If you love warm Apple Fritters you are going to love this recipe! It is so simple to make and the taste is amazing. There is nothing better than homemade apple fritters. A classic and delicious treat the whole family will enjoy!
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These apple fritters are so good. I think I could eat them every day. Surprisingly easy to make, you are going to love the crispy fritter filled with an amazing apple filling.
If you love this traditional apple fritter recipe, you’ve got to try more of my donut recipes! I love the fall flavors in these Maple Iced Donuts and these Chocolate Cake Donuts are always a hit!
Why You Will Love This Easy Apple Fritter Recipe
- Homemade Flavor. If you love apple fritters from your favorite bakery or donut shop, then you will love them freshly made at home! It doesn’t get any better than this!
- Decadent Treat. There’s just nothing like the crispy outside and tender inside of apple fritters that’s then finished with a sweet glaze.
- Holidays and Special Occasions: While these are easy enough to make any time they’re also a great addition to a holiday breakfast or any celebration.
Ingredients
- Baking Ingredients: You need the basics here! Flour gives the fritters structure, baking powder provides some lift creating a fluffier texture, while sugar sweetens to perfection! Don’t forget a bit of salt to bring everything together.
- Cinnamon: This warming spice pairs perfectly with the fresh apples. You can also use apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice if you want a slightly more complex flavor.
- Egg and Milk: Add richness and moisture to hydrate the flour and dissolve the sugar.
- Granny Smith Apples: My favorite apples for fritters! They’re not too sweet and maintain a tender yet firm texture when cooked.
- Vegetable Oil: For cooking! Use any type suitable for high heat frying.
- Apple Fritter Glaze: A mixture of powdered sugar, milk and vanilla make a simple glaze for the fritters.
Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredient list with quantities.
Variations
You can use the basic recipe of this fritter to change the recipe in a few ways.
- Non-dairy fritters: Swap the milk for a non-dairy version like almond milk, soy milk or oat milk.
- Gluten-free fritters: Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend.
- Swap the fruit: You can use other fresh fruit such as peach or strawberries to change up the flavors.
How to Make Apple Fritters
- Step 1: Making the Glaze: Mix the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk in a small bowl together until smooth.
- Step 2: Prep: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add the milk and egg to another medium bowl and whisk until combined.
- Step 3: Mix Together: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Stir in the apples.
- Step 4: Frying Fritters: Drop the mixture by a heaping tablespoon into your hot oil and fry until golden brown on both sides. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a plate lined with paper towels.
- Step 5: Dip in Glaze: Place the warm fritters one at a time into the glaze. Place on a baking sheet or a plate lined with parchment paper.
Expert Tips
- Fry in Batches: You want to keep the oil hot so your fritters don’t soak up tons of the frying oil. Make sure to just cook a few fritters at a time. This also makes it easier to flip them over.
- Heat the Oil: You want the oil to be hot before you begin frying. If you aren’t sure you can drop a small amount of batter into the pan. If it bubbles up immediately then it’s ready to go. If not, let it heat a bit longer and then test again.
- Drain Well: Let them sit on some paper towels to drain off any excess grease before you glaze them.
Serving Suggestions
These apple fritter donuts work great for dessert or a breakfast treat! As a dessert, I love to top them with ice cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, or even some chocolate chips sprinkled on top.
For breakfast or brunch, enjoy a batch of apple fritter donuts with more savory breakfast dishes such as my Breakfast Lasagna or this Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole.
For larger groups they pair great with easy to eat finger foods such as Breakfast Pizza, Blackberry Puff Pastry, and Chicken Biscuits.
Storage Directions
- Store Leftovers: If you happen to have extras you can store these fritters at room temperature or in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They should last about 2 to 3 days when they are stored at room temperature or about 1 week when stored in the refrigerator.
- Freeze: These fritters will freeze beautifully as long as you don’t glaze them. The glaze does not freeze very well and becomes sticky when thawed. It is best to wait to glaze the fritters after you have thawed them.
- Reheat: For best results reheat leftovers in the oven. Warm in a 350 degree oven for about 5 to 6 minutes, or until heated through. I like to add more glaze to the top of the fritter, since it is likely to melt off during the heating process.
Recipe FAQs
I do not recommend baking them. While you might prefer a healthier version so that you can avoid the frying, the result is just not the same. The batter is designed to be fried and baking it in the oven will leave you disappointed in the results.
I always use Granny Smith apples when making my fritters. I like these green apples because of the tartness of the apples works perfectly with the sweetness of the filling and the crispiness of the dough. You want to make sure to use an apple that is good for baking and cooking, even though you are not baking this dessert. Other apples that will work well with this apple fritter recipe are gala apples, Fuji, and honey crisp apple.
More Delicious Apple Dessert Recipes
And, here is a delicious Apple Pecan Coffee Cake from Great Grub, Delicious Treats
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Apple Fritters
Ingredients
For the Apple Fritter
- 1 cup flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 egg
- ½ cup milk
- 2 ¼ cup granny smith apples, peeled, chopped
- vegetable oil
For the Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3-4 tbsp milk
Instructions
For the Apple Fritter
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cinnamon together. Set aside.
- Add milk and egg to a medium bowl and whisk until combined.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Mix until combined.
- Stir in apples and then drop by heaping tablespoon into hot oil and fry both sides until golden brown.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a plate lined with paper towels.
- Once fritters are still a little warm, dip one fritter at a time into glaze. Place on a baking sheet or a plate lined with parchment paper.
For the Glaze
- Mix powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk together until smooth.
Video
Notes
- Fry in Batches: You want to keep the oil hot so your fritters don’t soak up tons of the frying oil. Make sure to just cook a few fritters at a time. This also makes it easier to flip them over.
- Heat the Oil: You want the oil to be hot before you begin frying. If you aren’t sure you can drop a small amount of batter into the pan. If it bubbles up immediately then it’s ready to go. If not, let it heat a bit longer and then test again.
- Drain Well: Let them sit on some paper towels to drain off any excess grease before you glaze them.
I love apple fritters. These are so easy and so yummy. Thank you for sharing your recipe!!
Could one bake these in the oven instead of frying.
Hi Margafret, yes you can. Line you basket with parchment paper and then brush lightly with oil. Drop about 1/4 cup onto the paper, don’t overcrowd, and then air fry at 400° for about 5-6 minutes on each side. Make sure to lightly spray or brush oil over the tops of each fritter before air frying. We hope you enjoy this recipe.