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Air Fryer Apple Fries

Air Fryer Apple Fries made with thick apple wedges coated in a crisp cinnamon panko crust and air-fried until golden. Serve hot with caramel dipping sauce and vanilla yogurt for an easy snack with crunchy edges.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 360
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

apples
  • 3 large firm apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp) Peeled; cut into thick wedge-shaped sticks and remove the core.
egg coating
  • 2 eggs Beaten.
flour coating
  • 0.5 cup all-purpose flour For dredging the wedges first.
panko coating
  • 0.5 cup panko breadcrumbs Mixed with cinnamon sugar and nutmeg.
cinnamon sugar
  • 2 tbsp cinnamon sugar (sugar + cinnamon) Use 2 tbsp sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon as written.
nutmeg
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg Mixed into the panko cinnamon coating.
cooking spray
  • 0.5 cooking spray Spray the basket and lightly spray tops before air frying.
dipping
  • 0.25 cup caramel sauce Serve alongside for dipping.
  • 0.25 cup vanilla yogurt or whipped cream Serve alongside for dipping.

Equipment

  • 1 Air fryer

Method
 

Prepare the coating stations
  1. Cut the peeled apples into thick wedge-shaped sticks (thick-cut fries) and remove the core. Keep the pieces fairly even so they air-fry at the same rate.
  2. Set up three bowls: flour, beaten eggs, and panko mixed with cinnamon sugar and nutmeg. Mix the coating until the panko looks evenly speckled.
Bread the apple fries
  1. Dredge each apple wedge in flour, coating it lightly but completely. Shake off excess flour so the crust doesn’t get gummy.
  2. Dip the floured wedges into the beaten eggs, coating them fully. Let any excess egg drip off for a neater crust.
  3. Roll each egg-coated wedge in the panko cinnamon mixture and press gently to adhere. Arrange coated wedges so the crumbs don’t shed before air frying.
Air-fry
  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400F and spray the basket with cooking spray. This prevents sticking and helps the crust brown.
  2. Arrange the apple fries in a single layer and lightly spray the tops with cooking spray. Avoid overcrowding for maximum crisping.
  3. Air fry for 8-10 minutes at 400F, flipping halfway through. Cook until golden and crispy, with an audible crunch when tapped.
Serve
  1. Serve immediately with caramel sauce and vanilla yogurt for dipping. Keep dipping sauces nearby while the coating is at peak crunch.

Notes

For the crispest fries, keep the apple wedges thick and as even as possible, then press the panko gently so it adheres. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 2 days, reheating in the air fryer at 350F for 2-3 minutes to re-crisp. Freezing is not recommended because the crumb coating can soften when thawed. For a dairy-light option, swap the vanilla yogurt for an unsweetened coconut yogurt or use whipped cream substitute.