Sharing is caring!

These Blackstone Fried Apples are one of the easiest and most delicious desserts you can make on your outdoor griddle! Fresh apples are cooked in butter, brown sugar, and warm cinnamon until they become tender, caramelized, and absolutely irresistible.

If you love the fried apples you get at country-style restaurants, you're going to love making them at home on the Blackstone. They taste amazing served warm straight off the griddle, but they're also perfect spooned over vanilla ice cream, pancakes, waffles, French toast, or even pork chops.

And the best part? You only need a handful of simple ingredients and about 15 minutes to make them.

Why You'll Love These Blackstone Fried Apples

I'm always looking for new things to cook on my Blackstone besides burgers and fried rice, and these apples have quickly become one of my favorites.

Cooking apples on the griddle gives them plenty of room to caramelize instead of simply steaming in a skillet. The butter and brown sugar melt together and coat every slice in a sweet, cinnamon-spiced sauce.

They're also incredibly versatile. Make them as an easy Blackstone dessert after dinner or serve them as a sweet side dish with breakfast.

Ingredients for Blackstone Fried Apples

For this easy Blackstone fried apple recipe, you'll need:

• 4 large apples
• 4 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons water or apple juice

You can also add a tablespoon or two of maple syrup if you want an even richer fall flavor.

What Are the Best Apples for Fried Apples?

You want an apple that will soften while cooking but won't immediately turn to mush.

Granny Smith apples are one of my favorite choices because their tart flavor balances the sweetness of the brown sugar. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, and Gala apples are also great choices.

You can even use a combination of sweet and tart apples. Mixing Granny Smith with Honeycrisp gives you a really nice balance of flavor and texture.

How to Make Fried Apples on the Blackstone

Start by preheating your Blackstone griddle over medium to medium-low heat.

While the griddle heats, peel and core the apples. Cut them into slices about ¼-inch thick. Try to keep the slices fairly uniform so they cook at the same rate.

Add the butter to the hot griddle and allow it to melt.

Place the apple slices directly onto the melted butter and spread them into an even layer.

Let the apples cook for about 3 to 4 minutes before flipping them with your Blackstone spatula.

Sprinkle the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a small pinch of salt over the apples. Toss everything together with your spatulas until the apples are evenly coated.

Add the water or apple juice. This creates a little steam and helps soften the apples while also turning the brown sugar and butter into a delicious caramel-like sauce.

Continue cooking for another 5 to 8 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the apples are fork-tender and caramelized around the edges.

Just before removing them from the griddle, add the vanilla and toss everything together one final time.

Serve immediately while they're warm and gooey.

Don't Cook Your Blackstone Too Hot

One of the biggest mistakes you can make with this recipe is cranking up the heat.

Brown sugar can burn quickly on a hot Blackstone, so medium or medium-low heat works best. You want enough heat to caramelize the apples without scorching the sugar before the apples have time to soften.

If you notice the sugar getting too dark, move the apples to a cooler area of the griddle.

That's one of my favorite things about cooking on a Blackstone—you can create different heat zones and move your food around as needed.

Do You Have to Peel the Apples?

No!

I prefer peeling the apples because it gives the finished dish that classic soft fried-apple texture, but you can absolutely leave the skins on.

Leaving the peel intact also helps the apple slices hold their shape a little better.

How Do You Know When Fried Apples Are Done?

This really depends on how you like your apples.

I like mine tender enough to easily cut with a fork but still firm enough that the slices hold their shape.

If you prefer softer apples, cook them a few minutes longer. Just keep an eye on your heat so the brown sugar doesn't burn.

What to Serve With Blackstone Fried Apples

There are so many ways to serve these!

For dessert, spoon the warm apples over a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Add a drizzle of caramel sauce and you've got an incredibly easy Blackstone dessert.

They're also delicious with:

• Pancakes
• Biscuits
• Oatmeal

You can even pile them onto a warm cinnamon roll for an over-the-top fall breakfast.

Turn Them Into Blackstone Apple Pie Sundaes

If you're cooking outside for family or friends, turn these fried apples into an easy dessert bar.

Make a big batch of apples on the griddle and set out bowls of vanilla ice cream along with toppings such as caramel sauce, chopped pecans, whipped cream, granola, and crushed graham crackers.

Let everyone build their own apple pie sundae.

It's especially fun for a fall cookout.

Can I Make These With Less Sugar?

Absolutely.

You can reduce the brown sugar to ¼ cup if you prefer your apples less sweet. Naturally sweet apples such as Fuji or Honeycrisp won't need as much added sugar as tart Granny Smith apples.

You can also replace part of the brown sugar with maple syrup.

Blackstone Fried Apple Variations

Once you've made the basic recipe, there are plenty of ways to change it up.

Apple Pie Apples: Add an extra pinch of nutmeg along with a little ginger and allspice.

Maple Cinnamon Apples: Add 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup during the last few minutes of cooking.

Caramel Pecan Apples: Toss chopped pecans onto the griddle during the last couple of minutes and drizzle the finished apples with caramel sauce.

Bourbon Apples: For an adults-only version, add a small splash of bourbon toward the end of cooking and allow it to cook off before serving.

Peaches and Apples: Replace half of the apples with sliced fresh peaches for a delicious late-summer version.

How to Store Leftover Fried Apples

If you have leftovers, let the apples cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container.

Store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To reheat them, place them in a skillet over low heat or warm them in the microwave in short intervals.

You can also put them back on the Blackstone for a couple of minutes if you've already got the griddle fired up.

Can You Freeze Fried Apples?

Yes. Fried apples can be frozen, although they'll be softer after thawing.

Let them cool completely and place them in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 to 3 months.

Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Tips for the Best Blackstone Fried Apples

Keep your griddle around medium-low to medium heat so the sugar doesn't burn.

Slice the apples evenly so they cook at roughly the same speed.

Don't constantly move the apples around. Giving them a minute or two against the hot griddle helps create those delicious caramelized edges.

And don't walk away! Once you add the brown sugar, everything comes together quickly.

Love Blackstone Recipes? Check These Out!

• Blackstone Pancake Tacos
• Blackstone Smashburger Tacos
• Blackstone Fried Rice