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Fried and glazed to perfection, these Apple Fritters are here to get you ready for Fall! They’re wonderfully sweet, spiced with just the right amount of cinnamon, and rich with fresh apple flavor.
As much as I love that pumpkin spice flavor, the warm and cozy feeling I get from desserts like these apple fritters just can’t be beat. The consistency of these fritters is also downright delicious, and could go toe to toe with any donut shop. Each bite is perfect since the outside is crunchy from being fried, while the inside is still SO warm, soft and fluffy. And when you get a good amount of fresh spiced apples in the mix, too? Swoon!
Ingredients for Apple Fritters
- Flour – All-purpose should do the trick.
- Sugar – All you need is white granulated sugar.
- Baking powder – This will help the dough stay nice and fluffy!
- Ground cinnamon – If you really want this flavor to stand out, you can toss in an extra sprinkle.
- Salt
- Eggs – They can be room temperature or cold.
- Milk – Whole milk works best.
- Apples – I like to use Granny Smith apples, as they’re sour enough to balance out all the sweetness.
- Canola oil – This works best for frying.
For the glaze, you’ll need:
- Powdered sugar – This can NOT be substituted with any other sugar.
- Vanilla – This will help enhance both the sweetness and the overall depth of flavor.
- Milk – Water can be substituted if you’d prefer.
How to Make Apple Fritters Step by Step
- Make the batter. Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl then whisk together wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Add the chopped apples and fold into batter until evenly distributed.
- Heat frying oil. In a large heavy-bottom Dutch oven, or similar, heat oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, taking care to not overheat the oil.
- Fry the apple fritters. Drop the batter by heaping spoonful into the hot oil. Allow to come to a golden brown (about 2 minutes) flip it and brown the other side. Do not crowd the pan. Once the fritters are done, place them on a wire rack to cool completely while you finish the others.
- Make the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until desired consistency is achieved.
- Finish off the apple fritters. Drizzle the glaze on top of the apple fritters.
Apple Fritter Variations
- Try different apple variations. Honeycrisp apples, gala apples, or another favorite apple variety of yours would be wonderful in this.
- Use a different fruit. Blueberries or peaches are really nice substitutions. Just use 1-2 cups of diced fruit in place of the apples.
FAQs
The best way to ensure your oil is at the right temperature is to invest in a frying/candy thermometer and clip it on the side of your pot. You have to keep monitoring it to make sure the temperature doesn’t get too high or too low.
Yes, this recipe is intended to be deep-fried. There is no other way to make these.
Storage Instructions
The apple fritters really are best fresh, and it’s unlikely that you’ll have any leftovers. But if you do, store apple fritters in an airtight container. They will keep for 2 days at room temperature, up to 7 days in the fridge, or up to 2 months in the freezer.
To reheat, the best is an air fryer or an oven. A microwave will just make them soggy!
Serving Suggestions
These apple fritters would be most excellently served with an apple crisp macchiato or a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew to really get that Fall feeling going.
More Apple Cinnamon-Spiced Treats
- Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread
- Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll-Ups
- Rustic Apple Pie
- Salted Caramel Apple Tarts
- Apple Dump Cake
Apple Fritters
Equipment
Ingredients
For the apple fritters:
- 1 cup (125 g) flour
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup (79 ml) milk
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, diced into ¼ inch pieces (2-3 cups)
- 3-4 cups (710 ml) Canola oil
For the glaze:
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 tablespoons milk
- Optional garnish: powdered sugar
Instructions
- Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Set this aside.1 cup (125 g) flour, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon salt
- In a separate small bowl, gently beat the eggs and milk together. Pour this into the dry mixture and stir until just combined. Stir in the apple pieces.2 eggs, ⅓ cup (79 ml) milk, 2 Granny Smith apples
- Heat the oil in a large pot to 375 °F (191 °C). (I cannot stress this enough – don’t overheat the oil or the fritters will fry SO quickly and the outside and leave the inside gooey and uncooked.)3-4 cups (710 ml) Canola oil
- Drop the batter (try to flatten it out as you pour) by heaping spoonful into the hot oil. Depending on the thickness of your batter, you may want to flatten it out a little, so the fritter is not too thick. Allow to come to a golden brown (about 2 minutes) flip it and brown the other side. Do not crowd the pan.
- Remove each fritter as it is golden brown all over, to a plate lined with paper towels or a baking rack over a cookie sheet.
- Prepare the glaze by mixing together the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. You may want to add more or less milk than required to achieve your perfect consistency.1 ½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 3 tablespoons milk
- Dip or drizzle glaze over each apple fritter then allow them to cool a bit.
This has to be my husbands favorite item at the donut shop but it seems they never have enough apple in them for him. These he said are the best he ever ate. AND I can make them smaller. The ones at the donut shop are so large! This recipe is a great addition to our fall menu. THANK YOU