Apple Fritters are luscious deep-fried donuts filled with apples and cinnamon and drizzled with an easy three-ingredient glaze. You can have these scrumptious warm apple fritters in your hands in less than thirty minutes. Make sure you stash a couple for yourself, or you might blink your eyes, and they will be gone. These are one of my darling daughter’s favorite goodies. She can not get enough of them!
We are just crazy about apple recipes. But honestly, who isn’t? After all, they keep coming out with more and more delicious apples. This recipe, Apple Dump Cake, Apple Strudel, and Apple Cookies are just a few of our favorites.
Wouldn’t these taste fabulous with a hot cup of coffee? These delectable Apple Fritters are so easy and quick. They can be all yours in about thirty minutes. Your family and friends are going to love them. They are best enjoyed shortly after you cook them, but they will stay up to two days, covered loosely with paper towels in a brown paper bag.
Why this recipe works!
- Homemade warm, sweet apple fritters that are better than your local bakery.
- Only wholesome natural ingredients with no artificial colors or preservatives.
- Easy and quick to mix and fry.
- The fritters can be fried up in a fryer, Dutch oven, or heavy stock pot.
How to make Apple Fritters
First, peel, core, and dice a couple of Granny Smith or Honey Crisp apples. I like to dice them somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 inch. That way, you get a good taste of that sweet apple. Now grab a large bowl and add the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Whisk it around and get it all mixed together. Make a well in the middle and add the milk, egg, and applesauce. Now stir the mixture just until it is combined.
Fill a Dutch oven or large heavy stock pot with about 1 1/2 inches of canola oil. Use a candy thermometer and bring the oil to 375 degrees. Carefully drop about 1/4 cup of batter per fritter into the hot oil. I like to spread the batter a little while I am pouring it so that the fritter does not end up too fat and so it cooks all the way through. Cook each side until golden brown. It takes about 2 minutes per side. Remove to paper towels to drain.
Once they have cooled, whisk together the milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Finally, dunk the fritters in the glaze, turning over to make sure each side is coated. Place on wire racks to air dry and drip.
Can you bake these fritters?
This is a question that I am asked quite frequently. Yes, I am sure there are lots of great recipes out there for baked apple fritters; however, this particular recipe needs to be fried. Do your best to keep the oil at 375 degrees so the fritter absorbs less of the oil.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Don’t over-mix the batter, as it may make the fritters tough.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying so the donuts cook better, and the oil temperature is easier to maintain.
- Use a candy thermometer to track the temperature of the oil.
- A Dutch oven or heavy pot helps the oil hold its temperature.
- Try to maintain a constant temperature of 375 degrees. When you add the batter, the temperature will drop, so you must increase the heat a tad. Likewise, when you remove the fritters from the oil, the temperature will increase, so you need to turn the heat down a tad.
- Remove the fried fritters to paper towels to drain.
- Store the cooled cooked fritters wrapped loosely in paper towels in a brown paper bag.
More apple recipes you will love!
Apple Fritter Recipe
Ingredients
Apple Fritters
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/3 cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 3 tablespoons applesauce
- 2 large Granny Smith apples or Honey Crisp apples peeled cored and diced
- canola oil or vegetable oil for frying
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in medium bowl. Make a well in the center and add 1/3 cup milk, eggs and applesauce. Stir just to combine. Fold in apples.
- Heat 1 1/2 inches of oil in heavy skillet, dutch oven or deep fryer to 375 degrees. Drop about 1/4 cup of batter per fritter into hot oil; spreading it out as you drop. Cook each side until golden brown; approximately 2 minutes per side. Use a slotted spoon to remove to paper towels to drain.
- Whisk together 1/4 cup milk, powdered sugar and vanilla. Dunk each fritters in the glaze turning over to make sure both sides coated. Place on wire racks to air dry and drip.
Notes
- Don’t over-mix the batter as it may make the fritters tough.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying so the donuts cook better and the oil temperature is easier to maintain.
- Use a candy thermometer to track the temperature of the oil.
- A dutch oven or heavy pot helps the oil hold its temperature.
- Try to maintain a constant temperature of 375 degrees. When you add the batter the temperature will drop so you must increase the heat a tad. Likewise when you remove the fritters from the oil the temperature will increase so you need to turn the heat down a tad.
- Remove the fried fritters to paper towels to drain.
- Store the cooled cooked fritters wrapped loosely in paper towels in a brown paper bag.
Nutrition
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Jodi
Could you bake them?
Beth Pierce
No sorry! That will not work.
John
Need to scale back on the apples. Recipe could be a little more specific on the amount of apples to use. I guess my large apples were jumbo apples.
Phyllis
Can these be cooked in an air fryer?
Beth Pierce
No sorry they can not be.
Tami
Can I refrigerate the dough the night before frying them??
Beth Pierce
No sorry that does not work.
Becky
This recipe is amazing! So easy and delicious! My family loved them, and they are so easy to make, I will be making them often!!! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Becky! So glad that you and your family liked them! They are delicious!
Karen Taylor
Excellent recipe! Tried them today and they are delicious!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Karen! So glad that you liked them!
heather smith
Can I substitute almond milk for milk?
