Reading the words “apple pie” and “egg roll” together in a sentence, let alone as the name of a dessert, is the sort of thing that might break unsuspecting brains. However, when you think about it (especially with your pastry chef hat on) it makes a ton of sense. Because all we’re talking about is a crust and a fruit filling, and wonton wrappers are neither inherently sweet nor savory. They just are!

Anyway, that’s enough food philosophy for one day; let’s get into this apple pie egg roll recipe, because it is a winner. And those of us who consumed our weight in McDonald’s apple pies back in the day (when they were fried, not baked, and very crispy), will be interested because they’re what some people rightly liken this handheld dessert to. Panda Express also gave their take on apple pie egg rolls (temporarily) in 2023. The apple pie filling is the well-loved classic, while the crust is golden with a slight crunch, and kissed with just enough cinnamon and sugar, or as much as you want really.

This apple pie egg roll recipe should yield about a dozen rolls.

Ingredients

• 3 cups apples peeled and diced (approx. 3 apples)
• 4 Tbsp brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 4 tsp all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon + 1 additional Tbsp for sprinkling
• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp water
• Egg roll wrappers
• Oil for frying
• Caramel sauce (optional)

Directions

To make the filling, melt butter in a saucepan. Combine apples, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice in a bowl and mix well. Add the filling mix into the pan until the apples soften. Then add flour until the mixture reaches the desired consistency. The filling should be thick enough so that you’ll be able to add it in dollops to the egg roll wrappers. Distribute the filling evenly into the center of the wrappers and daub the edges with water to encourage the edges to stick together. You can roll these up as you would a burrito or, yes, an egg roll, making sure that they are fairly tight, but not so much that the filling will seep out of the ends.

Now for the frying. This recipe works well with a deep fryer (add enough oil to cover each roll), but you can also use an air fryer. Either works. If you decide to take the plunge and deep-fry, the oil should be heated to around 350F.

Begin adding the rolls to the oil and fry for roughly 3 to 5 minutes, or until they reach a golden brown color. Allow them to cool on a rack for a few minutes, and sprinkle each with a little granulated sugar and the remaining cinnamon you set aside.

Finally, the proverbial cherry on top comes in the form of caramel, which makes a great dipping sauce for these bad boys. Or maybe you’ll opt for a little ice cream on the side. You have options, which is great because this batch will not be your last.