Apple Fritters made with a cakey batter incorporated with juicy apples are the ultimate homemade treat! The sweet glaze sends these fritters over the top and may even remind you of a stuffed funnel cake. But better of course! My favorite part? You can have this fabulous Apple Fritter in front of you in 30 minutes! Be sure to also try my other fritter recipes, including Banana, Peach, and Blueberry!
Apple Fritters
These Apple Fritters use a few basic ingredients and come together really fast! They also happen to use fresh apples, so that’s always a bonus when I am trying to justify donuts for breakfast. 😉 I loved the recipe so much, I made an Apple Fritter Bread!
Tips for Frying Apple Fritters
In the instructions, I suggest starting to heat your oil after the batter has come together. The first few times I made these I would start the oil right away (trying to save time) and I would always forget and the oil would get too hot and burn the batter – Do not do that.
Be sure to give yourself a few minutes to allow the oil to get to 375°F after the batter has come together. Try to also use a pan that is bigger than you would need, as there can be hot oil splattering and that is never a good thing. If you have any leftover oil, don’t throw it out; first, check out How to Clarify Used Cooking Oil so it doesn’t go to waste.
Why is the Batter Thin?
The batter itself appears to be thin and you may wonder, how is this ever going to puff up into a beautiful fritter? But trust me, it will. It should be!
Does the Apple Type Matter?
I prefer to use Granny Smith apples in this recipe as they hold up beautifully when baked or fried. We did try Honeycrisp apples and liked them, but when we tried Red Delicious apples, it wasn’t our favorite. The texture of the apples was almost the same as the donut and there wasn’t as strong of an apple flavor. When possible, opt for a Granny Smith!
Can You Bake These Apple Fritters?
I don’t recommend using this specific recipe for making Baked Apple Fritters. I tried adding the batter to a muffin tin, but they do not rise up as beautifully when baked. But, I do have a Baked Apple Fritters Recipe you could try!
Can I Make Apple Fritters in an Air Fryer?
You can, but they will not be quite as good as frying them in oil. (They won’t really look the same, either.) However, I didn’t mind them after we tested them in the air fryer. To do this, place a parchment round or a piece of parchment paper in the basket of your air fryer. Drop batter onto the parchment paper (do not overcrowd the basket) and air fry for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown, at 375°F. Don’t forget the glaze!
Glaze or Cinnamon Sugar?
I am Team Glaze! You may have noticed that I opted for water instead of cream or milk in the glaze recipe. When coating donuts you want the glaze a little thinner than you would use for cakes or cookies.
Another option instead of glaze? Sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar when cooled. It’s just 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. You could also dust them with confectioner’s sugar. Or simply enjoy plain.
Can I Make a Bigger Batch?
This recipe only yields about 5 fritters, so double it if you have a large family. They are best eaten within 24 hours so if you can eat them all, maybe drop some off for a neighbor or teacher.
How to Store Apple Fritters
I prefer to store at room temperature in an airtight container. They should last 1-2 days at room temperature.
More Fritters Recipes
Apple Fritters
Ingredients
Apple Fritter
- 1 cup (128 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 -3 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced into bite-size pieces (about 2-3 apples)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ¼ cup (61 g) whole milk
- vegetable or canola oil, for frying
Glaze
- 1¼ cups (150 g) confectioners sugar, sifted
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- 3-6 teaspoons water
Instructions
Apple Fritter
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine the lemon juice and apples. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the sugar and eggs on medium speed until fully combined. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in two additions. Mix until just combined.
- Pour in the milk and continue to stir until incorporated.
- Fold in the apples.
- Fill a frying pan halfway with oil. Heat over medium heat until the oil reaches 375°F with a candy thermometer.
- Drop ¼ cup of batter into the oil and let fry until golden brown. Flip and fry until the opposite side is golden brown. To test for doneness, insert a small knife into the center. If there’s still uncooked batter in the center, fry for a bit longer. Transfer to a paper towel-lined cooling rack and let cool. Repeat with the remaining batter.
Glaze
- Make the glaze by combining the sugar, vanilla, and 3 teaspoons of water. Add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until a pourable consistency is reached.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled fritters and let dry.
Video
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
Can I bake them in my air fryer?
Just made these and they are too die for. What about using blueberries
Hi, Arnold! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. I am so glad you asked…here is a recipe for blueberry fritters you might love! Have a great day!
what to do if you don’t have a kitchenaid or dough machine?
@Patricia — Can you make these in an air fryer? Thank goodness you didn’t ask if they can be made in an Instant Pot and using the water pressure to make the donuts.
it is a MUST to try this recipe..im telling you if you love apple fritter you wont regret this recipe…now i dont have to throw my left over apples again lol..BUT you have to watch out for the oil because it get too hot easily and you might end up with brown outside and not quite done inside ….everything else was good .thank you so much my family loves it
Made them…not a reg. Donut shop apple fritter but pretty good.. I used canned apples only because i didn’t have fresh apples. Did have to break apart to get done all the way
Yes, the canned apples will be in a sauce and could affect the outcome. 🙂
I’m trying the fritters today!
I just finished making these I thought that were fabulous way better than Kroger and I think I like these better than McDonald’s
I made these with gluten free flour, and they turned out perfectly!! Thank you!!
I made this to go with morning coffee. They were great! The recipe was easy and worked up fast. I used refined coconut oil for frying. They were a hit with my family. Thanks for sharing. 🙂