Arkansas Fried Pies
Hand-held pastries filled with sweetened dried fruit and fried until golden, a longstanding Ozark treat.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 60 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 310 kcal
Equipment
- •Rolling pin
- •Cast iron skillet
Nutrition
Per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 310 kcal
- fat
- 15
- carbs
- 42
- protein
- 3
- calories
- 310
Instructions
- 1
Simmer the dried apples in water until soft. Mash them with sugar and cinnamon until thick.
- 2
Work the shortening into the flour and salt until the mixture looks crumbly.
- 3
Gradually add cold water and shape the dough into a ball. Chill it for 20 minutes.
- 4
Roll the dough thin. Cut it into 5-inch rounds.
- 5
Spoon fruit filling onto one half of each round. Fold the dough over and press the edges with a fork.
- 6
Heat oil to 350°F in a cast-iron skillet.
- 7
Fry the pies for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.
- 8
Drain the pies and dust them with sugar while warm.
Chef's tips
Do not overfill the pies or they will burst open while frying. Dried peaches work as well as apples.
Storage
Store cooled pies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Reheating
Warm in a 300°F oven for 8 minutes to restore crispness.
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Overfilling the dough
- •Frying oil too hot, browning the crust before the filling heats through
Serving suggestions
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