Salted Caramel Apple Fries (Printable)

Crispy apple fries served with warm salted caramel sauce and an assortment of sweet toppings, arranged on a beautiful sharing platter.

# What You'll Need:

→ Apple Fries

01 - 4 large, firm apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and cut into thick fry-shaped sticks
02 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
03 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
04 - 2 large eggs, beaten
05 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
08 - Vegetable oil, for frying (approximately 1 inch deep in skillet)

→ Salted Caramel Sauce

09 - 1 cup granulated sugar
10 - 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
11 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
12 - 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt

→ Sweet Dippables & Garnishes

13 - 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
14 - 1/4 cup chopped pecans
15 - 1/4 cup chocolate chips
16 - 1/4 cup crushed graham crackers
17 - Fresh raspberries and strawberries
18 - Powdered sugar, for dusting

# Steps:

01 - Peel and core the apples, then cut into thick fry-shaped sticks approximately 1/2 inch wide. Toss immediately with lemon juice to prevent browning.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls: place flour in the first bowl, beaten eggs in the second, and combine panko breadcrumbs with cinnamon and salt in the third bowl.
03 - Working in batches, dredge apple sticks in flour, shaking off excess. Dip into beaten eggs, then press firmly into panko mixture to coat evenly on all sides.
04 - Heat 1 inch of vegetable oil in a deep skillet to 350°F. Fry breaded apple sticks in small batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crisp, approximately 2-3 minutes per batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
05 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add granulated sugar. Melt sugar without stirring, swirling the pan occasionally, until sugar dissolves and turns a deep amber color, approximately 5-7 minutes.
06 - Immediately add cubed butter to caramelized sugar, stirring constantly until completely melted. Slowly pour in heavy cream while whisking vigorously—mixture will bubble vigorously. Continue whisking until sauce is smooth and fully combined.
07 - Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in flaky sea salt until incorporated. Let caramel sauce cool for 5-10 minutes until slightly thickened but still warm and pourable.
08 - Arrange fried apple fries on a large platter or wooden board. Place warm salted caramel sauce in a small bowl at the center.
09 - Scatter mini marshmallows, chopped pecans, chocolate chips, and graham cracker crumbs around the apple fries. Add fresh raspberries and strawberries. Dust apple fries generously with powdered sugar just before serving.
10 - Serve board immediately while apple fries remain crisp and caramel sauce is warm. Encourage guests to dip apple fries into caramel and roll into various toppings.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • That moment when hot apple meets cool caramel is pure magic
  • Guests cannot resist gathering around this board together
  • The browning sugar smell alone is worth making it
02 -
  • The sugar can burn faster than you expect, so have all your ingredients measured and ready before you start caramelizing
  • Room temperature cream prevents the dreaded seized-caramel disaster that happens when cold liquid hits hot sugar
  • Don't overcrowd the pan when frying or the oil temperature drops and you'll end up with soggy apples
03 -
  • If your caramel starts to seize, keep whisking over low heat and it will usually smooth back out
  • The best apples for frying are ones that hold their shape, so avoid softer varieties like Red Delicious or Gala

Return