The hottest new food at the Minnesota State Fair this year were the apple fries. They were excellent. Since the fair only lasts 12 days (and because I don\u2019t want to wait a whole year to eat them again), I had to learn how to make them at home.<\/p>\n I love fair food. The corn dogs. The chocolate chip cookies. The cheese curds.<\/p>\n And now, the apple fries<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Every year at the Minnesota State Fair<\/a>, there are dozens of new foods introduced. This year, the hottest new food was the apple fries: Apples cut in French fry form, battered, and deep fried until hot and crispy.<\/p>\n They were delectable. Tasted a lot like warm apple pie.<\/p>\n The only problem is that the line was 100 deep at any given moment (although it moved fast) \u2013 and the Minnesota State Fair only lasts 12 days.<\/p>\n Also, the cost. A large regular order cost $10, and the \u201cloaded\u201d apple fries (with whipped cream and caramel) cost $13. While I considered this a pretty good price at the otherwise spendy state fair \u2013 I discovered that they\u2019re much cheaper to make at home.<\/p>\n If you loved the apple fries \u2013 you absolutely must try making them at home!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n These warm apple fries taste just like the originals at the State Fair, they\u2019re much cheaper to make (as they\u2019re made with pantry staples), and as long as you\u2019re somewhat comfortable deep frying at home, they\u2019re super easy to make.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The ingredient list for homemade apple fries is so simple and affordable. You\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n The booth at the fair used SweeTango apples, a sweet-tart variety that was actually developed right here in Minnesota. But for this at-home version, I used Granny Smith apples instead, and I actually think they work even better. SweeTango has a short season (you\u2019ll mostly find it in September), while Granny Smith is available at any grocery store year-round and tends to be cheaper. Their tartness also plays really well against the cinnamon sugar coating. If you can\u2019t find Granny Smith, other firm, tart apples like Honeycrisp or Braeburn will work well too. Just steer clear of softer varieties like Red Delicious, since they can turn mushy when fried.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n As always, scroll down for detailed recipe. But here\u2019s a snapshot of the process:<\/p>\n These apple fries are deep fried \u2013 but you don\u2019t need a deep fryer to make them. You can heat an inch or two of cooking oil (canola, vegetable, peanut or avocado) in a deep saucepan and fry them in there. A heavy-bottomed pot like a Dutch oven works great too, since it holds heat evenly.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll want the oil around 350-375\u00b0F. A thermometer helps, but if you don\u2019t have one, drop one end of an apple in the oil: if it sizzles, you\u2019re good to go. Fry the apple fries in small batches so you don\u2019t crowd the pan (overcrowding drops the oil temperature and leaves you with soggy, greasy fries instead of crispy ones). Use a slotted spoon or spider strainer to lift them out, and let them drain on a paper towel-lined plate for a minute before coating in apple-cinnamon and serving.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A: Yes. You don\u2019t\u00a0need a dedicated deep\u00a0fryer for this\u00a0recipe. Heat an inch\u00a0or two of oil in a\u00a0heavy-bottomed\u00a0saucepan or Dutch\u00a0oven until it reaches\u00a0350-375\u00b0F, and fry\u00a0the apple fries in\u00a0small batches right\u00a0on your stovetop.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A: Frying is\u00a0what gives these\u00a0apple fries their\u00a0crispy, golden\u00a0exterior, so I don\u2019t\u00a0recommend baking them. The corn starch\u00a0coating needs hot oil\u00a0to crisp up properly,\u00a0and baking will leave\u00a0you with a soft, pale\u00a0result that doesn\u2019t\u00a0match the fair\u00a0version. If you\u2019re\u00a0looking for a lighter\u00a0approach, an air\u00a0fryer may work better\u00a0than an oven, but I\u00a0haven\u2019t tested it\u00a0myself for this\u00a0recipe<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A: I don\u2019t\u00a0recommend it. These Minnesota State Fair copycat apple\u00a0fries are really at\u00a0their best fresh and\u00a0hot, right out of the\u00a0oil. The corn starch\u00a0coating loses its\u00a0crispness quickly,\u00a0and reheating\u00a0(especially in the\u00a0microwave) tends to\u00a0make them soggy\u00a0rather than crispy. This recipe is best made and enjoyed the same day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Apple](\"https:\/\/www.cheaprecipeblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Apple-fries-640x960.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Apple](\"https:\/\/www.cheaprecipeblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Apple-fries-recipe-2-640x906.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nWhy make apple fries at home?<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cheaprecipeblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Apple-fries-ingredients-640x860.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nIngredients: What You\u2019ll Need To Make Apple Fries<\/h2>\n
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![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.cheaprecipeblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/How-to-make-apple-fries-640x929.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nWhy Granny Smith Apples?<\/h2>\n
How To Make Deep-Fried Apple Fries<\/h2>\n
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Deep Frying 101<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cheaprecipeblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Apple-fries-2-640x1009.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nQ: Can I make apple fries without a deep fryer?<\/h3>\n
Q: Can I bake apple fries instead of frying them?<\/h3>\n
Q: Can I store and reheat leftover apple fries?<\/h3>\n
More Minnesota State Fair-Inspired Recipes<\/h2>\n
Ingredients<\/h2>\n
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Instructions<\/h2>\n
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