Skip to main content

Fried Apple Pies

My grandmother Irene Paul taught me to make fried pies years ago. She made the pastry dough from scratch in the early days, but later in life she began to take advantage of modern conveniences. So here’s the recipe for Grandmother’s updated but old-fashioned fried pies.

Cooks' Note

For super-quick fried pies, use canned apple pie filling and canned biscuits that have been rolled out into a 5- or 6-inch round. Shape and cook pies as directed.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    8 pies

Ingredients

One 5-ounce package dried apples (or any other dried fruit)
2 cups water
cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter
Vi teaspoon cinnamon
One 15-ounce package refrigerated pie crust (found in dairy section)
11 cups vegetable oil, or more as needed

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook the apples with the water in a covered pot over medium-low heat for about 1 hour, or until all liquid has been absorbed. Stir occasionally. Add the sugar, butter, and cinnamon, mixing well; set aside to cool. Unfold the pie crust and break into 8 equal pieces like pie slices. Place 1 heaping tablespoon of fruit on each round of dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border all around. Dip your finger in water and moisten the edges of the crust, then place a second round on top of the filling and press the edges to seal. Dip the tines of a dinner fork in flour and crimp the edges to ensure a proper seal.

    Step 2

    Pour the oil into a cast-iron skillet to a depth of a little less than 1/2 inch. (This would be 1 1/2 cups oil in a 10-inch skillet.) Heat over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, place 3 to 4 pies in the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Repeat until all the pies are cooked, or wrap and freeze some of the uncooked pies for another day.

    Step 3

    Sprinkle the pies with granulated sugar while they’re hot.

The Lady & Sons, Too! by Paula Deen. © 2001 by Paula H. Deen. Published by Random House. All Rights Reserved. Paula H. Deen was born and raised in Albany, Georgia. She later moved to Savannah, where she and her two sons, Bobby and Jamie, started the Bag Lady catering company. The business took off and evolved into The Lady & Sons Restaurant, which is located in Savannah’s historic district and specializes in Southern cooking. Paula is the host of Food Network’s Paula’s Home Cooking and is a regular guest on QVC, where her cookbooks are one of the newtowrk’s biggest sellers.
Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
Reminiscent of a classic diner dessert, this chocolate cream pie offers pure comfort in a cookie crust.
Roasted poblanos, jalapeños, and red onion are coated with a melty sauce—warm with the flavors of pepper jack, and stabilized with a block of cream cheese.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.
The summer salad stalwart gets a makeover.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.