Fresh, Warm Apple Jacks
Nothing says homemade quite like eating fresh, warm apple jacks. These take a bit more work than some other recipes you may find, but this homemade apple jacks recipe is really worth it. I giggled when I read my mom’s recipe. If your recipe calls for screen wire, there’s your sign! From brown paper bags to screen wire, these are down home recipes straight from my sweet mama’s country kitchen.
A Peck Bucket Full
I have realized one of the differences between me as a cook and my mom as a cook. I want to know exact details for recipes. My mom is such a good cook she just does it naturally and doesn’t need the details. For example, when I asked mom how many apples to use for the recipe she said, “I can’t tell. I just cook how many apples I have. I’ve done a peck bucket full before.” So that’s why my advice in the recipe is to use 5-10, or whatever you want. Go for a bucket if you are really ambitious! I’m confident it will turn out just fine regardless.
Summer Days and Mom’s Kitchen
Apple jacks are my favorite dessert that my mom makes. They taste so fresh and I’ve never found any jacks to beat them. They remind me of summer days and my mom’s kitchen, and times when I was younger and didn’t have to be a grown up.
The delicious apples and the crispy edges are just perfect for a handheld dessert. They are so filling, but you will need to eat at least two. Trust me! As a dinner dessert or for breakfast in the morning, these are just fantastic. This homemade apple jacks recipe can’t be beat!
Apple Jacks
Apple Jacks
Ingredients
- 2 cups self-rising flour
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1/3 cup oil
- 5-10 apples, peeled and sliced for drying
- sugar
- cinnamon
- Crisco solid shortening for frying
Instructions
- Peel and slice 5-10 apples, or however many you want. Any filling you have left over you can freeze, so don't worry about having too many apples. Use Gala or Winesap (mom's favorites).
- Spread apple slices on a piece of screen wire (or a drying rack) and put them outside in the sunshine to dry. You want the air to be able to get through and dry them. If you don't have handy screen wire laying around or a drying rack, you can place the apples on a cookie sheet but it will take them longer to dry.
- Once apple slices have dried out, take them back inside and place them in a pan with about an inch of water.
- Cook apple slices on low heat until tender.
- Add sugar and cinnamon to taste.
- Next, mix the first 3 ingredients (flour, milk, and oil) to make the dough (your crust).
- Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough.
- Use your hands to separate the dough into medium sized circles (about 4-5 inches across). You want each circle large enough to fold over after adding the filling.
- Add about two large tablespoons of your cooked apple filling onto the middle of each circle of dough.
- Fold one side of the circle over the filling and to the other side. Pinch the edges together all the way around the side you folded together so the filling will not fall out during frying.
- Continue until you have all the apple jacks folded over filling and ready to fry.
- Put a large spoonful of Crisco solid shortening in a frying pan on medium heat.
- When the grease is hot, place 2 or 3 jacks in the pan. DO NOT CROWD the jacks.
- Fry for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Remove from the pan, let them cool a bit, and then enjoy as soon as possible!
Notes
Just remember, calories don’t count when you are eating Apple Jacks!