This delicious treat is perfect for fall when it's getting chilly outside and apples are still in full season. Soft fried apple rings with a cinnamon scent will warm and satisfy everyone who enjoys sweets.

➜ About the recipe

Let me explain what these apple rings are and why you'll adore them. This dish is a huge hit in my home country, the Czech Republic, where I was born and raised. Its Czech name is "smažená jablka v těstíčku".

This recipe calls for peeled, cored apples sliced into rings. Prepare the pancake batter in a bowl, then dip the apple rings in it and fry them on both sides in a skillet with a higher layer of oil.

Apple fritter rings taste best when still warm, but you can also enjoy them after they have cooled to room temperature.

MY TIP: If you have your own backyard with apple trees, this recipe is for you! Another way to use apples from the garden is a very easy puff pastry apple strudel (it tastes heavenly!).

➜ Ingredient list

Fried apple rings ingredients with captions.

To make homemade fried apple rings, you will need:

Fresh apples; sweet or tart, whatever you have available. Keep in mind that firmer apples will retain their texture better and won't be as mushy when fried.
Ground cinnamon
Canola oil; for frying. Sunflower oil can also be used, or if you want the fried apples to smell amazing, try clarified butter.
Powdered/icing sugar; for dusting

For the simple homemade pancake batter:

Milk; I use whole milk. Heat it in the microwave or on the stove so it is lukewarm but not hot.
All-purpose flour; plain flour in the UK
Granulated sugar
Unsalted butter
Baking powder
Eggs
Pinch of salt

✅ You’ll find the exact amount of ingredients below in the recipe card, which you can also print out.

As for equipment, you will need: apple corer, vegetable peeler, non-stick frying pan (or a skillet)

You might also like: How to shred apples

➜ Instructions with photos

STEP 1: Prepare the pancake batter first, as it will need to rest for a while before you start dipping the apple rings into it.

Homemade pancake batter whisked in a bowl. — Pancake batter

Melt the butter either on the stove or in the microwave. Mix flour with baking powder. Heat the milk so that it is lukewarm but not hot. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, lukewarm milk, sugar, and salt. Stir in the flour mixture with the baking powder. Finally, whisk in the melted butter and let the smooth batter stand for 10 minutes.

STEP 2: Now, let's prep the apples.

Remove the apple skins with a vegetable peeler. Then place the apple on a kitchen cutting board, stem side down. Place a core cutter on top of the blossom end and press down to cut out the apple core and form a nice apple circle. If there are any leftover core or seeds in the hole, cut them out again by moving the cutter a little to the side.

Cut the apples into rings about 1/4 inch thick and very lightly dust them with cinnamon.

Preparing apple circles for frying. Peeling, core removing, slicing in circles, dusting them with cinnamon.

STEP 3: Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Don't skimp on the oil; the coating in the pan should be at least 1/4 inch high.

Dip apple slices in the pancake batter on both sides with a fork and allow excess batter to dripp off a bit. Fry battered apple rings for couple minutes until golden brown on both sides. Repeat with the remaining apple slices until all of the batter has been used.

Frying battered apple rings in a skillet.

MY TIP: Immediately after frying, drain excess fat on paper towels to save calories.

➜ Serving

Fried apples are ideally served warm, but they can also be enjoyed at room temperature. For those with a sweet tooth, I recommend dusting them with powdered sugar before serving, especially if you used tart apples!

Pan fried apple rings served on a plate, dusted with powdered sugar.

TIP: For more festive occasions, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or drizzled with caramel sauce.

➜ How long do fried apple rings last?

This meal is a pure delight, and I'm sure it will disappear quickly from the table. If you have any leftover fried apples, keep reading for storage ideas.

At room temperature: it is recommended to eat them out within two days.
In the fridge: Stored in an airtight container, they will last 5-7 days.
In the freezer: I haven't had much luck preserving fried fruits because they lose their firmness and get soggy when thawed.

➜ Useful tips

When preparing the pancake batter, you should heat the milk so that it is lukewarm. If you didn't do this, then the melted butter would not mix well with it but would curdle into fine lumps.
Instead of vegetable oil, fry the apples in clarified butter. They will be even more flavorful and tasty. Do not use olive oil, its specific taste makes it less suitable for this dessert.
This apple recipe can be prepared in a deep fryer without issue. However, an air fryer is not suited.

More apple recipes:

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Pan Fried Apple Rings

➜ About the recipe