Prepare your apples:

• Peel, core, and slice your apples into even pieces, about ½ inch thick. Granny Smith is the classic choice, but Honeycrisp or Braeburn are also delicious!

Melt the butter:

• In a large skillet or cast-iron pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Watch it closely to prevent burning.

Create the sauce:

• Once the butter is melted and bubbly, stir in the brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon until the sugar dissolves. This should take about a minute.
• Drizzle in the lemon juice and give everything a final stir.

Add the apples:

• Carefully add the sliced apples to the skillet, stirring gently to coat them in the buttery, sweet sauce.

Cook until tender:

• Let the apples simmer in the sauce, stirring occasionally, until they soften and become slightly translucent. Cooking times can vary based on the apple variety and thickness of the slices, but roughly 5-8 minutes is typical. Remember, you want them tender but not mushy.

Check for doneness:

Finishing touches:

• Remove the pan from the heat. You can add a pinch of nutmeg or a splash of bourbon (optional) at this stage for extra flavor depth. Give the apples a final gentle stir.

Serve and enjoy:

• Southern Fried Apples are best enjoyed warm! Serve them as a side dish with savory meals like roasted pork, as a topping for ice cream, pancakes, or waffles, or simply savor them on their own for a satisfyingly sweet treat.