The Easiest (and Healthiest) Fried Apples Recipe

Over the years, my neighbor Ms. Owens has recounted to me memories from her childhood where her mother would make her special fried apples recipe for breakfast, and my aunt Suzanne similarly has told me of her distinctly sweet breakfast memories of fried apples.

Evoking memories throughout the South, fried apples are so simple to make and truly delicious. It’s one of the reasons why when fall rolls around and others are focused on pumpkin products, I am excited to purchase apples to create my favorite fried apple recipe. And now I want to share it with you.

This recipe comes straight from my cookbook, The Southern Comfort Food Diabetes Cookbook, and utilizes an air fryer (just 15 minutes to cook) and a natural sugar replacement, Brown Swerve, which makes it better for you!

Now, fried and sweet foods often get a bad rap, especially for those who have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is the result of the body not properly making or utilizing insulin that is needed to keep blood sugars at a healthy level. [1] Unfortunately, when individuals find out that they are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, they feel as though they have to give up some of their favorite food items but this fried apples recipecan be a part of the regular rotation!

That’s right—having type 2 diabetes doesn’t mean you have to give up your joy of food or deny yourself of your favorite culturally-influenced dishes. There are some actionable steps you can take to help you manage this condition.

In addition to monitoring your blood sugar levels and being mindful of your carbohydrate intake, it’s important to consume a variety of nutrient-rich foods to support your cellular health and help keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range.

So, how does my fried apples recipe help you do that? First, while an apple contains carbohydrates, it’s also rich in fiber, with one medium apple containing about 4.5 grams of fiber. This matters because research has shown that fiber slows digestion and, as a result, your blood sugar doesn’t rise as rapidly. [2]

Additionally, while the name of the recipe includes the term “fried apples,” the apples are actually cooked in an air fryer to give the results of a fried apple without actually frying. I chose this method because limiting fried foods that utilize added fats has been shown to help prevent type 2 diabetes. [3]

Finally, in place of regular sugar, I searched high and low for a great sugar alternative when creating this recipe. And if you’ve ever baked with a sugar replacement, you know it can be a challenge to find the right one. It needs to bake similarly to table sugar and be easy on the tummy to avoid unwanted gastrointestinal side effects. That’s a tall order.

Fortunately, I found an incredible sugar alternative—Swerve! Not only does it measure cup-for-cup like regular sugar, but it tastes incredible. You’d never know it isn’t the real thing! I was shocked by how well Brown Swerve caramelized—great taste and consistency coupled with it being well tolerated meant it was a winner for me.

The best part? Swerve is low-glycemic and safe for people with diabetes.

So, whether you’re looking to better manage your blood sugar levels or you just want a tasty dessert or breakfast that doesn’t come with an abundance of added sugar, you definitely want to try this quick dish: The Easiest (and Healthiest) Fried Apples Recipe.

Keep scrolling to get the recipe! You’re just 15 minutes from the sweet treat of your dreams!

The Easiest (and Healthiest) Fried Apples Recipe

Serves 6 to 8

Time:  15 minutes

Ingredients

4 Pink Lady apples, quartered

¼ cup Brown Swerve

Directions

1.  In a small mixing bowl, toss the apples in the Brown Swerve. Working in batches,place in the basket of an air fryer.

2. Set the air fryer to 390 degrees F, close, and cook or 15 minutes.

3.  Once cooking is complete, transfer the apples to a plate. Repeat until no apples remain. Enjoy!

Substitution tip: If Pink Lady apples aren’t accessible, use any apple you like.

Cooking tip: If you don’t have an air fryer, you can make the apples in a cast iron skillet by lightly brushing each apple with sunflower seed oil, then dusting Brown Swerve and pan-frying until the outside is browned and caramelized.