Beth Pierce
I am not sure as I do not cook often with almond milk
Lee
Try apple cider and a pinch of nutmeg, forget the milk same with the glaze.
Cathy
Chopped apples or applesauce? The recipe says to chop apples but the directions say to add applesauce?
Beth Pierce
It calls for applesauce and chopped apples. Please scroll all the way down to the recipe and instructions.
Grace
Can we skip the applesauce?
Beth Pierce
Yes you can.
Nikki
Amazing. Used almond milk and flax eggs for a perfect vegan version!
Thank you!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Nikki! So glad that you liked it!
Miss Rochelle
Now that is what an apple fritter is suppose to look and taste like. I’m not sure it is a “good” thing, I live alone! I sauté honey crisps cut in small chunks and smashed the rest to have the applesauce measurement between the two. Perfect recipe and tips! Thanks!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Rochelle! So glad that you like them! We love them!!
Bonnie
Just made these. Don’t know what I did wrong but the batter seemed too thick. I couldn’t spread them. They got done on the outside but not the inside. I wound up cutting some in half and putting them back in. I used a cast iron pan with candy thermometer and when the temp got to 350 the oil started smoking, hence fritters got too dark. It seemed to work best at about 325. Beyond all my mishaps, the flavor was great and hubby liked them. I’ve tried a couple other recipes, but this one is the best. Will definitely try it again!
Beth Pierce
What kind of oil did you use? I use vegetable or canola and it does not smoke.
AmeliaJade
I made these gluten free! I followed the recipe exact but used a 1:1 gluten free flour. These turned out amazing! My family can all have gluten, and I can’t. Recipes are hit and miss and they’re always skeptical. Not only were they raving, but my oldest son said they were better than any apple fritter he’s gotten at a bakery, ever. That is high praise for a gluten free pastry. They all harassed me until I made a second batch. I cook and bake a lot, always experimenting. This is top of my list as far as favorites I’ve tried recently. Thank you!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure. So glad that you liked them and were able to adapt them to your needs.
Bob
Made these today… (Second week of fall…) Tasted great!
I used a Granny Smith and a Macintosh, nice blend…
I also used a few drops of lemon juice in with the apples to keep them from browning and I added a teaspoon of pre-mixed cinnamon sugar to the apples too. (that helped them start juicing then set that aside while I made the batter.
When I mixed the flour, baking powder, sugar and cinnamon, I didn’t have to add as much milk…
I used a cast iron pan to fry in – So, when I put the batter into the hot oil, I dropped a tablespoon of batter, at a time, Then put each new tablespoon of batter next to the last one, after a little “skin” forms on the first. (It makes them look like store bought.) Or, like “pull apart” donuts… One more hint is to “baste” the top of the donuts with the hot oil before flipping them.
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tips Bob. I am sure the readers will appreciate them.
nathalie
I just made these. They were simple to make. For tge glaze, I had to double up on the milk and have a lot if leftover glaze, which I am hoping will be OK for next batch. They taste wonderful. Thanks for this sinfully delicious recipe 😋😜
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome. I would store the glaze in the fridge.
JoAnne
I made these last night and my husband loved them. I just wondered how can you keep them crispy like when first made, they got soft overnight.
Beth Pierce
That is where the doughnut shops have the edge with their glass cases. I wish I had a good suggestion like that.
Juanita
Thank you for sharing! My daughter and the grandkids went apple picking over the weekend. The grandkids have already called and said “grandma, will you make us something good with our apples”? This will be the perfect recipe to fulfill their request! 😊
Beth Pierce
Thanks Juanita! Enjoy!!
Sara E Martin
Perfect. I was really craving apple fritters but don’t want to leave the house. They come together quickly and easily.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Sara! So glad that you liked them!
Nicole
Let me start by saying at 35 years old, I’ve never had an apple fritter (even though I worked at Dunkin Donuts in my teenage years). This recipe was soooo good! I love the flavor or the dough! The changes I made, that were suggestions in another recipe, is I cooked the apples with some sugar and a little cinnamon prior and let them cool. Therefore, I cut the cinnamon down in the recipe but I didn’t the sugar. I used 1 Granny Smith apple and 1 honeycrisp (my son ate the other granny smith). The only thing I’d change the next time I make this is that I’ll use 2 honeycrisp, or the equivalent of it, instead of any granny smith. I really dislike tart things and the tartness of the granny smith really overpowered the whole thing, to me. But, other than the Granny Smith issue, for me, this recipe is perfect!
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the advice on the Honeycrisp apples. They are delicious!
Catherine
I have searched for a long, long time for a delicious but simple Apple fritter recipe and this is it! Over time, I’ve tried a few but couldn’t get that bakery type of fritter as what I was used to buying. Look no further! I made these today and they are so great and I can’t wait to make them for my daughter and grandkids when they come to visit. Not to mention, neighbors enjoyed the fruits of my labor this morning and are begging for the recipe. . I used Honeycrisp apples and honeycrisp chunk applesauce (a new item at Safeway). The most difficult part of making these was to keep the oil at the right temperature which you really have to keep an eye on. This is a keeper of a recipe! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Beth Pierce
You are so very welcome Catherine! I am so glad that you and your neighbors liked them. I often share things with my neighbors too!