result is a handheld pie that’s every bit as nostalgic as the classic McDonald’s fried apple pie, but even fresher and more indulgent.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

Pie Filling:

• 2 large apples 
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoon apple juice
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Pie Dough:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 4 tablespoon butter, cubed
• 2 egg yolks
• ⅓ cup warm milk

Sugar Glaze:

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
•  

Instructions

1. Make the filling; peel, core, and chop the apples.
2. Add apples into the saucepot with brown sugar and cinnamon. 
3. Cook the apple over medium heat for 3 minutes, until juices start to form. 
4. Combine apple juice with cornstarch and add to the apples. Cook for another 3 minutes and remove from the heat.
5. Make the dough; sift the flour in a bowl. Add baking powder.
6. Add butter and work it in with a pastry cutter.
7. Add egg yolks and milk and stir until the dough comes together. divide the dough into six equal parts. Shape each part into a small ball.
8. Roll out the dough into a circle, using a rolling pin. Fill each circle with 2 tablespoon of the prepared filling. 
9. Fold the dough in half and pinch the edges or close them using a fork. 
10. Heat oil in a saucepot or deep fryer. Once the oil reaches 350F, slide the pies into the oil. fry the pies for 2 minutes per side.  
11. Make the glaze; combine the glaze ingredients in a bowl. 
12. Brush the apple pies with the prepared glaze.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 348Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 59gFiber: 3gSugar: 24gProtein: 6g