Recipe - Fried Cinnamon Apple Rings with Vanilla Ice Cream

So, sometimes you want something a little sweet, sometimes you want something fried, sometimes you want something both sweet and fried. Sometimes....

I made this last weekend!! Fried cinnamon apple rings!! 

Fried -  Cinnamon and Apples - FRIED!  

OH MY GAWD! 

Served with vanilla ice cream, it was a huge hit with the family!  Everyone totally lost their minds! Apple rings, fried, with flour and cinnamon and sugar!! They are like.... mini apple pies but... fried and whatnot!   They are like.... the most amazing thing in the history of ever!

Now... are these the healthiest things in the history of ever? No.  

Are these the worst thing in the history of ever? No. 

I can think of far worse selections one could make, but... this is definitely not something I would ever eat on a regular basis. This is absolutely, positively, a once in a while treat/dessert.  Even if I opt to bake these little guys in lieu of frying, they are still quite naughty on the calorie, sugar and carbohydrate scale.  

So, if we want a healthier alternative to these fried battered apples... we could bake the apple rings coated only in cinnamon, skip the ice-cream, and then we would be in a much better place.  I think I will post that recipe as the healthy alternative in another post. But, for today... we are going "there" honey...Fried Cinnamon Apple Rings.....

Fried Cinnamon Apple Rings with Vanilla Ice-cream

Recipe: 

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Vegan version - 1 Tablespoon ground flax seed, equivalent measurement of egg alternative or skip the “egg”   / Not a vegan, use 1 egg
• Vegan version – 1 cup Coconut, Almond or Soy milk / Not a vegan, use any milk you prefer
• 4 - 6 apples, sliced crosswise ½ - ¼ inch wide (I like Gala) I washed the apples but I did not remove the skin. There is no rule here.. if you hate the skin, remove it.
• Coconut oil or vegetable oil for frying  (You can also bake these suckers until golden and crispy see note below)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Cinnamon – a lot of cinnamon  :) 

Instructions

• Slice the apples crosswise into ¼ - ½ inch wide circles then cut “rings” out of the middle of the apple slices using a knife or small round cookie cutter.  If you are feeling really crafty you can use fun shaped small cookie cutters like hearts or stars! 
• In a bowl mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and a tablespoon of sugar.
• In a separate bowl, mix together the wet ingredients until they are well combined.
• Toss the dry ingredients in with the wet and mix well until smooth.
• In a large deep pan, heat the oil over medium-low heat.
• Dip the apple rings in the creamy batter until well coated then place the apples in the hot oil.
• Cook the apples in small batches, turning regularly until completely golden brown.
• In a bowl or plate combine sugar and cinnamon and mix well, set aside.
• Place the finished fried apples on a paper towel or a cooling rack to drain.
• While still hot dip the apples in the cinnamon sugar and coat well.
• Serve immediately while still hot with your favorite vegan or non-vegan vanilla ice-cream.
• If you want to get fancy you can drizzle a little caramel sauce over the entire thing! 

*Note:  If you are baking the apple rings, follow all the instructions for mixing the ingredients and coating the apples, then bake them in the oven at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.  Oven temperatures vary, so I would check and turn the apples as needed.  They are ready when the flour is golden brown and crispy.  Dip them suckers in the cinnamon sugar and… you know the rest!

Enjoy!  

How would you serve your fried cinnamon apple rings?  How would you improve the recipe?  

Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

for the apple rings

1. 4 large apples (I used gala)
2. 1 cup flour
3. ¼ teaspoon baking powder
4. 2 tablespoons sugar
5. ¼ teaspoon salt
6. ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
7. 1 large egg, beaten
8. 1 cup buttermilk
9. vegetable oil for frying

for the cinnamon sugar topping

1. ⅓ cup sugar
2. 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl combine the egg and buttermilk. In a third dish, make your cinnamon-sugar topping by combining the ⅓ cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Set that aside too.
3. Next, slice the apples into ¼-inch thick slices, and use circle biscuit cutters in graduated sizes to make rings out of each slice. Discard the center circles containing the apple core.
4. Pat the apple rings down with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
5. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat to 350°F.
6. Combine the contents of the first and second dishes as the oil warms up. This will be your batter.
7. Dip the apple rings in and out of the batter one at a time, removing any dripping excess by tapping the rings against the side of the bowl.
8. Fry the rings in small batches, turning them to ensure browning on both sides.
9. Once the rings are golden and crispy, transfer them to a plate lined with paper towel for a few seconds.
10. Quickly transfer the apple rings, one by one, into the cinnamon-sugar mixture and coat evenly.
11. Transfer to a wire rack and serve warm.

Notes

1. Apples can go a long way in the recipe, so if you don't get to all 4 apples, don't worry. Make as much or as little as you like.
2. Here's a tip: cool the apple rings on a cooling rack, not on a plate. The heat from the apple rings will cause the plate to get steamy and wet, increasing the odds of soggy apple rings. Keeping the rings on a cooling rack lets the air circulate, keeping the rings crispier for longer.

- See more at: http://fortunegoodies.com/cinnamon-apple-rings/#sthash.wa4cntlc.dpuf