Apple Fritters are our guilty pleasure in the fall. These super easy little fried donuts are packed with apple chunks and slathered with vanilla glaze. I can’t think of anything better on a fall weekend morning than to kick back with a cup of coffee and a plate of freshly made apple fritters!
Apple Fritters
When I stroll into a doughnut shop between the months of September through November, you’d better believe I’m ordering an apple fritter! They’re one of my most favorite treats, especially during the fall season. With that being said, this homemade recipe is so much better than anything I’ve tried from a shop.
These apple fritters are very easy to make, and the batter comes together in just a few minutes! Honestly, the hardest part is probably peeling and dicing the apples and then waiting on the oil to heat up. And that’s not even difficult, it’s just a bit annoying… Because you’ll be so ready to enjoy an apple fritter, you won’t want to be patient! However, I promise the little time and effort required here is so very worth it.
Not only are these fritters flavored to perfection, they’re also fried to perfection, too! They’re wonderfully crunchy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside, making for a perfect bite every time. Plus, the fresh Granny Smith apples are soft and bursting with flavor as well. The way they’re nestled into the dough of the fritters is unbelievably good.
Ingredients You Need
- Flour – All-purpose flour is what you’ll need.
- Sugar – Plain white granulated sugar is called for here, nothing fancy!
- Baking Powder – This helps the fritters stay fluffy and not too dense.
- Salt – Just a pinch!
- Cinnamon – You can add an extra pinch if you really want the cinnamon flavor to stand out.
- Nutmeg – This is my not-so-secret ingredient that makes the fritters just taste like fall!
- Allspice – The complexity of flavors in allspice helps to create a more in-depth flavor profile.
- Milk – Whole milk works best!
- Eggs – large eggs will work
- Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract will always give you the best flavor.
- Butter – Unsalted is best to control the amount of sodium.
- Granny Smith Apples – These are the best apples to use in this recipe, as they provide a tartness that balances all the sweetness.
- Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice is perfect for tossing the apples.
How to Make Apple Fritters
Start off by making the batter! Prepare the apples as instructed, then toss them in some lemon juice and set aside. Then, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla, and sugar. Sift in the dry ingredients, add butter, and combine everything until just incorporated. Fold in the apples, then set the batter aside.
Time to preheat the oil! Fill your Dutch oven with about 2-3 inches of oil. The oil should be 375°F. While it’s heating up, line a cooling wire rack with paper towels.
Stir the batter once more, then carefully drop about 1/4 cup of the batter into the hot oil.
Frying the fritters in batches of 3-4 at a time, be sure to not overcrowd the pan! Also, they only need to fry for about 2-3 minutes per side. Once fried, place them on the prepared cooling rack.
Create the glaze by placing the powdered sugar in a bowl, then heating up the heavy cream and vanilla in the microwave. Sift the powdered sugar and warmed cream together. Spread the glaze over the top of the fritters while they’re still hot.
Tips for the Best Apple Fritters
- Prepare the apple fritter batter first, then start preheating the oil. This will give time for all the ingredients in the batter to come together and give apples a chance to release some natural juices. Give the batter another stir before dropping the batter in oil.
- Heat the oil to 375°F and then give the oil a couple of minutes to reheat between the batches.
- Fry the fritters in batches of 3-4 so the pan doesn’t get overcrowded and the oil cools too much.
- Don’t use a scoop to drop the batter, but rather a spoon or a measuring cup. A scoop will leave the donuts round and they won’t cook all the way through inside.
- Make the glaze while the fritters are frying and glaze the fritters while they are hot. Don’t glaze room temperature fritters or the glaze won’t melt and spread on the fritter.
- You can glaze them on both sides or just on one, it’s up to you.
How to Store Apple Fritters
If you happen to have any of these sweet bites leftover, you can keep them at room temperature for a day or two. If you need to store them any longer, make keep them refrigerated. Make sure to store the fritters in an air-tight container no matter where you store them. Like a container with a paper towel on the bottom and close it air-tight.
More Delicious Donut Recipes:
Pumpkin Spiced Latte Baked Donuts – This baked donuts recipe features pumpkin, spices, and coffee flavors and makes the perfect fall breakfast treat
Glazed Pumpkin Donuts – Soft baked pumpkin donuts dipped in a sweet, cinnamon glaze
Maple Bacon Donuts – Easy homemade baked donuts made with bacon and maple syrup inside
Apple Pie Baked Donuts – These delicious cake-like doughnuts are made with apple pie filling throughout and topped with some cinnamon sugar mixture.
Apple Fritters
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 2-4 tbsp white granulated sugar to taste
- 2 tsp baking powder
- pinch salt
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground allspice
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp butter melted
- 2 Granny Smith apples peeled, cores and diced
- 1-2 tsp lemon juice to toss apples
Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream warmed
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
Prepare batter:
- Peel, core, and dice apples into small pieces. Toss apples with some lemon juice and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and sugar just until combines.
- Sift in flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. Start whisking the dry and wet ingredients together and pour in melted butter. Whisk until the ingredients are just incorporated.
- Fold in apples until they are evenly spread through the batter and set the batter aside.
Preheat the oil:
- Fill a Dutch oven with oil about 2-3 inches up the side. (Or preheat your fryer if using.) Heat the oil to 375° over medium heat.
- Line a cooling wire rack with paper towels and place it inside a baking sheet.
- Stir the batter one more time and carefully drop about 1/4 cup of batter into the hot oil. Fry fritters in batches of 3-4.
- Let them fry for about 2-3 minutes per side. Make sure to use metal spatula or metal tongs to flip and take out the fritters. Take fritters out onto the prepared cooling rack.
Glaze:
- Place powdered sugar in a bowl and heat up heavy cream and vanilla extract in a microwave for just a few second. (It should be just not, don't heat for too long or it will boil over.)
- Stir powdered sugar and warmed cream together until glaze if formed.
- Spread the glaze all over the top of the fritters while they are still hot.
- NOTE: if you want to glaze the fritters on top and bottom, double the amount of glaze.
Nutrition
Darla says
Yum! Love apple fritters!