What started as a desperate attempt to use up leftover egg roll wrappers turned into Max's new favorite dessert when I decided to fill them with cinnamon apples and fry until golden. "This is like apple pie but way more fun to eat!" he declared while watching me roll the apple pie egg rolls that would become our go-to fall treat for everything from after-school snacks to holiday parties. The combination of crispy wrapper and warm, spiced apple filling creates an irresistible handheld dessert that's somehow even better than traditional apple pie. Now Max requests these "apple pie sticks" whenever we have company coming over, and I love how they disappear faster than I can make them.
Jump to:
- Why l Love Apple Pie Egg Rolls
- What Is Apple Pie Egg Rolls?
- Apple Pie Egg Rolls Ingredients
- How to Make Apple Pie Egg Rolls
- Apple Pie Egg Rolls Substitutions
- Apple Pie Egg Rolls Variations
- Equipment
- Apple Pie Egg Rolls Storage Tips
- Hannah's Apple Pie Egg Rolls Tip
- Apple Pie Egg Rolls FAQs
- Fall Dessert Victory
- Related
- Crispy Apple Pie Egg Rolls
Why l Love Apple Pie Egg Rolls
These crispy apple pie egg rolls transform classic apple pie flavors into fun, handheld treats that cook in just minutes. Max loves the crunchy exterior that gives way to warm, cinnamon-spiced apples inside each golden roll. They're perfect for parties, potlucks, or anytime you want dessert without the fuss of making pie crust from scratch. You can prep them ahead and cook when ready, making entertaining stress-free and delicious. The air fryer method creates restaurant-quality crispiness with less oil than traditional deep frying.
What Is Apple Pie Egg Rolls?
Apple pie egg rolls are dessert egg rolls filled with cinnamon-spiced apple pie filling, wrapped in crispy egg roll wrappers, and fried until golden brown. These sweet fried egg rolls combine the familiar flavors of apple pie with the satisfying crunch of Asian-style egg rolls for a unique fusion dessert. Unlike traditional apple pie, these handheld treats cook quickly and provide portion control while delivering all the warm spice and tender apple goodness. The result is a crispy exterior that shatters to reveal perfectly spiced apple filling, often served with caramel sauce or vanilla ice cream for the ultimate indulgent experience.
Apple Pie Egg Rolls Ingredients
- Egg roll wrappers : Creates crispy, golden exterior that holds filling perfectly
- Granny Smith apples : Tart apples that hold their shape during cooking
- Brown sugar : Adds molasses sweetness that complements apple flavors
- Ground cinnamon : Essential warm spice that defines apple pie flavor
- Ground nutmeg : Adds aromatic depth and traditional pie spice complexity
- Vanilla extract : Enhances overall flavor profile of apple filling
- Cornstarch : Thickens apple juices to prevent soggy wrappers
- Butter : Adds richness and helps caramelize apple mixture
- Lemon juice : Prevents browning and adds subtle tartness
- Egg : Beaten for sealing wrapper edges securely
- Vegetable oil : For frying to golden perfection
- Powdered sugar : For dusting finished rolls
- Caramel sauce : Rich dipping sauce that enhances dessert appeal
How to Make Apple Pie Egg Rolls
Prepare Apple Filling
- Peel and dice apples into small, uniform pieces for even cooking and easy wrapping
- Toss diced apples with lemon juice to prevent browning while preparing other ingredients
- Cook apples with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla in skillet until tender
- Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until mixture thickens and coats apples beautifully
- Max loves helping stir the apples as they transform into fragrant pie filling
Assemble the Rolls
- Place egg roll wrapper on clean surface with corner pointing toward you like diamond shape
- Spoon 2-3 tablespoons cooled apple filling in center, avoiding overfilling which causes bursting
- Fold bottom corner over filling, then fold in side corners to create envelope shape
- Roll tightly toward top corner, brushing edges with beaten egg to seal completely
- Keep finished rolls covered with damp towel to prevent wrappers from drying out
Cook Until Golden
- Heat oil to 350°F for deep frying or preheat air fryer to 375°F for healthier option
- Fry rolls in small batches for 2-3 minutes until deep golden brown and crispy
- For air fryer, cook 8-10 minutes, turning halfway through for even browning
- Transfer to paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil briefly before serving
- The wrappers should be shatteringly crisp with no pale or soggy spots
Serve and Enjoy
- Dust warm rolls with powdered sugar and serve immediately with caramel sauce for dipping
- These are best enjoyed hot when the contrast between crispy wrapper and warm filling is perfect
- Provide small bowls of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for extra indulgence
- Store any leftovers covered and reheat in oven to restore crispiness
- Max always claims the first one because "it's the crispiest and most perfect"
Apple Pie Egg Rolls Substitutions
Apple Varieties
Replace Granny Smith with Honeycrisp or Braeburn for different sweetness levels and textures. Each variety creates unique flavor profiles while maintaining proper structure during cooking.
Wrapper Options
Use spring roll wrappers for lighter texture or phyllo dough for flakier results. Each wrapper type requires slight adjustments to cooking time but creates delicious variations.
Healthier Version
Bake at 425°F for 15-20 minutes, brushing with oil for browning, to reduce oil content. The texture differs slightly but still delivers satisfying crunch and warm apple filling.
Apple Pie Egg Rolls Variations
Spicy or Savory Twist
Add pinch of cayenne pepper and cardamom to filling for warming heat that adults appreciate. Include chopped walnuts or pecans for added texture and richness.
