Homemade Apple Fritters are filled with fresh apples and the warm flavors of fall. These crispy, deep-fried donuts, dipped in a sweet glaze, are drool-worthy! Whip up a batch of these easy apple fritters in under 20 minutes.
Along with my Apple Cider Donut Cake, this is one of my favorite Fall recipes!
Our easy Apple Fritters recipe is my favorite way to use the surplus of the fall season’s fresh picked apples. I love my annual family outing to the apple orchard, but we always come home with more fruit than will fit in the fridge. So I’m skipping the trip to the donut shop and frying old-fashioned apple fritters instead!
Don’t wait for summer to end before getting your fix of fried snacks and sweet treats. This apple fritter recipe is so easy and fast; each batch takes only a few minutes to fry!
I love apple fritters dipped in a sweet glaze for dessert, but no one is stopping you from eating them for breakfast! But if deep fried food doesn’t sit well first thing in the morning, my apple cider donuts, apple crisp, apple pie cinnamon roll cake, cinnamon apple baked oatmeal cups may go down better!
What Is An Apple Fritter
Apple fritters are a form of fried pastry made by mixing a batter with diced or apples. The batter is often sweetened and flavored with warm spices and then dropped by spoonfuls into hot oil.
Once fried, apple fritters are usually dusted with powdered sugar or glazed with a sweet icing, but taste delicious with a cinnamon sugar coating too. The result is a crispy, sweet exterior with a soft, fruity interior. Apple fritters are commonly enjoyed as a dessert, breakfast treat, or snack, and they can be found in bakeries, cafes, and doughnut shops.
Ingredients Notes
- All purpose flour
- Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness to the fritters, balancing the tartness of the Granny Smith apples. It also aids in caramelization, so the fritters are golden-brown in color when fried.
- Baking powder: Leavening agent that helps the fritters rise, making them light and fluffy rather than dense.
- Ground cinnamon: Cinnamon adds warmth and a cozy, spicy flavor that pairs perfectly with the apples. Feel free to add some ground ginger, cardamom, or a spice blend.
- Salt
- Whole milk: I recommend using whole milk. The fat in whole milk makes these fritters tender.
- Egg
- Unsweetened applesauce: Adds moisture and apple flavor without the extra sugar that sweetened applesauce would bring. It also helps reduce the need for extra fat, making the fritters slightly lighter.
- Granny Smith apples: These tart and firm apples provide the perfect contrast to the batter’s sweetness. They hold their shape well during frying, giving the fritters a satisfying bite and a burst of fresh apple flavor. My second apple preference is Honeycrisp apples, however, Gala, Fuji, or Golden Delicious will work as well. Make sure your apples are peeled, cored, and diced.
- Canola oil: Canola or vegetable oil are ideal for frying because they have a high smoke point and neutral flavor. Peanut oil is another great option. Avoid any oils with distinct flavors or low smoke points, like olive oil.
- Powdered sugar: Also known as confectioners’ sugar, is the base of the glaze. It dissolves easily and creates a smooth, sweet coating. Make sure to sift the sugar to ensures there are no lumps.
- Unsalted butter: Adds a rich, creamy flavor to the glaze.
- Vanilla extract
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Apple Fritters
- Make The Dry Mixture: Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- Make The Wet Mixture: Whisk together the milk, egg, and applesauce.
- Form The Fritter Batter: Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir until no lumps remain and the mixture resembles thick pancake batter. Fold the apples into the batter.
- Fry The Fritters: Add the batter, ⅓ cup at a time, to the hot oil and spread to flatten. Cook for 1-1 ½ minutes, flip the fritters over, and cook for another 1 – 1 ½ minutes or until dark golden brown.
- Cool: Remove the apple fritters from the hot oil and place them onto a paper towel-lined baking tray. Cool slightly before dipping them into the glaze.
- Make The Glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth and has the consistency of warm maple syrup.
- Dip The Desserts: Dip each fried apple fritter into the glaze and allow the glaze to set and harden before serving. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Apple fritter donuts are best served warm and fresh; they may turn soggy if they sit for too long. For a fun breakfast treat, dust them with powdered sugar, drizzle them with syrup, a glaze, or salted caramel sauce, or roll them in cinnamon sugar.
Serve On The Side: Serve your fried fritter donut with a side caramel sauce for dipping, a scoop of ice cream, or a dollop of whipped cream. You can even spread some magic shell on top. Now you’ve made a delicious dessert made even more decadent!
Deep-Fry Other Desserts: Still have hot oil? My deep-fried Oreos and deep fried cookie dough are delicious!
Tips & Variations
- If using an electric fryer with a basket: Do not drop the raw batter directly into the basket. Be sure the basket is lowered into the hot oil so you can gently add the apple fritter batter directly into the hot oil. You can use the basket to lift out the apple fritters once they have been fried.
