Whether you pick them in an orchard or at the grocery store down the street, there’s no better time than now to bake with fall’s favorite fruit: apples.

Crisp, juicy, sweet and tart, apples are such a versatile fruit. Starring in an endless list of dessert recipes, they also hold their own when used in savory dishes (like in grilled cheese sandwiches with brie and bacon – so good!).

While I love all things apple, my absolute favorite is classic apple pie. It satisfies the sweet tooth, evokes nostalgia and celebrates the season. And if you’ve followed my column, you know that I love fun spins on traditional recipes. Cue the apple pie fries.

Loaded with all the comfy and delicious flavors of apple pie, these handheld treats are simple to make and delightful to eat – I mean, they are fries, so there’ll be dipping involved!

They’re made with two store-bought pie crusts that are sandwiched together with a sweet homemade apple filling. The filled crusts are then brushed with egg wash, sprinkled with sanding sugar and cinnamon, then are cut into fry shapes and baked until golden. 

Served warm, these apple pie fries are flaky, tender-crisp on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside. And the dip I mentioned earlier? It’s caramel sauce – I’ll give you a second to wipe the drool off your face.

There’s not a pairing more perfect. Oh, geez, vanilla ice cream is giving me dirty looks. Of course vanilla ice cream can be served with apple pie fries, too.

You also can make your own pie crust, but we’re going for ease here. Actually, if you wanted to make it even more easier, canned apple pie filling can be used. Just give it a quick whirl in the food processor or chop it down into smaller bits so that it spreads easier. 

APPLE PIE FRIES

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups apples, peeled, cored, and finely diced

2 teaspoons lemon juice

3/4 cup water, plus 2 tablespoons more if needed

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Pinch of salt

1 package refrigerated pie crusts, 2 crusts

1 egg, beaten

1 tablespoon sanding sugar

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Caramel, for serving

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350° and line a large baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

Place diced apples in a medium bowl and toss with lemon juice to keep them from browning.

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, add the water, brown sugar, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and salt. Whisk until fully combined and then add the apples to the pan. Stirring frequently, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook until apples are tender, about 10 minutes. Mixture will be thick, but still spreadable. If too thick, stir in 2 more tablespoons of water. Set aside to cool.

On a lightly floured surface, lay out 1 pie crust and spread apple mixture evenly over the entire surface. Take second pie crust and place on top.

Brush with beaten egg, and then combine the sanding sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on top. 

Cut dough into 1/2-inch wide strips (12 inches long) using a pizza cutter. Cut each strip into 3 pieces, forming "fries". 

Place them carefully onto prepared baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, until crust is golden. Serve with caramel sauce for dipping.

Adapted from Delish.com