Kid-Friendly Fun
Max loves extra cinnamon and sugar with mini chocolate chips mixed into apple filling for extra sweetness. Serve with chocolate sauce alongside caramel for variety.
Fancy or Holiday Upgrade
Add dried cranberries and chopped pecans to filling for elegant presentation perfect for holiday entertaining. Serve with bourbon caramel sauce and vanilla bean ice cream for sophisticated dessert.
Equipment
- Large skillet for apple filling
- Deep pot or air fryer for cooking
- Thermometer for oil temperature
- Paper towels for draining
- Small bowls for egg wash
- Clean kitchen towels
Apple Pie Egg Rolls Storage Tips
Best Fresh
Serve immediately while hot and crispy for optimal texture contrast between crunchy exterior and warm filling. The crispy wrapper maintains best texture when enjoyed straight from fryer.
Fridge Storage
Store cooked rolls covered in refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheat in oven at 375°F to restore crispiness. Microwaving makes wrappers soggy, so oven reheating is essential.
Freezer Prep
Freeze assembled uncooked rolls on baking sheet, then transfer to bags for up to 3 months. Cook directly from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes to cooking time.
Make-Ahead Tips
Prepare apple filling and assemble rolls up to 4 hours ahead, keeping covered until ready to cook. The actual frying should be done just before serving for best results.
Hannah's Apple Pie Egg Rolls Tip
My most spectacular apple pie egg roll failure happened when I got impatient and tried to fry them at too high temperature during Max's birthday party, causing the wrappers to brown immediately while leaving the filling cold and the oil to splatter everywhere. Max watched in horror as his "apple pie sticks" turned into "burnt apple surprises" that were crispy outside but disappointingly cold inside, ruining the whole magical experience. The secret is maintaining proper oil temperature and patience with cooking time; rushing with high heat creates uneven results that look done but aren't heated through. This careful temperature control ensures your apple pie egg rolls achieve that perfect golden exterior while the apple filling becomes molten and delicious inside.
Apple Pie Egg Rolls FAQs
What exactly are apple pie egg rolls?
Apple pie egg rolls are dessert versions of traditional egg rolls, filled with spiced apple pie filling instead of savory ingredients. They combine the crispy texture of egg rolls with classic American apple pie flavors for a unique fusion dessert.
What are the six ways you can ruin apple pie filling?
Common mistakes include using too much liquid, under-seasoning, overcooking apples until mushy, not thickening properly, using wrong apple variety, or not letting filling cool before wrapping. Max has learned that proper preparation prevents soggy wrappers.
Why did McDonald's discontinue apple pie?
McDonald's still serves apple pies, though they've changed from fried to baked over the years for health reasons. The original fried version was beloved for its crispy exterior, similar to these homemade egg roll versions.
Should you cook apples before putting them in a pie?
For egg rolls, yes; pre-cooking apples ensures they're tender and removes excess moisture that could make wrappers soggy. This also allows better control over texture and prevents bursting during frying.
Fall Dessert Victory
Now you have the secret to creating these incredible apple pie egg rolls that transform classic fall flavors into crispy, handheld perfection with restaurant-quality results using simple techniques and accessible ingredients. This recipe proves that the most satisfying desserts often come from creative fusion ideas that surprise and delight everyone who tries them.
Ready for more fall fusion treats? Try our Cinnamon Swirl Apple Fritter Bread for tender quick bread with apple chunks and brown sugar glaze that delivers bakery-quality breakfast perfection, or explore our Cinnamon Apple Fritters for traditional fried apple desserts with crispy coating and tender centers that capture authentic donut shop flavors. For elegant apple desserts, our Puff Pastry Apple Tart provides flaky pastry with caramelized apples that creates impressive dinner party presentation.
Star rate this apple pie egg rolls recipe and share your crispy creations! Tag us @HannahCooking with #ApplePieEggRolls, we're dying to see your beautiful golden results and hear about your favorite fusion dessert moments!
Related
Looking for other recipes like apple pie egg rolls? Try these:
- Easy Banana Cobbler55 Minutes
- Fall Pumpkin Bars50 Minutes
- Coconut Cloud Cake50 Minutes
- Libby's Pumpkin Pie Recipe1 Hours 10 Minutes
Crispy Apple Pie Egg Rolls
Equipment
- Large skillet (For cooking apple filling)
- Deep pot or air fryer (For frying or air-frying egg rolls)
- Thermometer (To monitor oil temperature)
- Small bowl (For beaten egg wash)
- Paper towel roll (For draining excess oil)
- Clean kitchen towel (To keep wrappers moist)
Ingredients
- 12 egg roll wrappers - For crispy exterior
- 3 medium Granny Smith apples - Peeled and diced
- ⅓ cup brown sugar - Sweetens and caramelizes apples
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon - Warm spice
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg - Adds depth
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - Enhances apple flavor
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch - Thickens filling
- 2 tablespoon butter - For cooking apples
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice - Prevents browning
- 1 large egg, beaten - For sealing edges
- 2 cups vegetable oil - For frying
- powdered sugar - For dusting after frying
- caramel sauce - For dipping
Instructions
- Peel, dice apples, toss with lemon juice.
- Simmer apples with butter, sugar, spices, vanilla.
- Add cornstarch slurry, stir until glossy.
- Let apple mixture cool before wrapping.
- Place filling on wrapper, fold and seal with egg wash.
- Preheat to 350°F or air fryer to 375°F.
- Fry 2–3 minutes or air fry 8–10 minutes.
- Drain on paper towels, dust with powdered sugar.
- Enjoy warm with caram
Leave a Reply