- If using a heavy duty pot or dutch oven: Use a candy thermometer to keep track of the oil temperature, adjusting the heat to the pot as needed when adding or removing the apple fritters from the oil. You want to keep the oil temperature as consistent as possible at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Flatten The Fritters: When adding the batter to the oil, spread it out to a slightly flatter shape. This will help the apple fritters fry up evenly and not in the shape of a round dough ball.
- Don’t Overcrowd The Oil: The apple fritters need space to move and fry evenly.
- Create The Consistency: The glaze should not be too thick or too thin, but as close to the consistency of maple syrup as possible. You can add a couple extra tablespoons of powdered sugar to thicken the glaze, or a couple extra teaspoons of milk to thin the glaze as needed.
- Add A Little Lemon: Mix the apples with a little lemon juice to prevent browning and add a tangy taste to balance the sweetness.
Proper Storage
- To Store: These apple fritters are best served the same day they are made. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- To Reheat: Reheat in the oven or an air fryer until heated through.
Best Apples For Apple Fritters
You can use any type of apple in these fritters, although Granny Smith is my favorite. I prefer one that is tart, slightly sweet and crisp, but you can substitute a Honeycrisp or Pink Lady variety if you prefer as these types will hold the shape well and not release too much moisture when fried. You could even use a mixture of different apples in your fritters for different flavors!
Can You Bake Apple Fritters
No, you cannot bake apple fritters. Apple fritter recipes are designed specifically for frying in oil. The batter is too thin to bake or cook in an air fryer effectively. Trust me, home made apple fritters have to be fried!
Can You air Fry Apple Fritters
While there are various recipes for Air Fryer Apple Fritters, this is not one of them. The batter used in this recipe is too runny and needs to be fried in hot oil. This technique also makes for the crispiest and most delicious fritters, in my opinion!
If you placed these in the air fryer the batter would run off the apples before setting. You need a thicker batter for the air fryer. However, these are delicious as leftovers reheated using the air fryer!
Other Easy Fall Desserts
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Apple Fritters
Ingredients
Apple Fritters
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 1 large egg room temperature
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 3 cups granny smith apples peeled, cored and diced into ¼-½ inch pieces (from 2 large apples)
- Canola oil for frying
Glaze
- 2½ cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5-6 tablespoons whole milk start with 5 tablespoons and add the extra tablespoon if need for consistency of the glaze
Instructions
- Heat the canola oil in an electric fryer, or heavy duty pot, to 375°F. Line a large rimmed baking tray with paper towels and a wire rack. Set aside.Canola oil for frying
- Whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.1¾ cups all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt
- In a small bowl whisk together the whole milk, large egg and unsweetened applesauce.¾ cup whole milk, 1 large egg, ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- Add the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients. Stir together with a rubber spatula just until combined and no lumps remain. The batter should resemble thick pancake batter.
- Fold the diced apples into the batter just until evenly distributed.3 cups granny smith apples
- Once the oil is hot, gently add ⅓ cup batter and spread it out to a slightly flatter shape. This will help the apple fritters fry up evenly and not in the shape of a round dough ball. Repeat with 2-3 more additions of batter, ensuring not to overcrowd the oil. The apple fritters need space to move and fry evenly. Cook for 1-1 ½ minutes. Gently flip the apple fritters over to the second side and cook for another 1 – 1 ½ minutes or until the apple fritters are dark golden brown.Note: If using an electric fryer with a basket, do not drop the raw batter directly into the basket. Be sure the basket is lowered into the hot oil so you can gently drop the apple fritter batter directly into the hot oil. You can use the basket to lift out the apple fritters once they have been fried.
- Using a large slotted spoon, or metal spider, remove the apple fritters from the hot oil and place them onto the prepared baking tray. Allow the apple fritters to cool slightly before dipping them into the glaze. Repeat until all the apple fritters have been fried.
- To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, melted and cooled butter, vanilla extract and 5 tablespoons whole milk until the glaze is smooth. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon whole milk if needed to get the glaze to a consistency of warm maple syrup.2½ cups powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 5-6 tablespoons whole milk
- Dip each fried apple fritter into the glaze, covering both sides, then place each fritter back onto the wire rack to allow the glaze to set and harden.
- Once the glaze has set the apple fritters can be plated, in a single layer, and served.
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: These apple fritters are best served the same day they are made. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 24 hours.
- To Reheat: Reheat in the oven or in an air fryer until heated through.
- Use a candy thermometer to keep track of the oil temperature, adjusting the heat to the pot as needed when adding or removing the apple fritters from the oil. You want to keep the oil temperature as consistent as possible at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- When adding the batter to the oil, spread it out to a slightly flatter shape. This will help the apple fritters fry up evenly and not in the shape of a round dough ball.
- The apple fritters need space to move and fry evenly.
- The glaze should not be too thick or too thin, but as close to the consistency of maple syrup as possible. You can add a couple extra tablespoons of powdered sugar to thicken the glaze, or a couple extra teaspoons of milk to thin the glaze as needed.
- You can mix the apples with a little lemon juice to prevent browning and add a tangy taste to balance the sweetness.
Can you use skim milk?