Make Dolly Parton's Southern Fried Apples With Just 4 Basic Ingredients

The late Dolly Parton was known for many things, from her incredible voice to her Tennessee amusement park, Dollywood, but she also made quite a name for herself in the food world. She partnered with companies like Duncan Hines (her Fabulously Double Fudge Brownie Mix did fabulously well in our boxed brownie mix ranking), was famous for cooking comfort meals for co-stars on the sets of her movies, and loved to share her Southern roots through food. That included dishes like a simple four-ingredient treat that brings a touch of sweetness to the table. Southern fried apples are easy to eat, and the Queen of Country's recipe is just as easy to follow.     

Her recipe calls for just four ingredients: apples, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Parton doesn't call for a specific type of apple (there are actually thousands of varieties to choose from), but one sure bet is Granny Smith. These are not only easy to find but they also hold up exceptionally well to heat when you cook them, so your fried apples will keep their structure rather than turning into chunky applesauce. Once you've picked your apple variety, use about half a cup of butter and brown sugar each, plus a tablespoon or so of that warm cinnamon, for every six fruits. It's also best to use a cast iron skillet for this classic Southern comfort food, because it gives the apples great caramelization as they fry. From there, all you have to do is slice the apples and then cook them in the butter, sugar, and cinnamon mixture until they become super tender — it's that simple.

Now that you've mastered the art of making this classic Southern comfort food, it's time to figure out what to do with them. Perhaps the best part of this dish is that it can be served in a variety of ways and with any meal throughout the day. These apples are best served warm and are delicious with a dollop of whipped cream on top, but that's just the beginning. You can pair these sweet apples with another comfort food, a creamy macaroni and cheese, though you can also pair them with meats, like baked ham or grilled pork chops. They'll go especially well with another of Dolly Parton's favorites, fried chicken, which she always ate on Sundays.

If you favor a touch of sweetness to start off your day, Parton's Southern fried apples are a great choice. You can eat them with oatmeal, add them to cottage cheese, or use them as a sweet topping for pancakes, waffles, or warm cinnamon rolls. You can also customize these apples by playing with the flavor and adding a few extra ingredients while you cook them. Pecans will give them crunch, nutmeg will add a fall spice profile, and a dash of bourbon will infuse a boozy touch that will make the fried apples perfect with ice cream for a sweet night cap.