Apple Fritters are light and fluffy deep fried apple cinnamon donuts dipped in a powdered sugar glaze. A scrumptious breakfast treat or dessert that is really quick and easy to make.
Love apple desserts? This Fresh Apple Cake and Apple Cobbler are a few of our favorites that we enjoy making all year long. Add a scoop of ice cream for a decadent dessert for entertaining. We also love this Apple Fritter Cake for all of that apple cinnamon goodness!
Apple fritters are impossible to resist made with fresh apples and just a few simple ingredients. They are quickly fried and dipped in a sweet powdered sugar glaze, perfect for Sunday mornings.
Ingredients Needed:
All purpose flour
Sugar
Baking Powder
Kosher Salt
Ground Cinnamon
Apples: Gala Apples, Honeycrisp Apples or Granny Smith Apples
Orange Juice or lemon juice
Milk
Large Eggs
Butter
Vanilla Extract
Vegetable Oil
For the Glaze:
Powdered Sugar
Milk
Vanilla Extract
How to Make Apple Fritters:
In a large bowl, add the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, kosher salt and cinnamon. Whisk until combined.
Peel, core and dice apples.
Place apples in a bowl and drizzle with orange juice. Stir until combined, set aside.
Into the flour mixture, add the wet ingredients: milk, eggs, melted butter and vanilla.
Mix just until combined, don’t over stir or the fritters will be tough.
Add diced apples.
Gently fold in apples until well combined.
Use a heavy pan like a dutch oven or cast iron skillet and add about 2- 3 inches of oil. I used about 3 cups. Place over medium-high heat using a deep fry thermometer, heat until oil reaches 350°.
While the oil is heating, make the icing. Add powdered sugar, milk and vanilla to a medium bowl.
Whisk until smooth, set aside.
Layer a baking sheet with paper towels and top with a wire rack.
Drop batter, about 1/4 cup at a time into hot oil, cooking 2- 3 at a time. Keep an eye on the oil temperature keeping it between 350° and 375°.
As fritters start to brown, flip them over and continue to cook until golden brown, about 1- 2 minutes per side.
Remove fritters with a slotted spoon to the wire rack and cool slightly.
Dip apple fritters into icing, flip to coat both sides.
Return to the wire rack.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Recipe Variations:
Apple Fritters can also be drizzled with maple syrup, dusted with powdered sugar or rolled in cinnamon sugar in place of the simple glaze.
Cinnamon sugar can be made by combining 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
Of course you can substitute other fruits in place of the apples, like peaches, blueberries or blackberries.
How to Store:
Apple Fritters are best enjoyed within 24 hours but they are so delicious that you aren’t likely to have leftovers. Place in a zip top bag or paper sack at room temperature.
Will this Recipe Work in an Air Fryer?
This recipe is best deep fried. I tried the air fryer and hated the texture, they were kind of gummy and this batter doesn’t bake up into a proper muffin either. To get that donut like texture of the classic apple fritter, deep frying is key. You can use the air fryer for our Easy Apple Turnovers.
Tips for the Best Apple Fritters:
Keeping the oil temperature in the range of 350° – 375 will make the fritters golden brown. If the oil is too hot, the fritters will be dark on the outside and still raw in the middle. If the oil is not hot enough, the batter will absorb too much oil and won’t be that crispy fritter that you are looking for.
Drain on a wire rack and dip in the glaze while still warm.
Cool fried apple fritters on the wire rack to keep them crisp. They will sweat and become soggy on a plate or baking sheet.
Cut the apples into small pieces so that you get apple chunks in every bite.
Once you see how easy this Apple Fritter Recipe is to make at home, they will be your new favorite thing. Warm apple fritters are great served with your morning coffee, hot chocolate or a tall glass of milk.
More Apple Recipes You Will Love:
Air Fryer Churro Apple Pie Bombs are a quick and easy treat to make with just a few ingredients. Make these in the air fryer or the oven.
Easy Apple Crisp is always a winner for a simple weeknight dessert. Best served warm from the oven with a big dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Air Fryer Apple Cinnamon Rollsare a quick and easy sweet treat for breakfast any day of the week. Made with fresh apples and refrigerator crescent dough.
Skip the donut shop and make a batch of homemade apple fritters this weekend. They are perfect for the fall season and quick enough for sudden cravings any time day or night.
These are our favorite treat to make after apple picking!
These look Fantastic. Can’t wait to make up a batch.
Thank You
They were so simple to make. And st delicious. Will definitely make these again!
Hi Jennifer,
I am so glad you enjoyed them. Thanks for stopping by.
~ Milisa