Easy Apple Fritters Recipe

What happens when an apple meets a fried doughnut? You get these incredibly delicious homemade Apple Fritters!

Apple Fritter ingredients

Most of these simple ingredients are pantry staples you’re likely to already have on hand.

• Apples – In my opinion, Red Delicious are the best apples for these fritters, but you can also use Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith apples.
• Flour – We need something to hold that delicious batter together, and all-purpose flour will do just that.
• Ground cinnamon – Apples and cinnamon go hand in hand. To bring the full effect of fall flavor, we add some ground cinnamon to the batter.
• Baking powder – Baking powder will help that batter to get a nice rise so that it’s perfectly fluffy
• Salt – I like to use fine sea salt for this recipe. Different salts measure differently, so make sure you’re using a fine salt here.
• Brown sugar – Besides the apples having their own sweetness, we need a little extra help from sugar. We use brown sugar because it has that deliciously sweet molasses flavor.
• Lemon juice – Lemon not only adds a tart flavor to this apple fritters recipe, but it also helps to prevent the apples from browning.
• Whole milk – We will use milk for the fritter batter, but also to make the icing that we drizzle on top.
• Large Eggs – Eggs act as a binding agent which we need to hold everything together, but they also add moisture to our apple fritter batter.
• Butter – I like to add some melted butter to the batter. It helps to make sure this batter is buttery and delicious.
• Vegetable oil – This is what we will use for frying. Vegetable oil is the easiest to use to ensure we maintain the correct oil temperature.
• Powdered sugar – These sweet treats wouldn’t be complete without a deliciously sweet powdered sugar icing to drizzle on top!
• Vanilla extract – Just to add a little flavor to our icing, we need a splash of vanilla.

Variations

For these, you can switch up the toppings based on your preferences. Or at a gathering, you can offer the toppings as options at a doughnut bar.

• Cinnamon Sugar – If you prefer a crunchy cinnamon sugar exterior, stir together 1 cup white sugar with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Toss hot apple fritters in the sugar mixture. You can also dust them with powdered sugar. 
• Brown Sugar – I like using brown sugar for a slightly molasses taste and deeper flavor- light or brown sugars work. You can use white sugar as well. 
• Glaze – A simple glaze is also totally acceptable.
• Powdered Sugar – As is a light dusting of powdered sugar. If you go this route, wait to dust until you are ready to serve. If you do it before, the sugar will absorb into the fritter and get cakey.
• Spices – You can also add other spices to the batter. Nutmeg and cloves are also good options.

How to Make Apple Fritters

1. Combine dry ingredients. Start by sifting your dry ingredients together in one large bowl. 
2. Mix wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar with your wet ingredients and mix completely. Slowly add in the dry mixture and mix until combined.
3. Add the apples. Fold in the chopped apples, making sure to coat each apple with the batter mixture.
4. Fry. Drop spoonfuls of the coated apples into the hot oil in the pot or Dutch Oven and fry until golden brown. You may want to use a thermometer to make sure the oil remains at the correct temperature.
5. Transfer. Once they reach the golden brown color, take them out of the oil with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a cooling rack over paper towels.

Common Questions About Apple Fritters

Storage

While these fritters are best served freshly fried, you can also store them.

Make Ahead

You can make the batter ahead of time and refrigerate it until overnight.

Refrigerator

You can store these apple fritters in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay for up to three days.

Freezer

You can freeze cooked apple fritters in an airtight plastic bag for up to 4 months. However, when thawed, they might be a little gummy. You can try to revive them by giving them another quick fry. You will never be able to match the deliciousness of a freshly fried apple fritter. 

More Easy Apple Desserts

If you’re a fan of apples, you’re going to fall head over heels for these amazing recipes that use apples.

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Homemade Apple Fritters have never been easier than with this apple fritter recipe! Surrounded by a cakey batter and drizzled with glaze, they're perfectly sweet and delicious!  

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 25 minutes mins

Servings: 10

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Equipment

• Plastic Airtight Containers
• Wire Cooling Rack
• Whisk
• Stand Mixer
• Apple Corer & Peeler
• Sifter
• Parchment Paper

Ingredients

Apple Fritters:

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2/3 cup whole milk
• 2 eggs , lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon butter , melted
• 3 cups apples , peeled, cored and chopped
• Vegetable oil , for frying

Topping:

• 1 ¼  cups  powdered sugar
• ¼  teaspoon  vanilla
• 3-6  teaspoons  milk

Instructions

• Sift together flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whisk together brown sugar, lemon juice, whole milk, eggs and melted butter.
• Slowly add dry mixture until just combined.
• Add chopped apples, folding by hand.Heat vegetable oil over high heat until it reaches 350-375 degrees.
• Drop apple mixture by the spoonful unto hot oil.
• Brown on both side, approximately 2-3 minutes.
• Drain on a paper towel lined plate.In a separate bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla and milk until a drizzle-able consistency.
• Place apple fritters on parchment paper or cooling rack and drizzle with powdered sugar icing. See notes for alternate cinnamon sugar topping. You can also dust the powdered sugar icing with even more powdered sugar like pictured here.
• Eat hot or room temperature. Store in an airtight plastic container.
• If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was.

Video

Notes

If you prefer a crunchy cinnamon sugar exterior, stir together 1 cup white sugar with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Toss hot apple fritters in the sugar mixture.
You can also dust them with powdered sugar. 

Nutrition

Calories: 243 kcal, Carbohydrates: 52 g, Protein: 4 g, Fat: 3 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 38 mg, Sodium: 149 mg, Potassium: 175 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 35 g, Vitamin A: 130 IU, Vitamin C: 2.3 mg, Calcium: 67 mg, Iron: 1.1 mg

Calories: 243

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple fritter

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