Fried Apple Pies
A hearty vegetarian built around apples, peeled and chopped and apple juice — roughly 70 minutes start to finish, and rated medium to make. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 7 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (2)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Dairy
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Combine the chopped apples, sugar, apple juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a saucepan and cook over medium heat for about 8 to 10 minutes until the apples soften.
- Stir the cornstarch into a tablespoon of cold water, add it to the apples, and simmer for one more minute until the filling thickens, then set aside to cool completely.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt, then rub in the cold butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, and stir in just enough cold milk to form a firm dough.
- Roll the dough out thin on a floured surface and cut it into 5-inch (12 cm) rounds, re-rolling the scraps as needed.
- Spoon a tablespoon of the cooled filling onto one half of each round, brush the edges with water, fold over into a half-moon, and crimp the edges firmly with a fork to seal.
- Heat the oil to 350°F (175°C) and fry the pies in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side until deep golden brown, turning once.
- Drain the pies on paper towels and, while still warm, dust them with sugar or a cinnamon-sugar mixture before serving.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Saucepan · Pan · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Cornstarch
- 2 tbsp flour per 1 tbsp cornstarch (as thickener)
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
- Milk
- any unsweetened plant milk · ½ cup evaporated milk + ½ cup water
Tips & common questions
How long does Fried Apple Pies take to make?
About 70 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 12 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of cornstarch?
Try 2 tbsp flour per 1 tbsp cornstarch (as thickener). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Fried Apple Pies vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Fried Apple Pies is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Fried apple pies from the John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC.jpg by Basilwhite, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.