Apple Fritters are a real treat. Although these donuts look and taste impressive, they are actually quite easy to make in the comfort of your own home.
Apple Fritters are rustic-style donuts that are packed with fresh apple chunks and spicy cinnamon. The dough is a bit denser than a traditional donut, which makes it even more perfect for dipping in coffee or tea.
Not only do these homemade Apple Fritters taste amazing, they will straight up have your home smelling like your favorite Fall candle. Let’s get started!
How to Make Apple Fritters?
- Apples – Slice your apples and toss them with lemon juice. Set aside.
- Fritter Dough – Combine flour with cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Whisk eggs with sugar until the mixture is fluffy. Stir in flour mixture, followed by the milk. Stir to combine. Fold your apples into the dough.
- Shape Apple Fritter – Using an ice cream scooper or measuring cup, drop fritters directly in the pan. Don’t worry about being perfect. Fritters are supposed to look misshapen and messy.
- Frying Fritters – Using a Dutch oven or a deep pot, heat your frying oil. Fritters are fully cooked once they turn a darker shade of brown on both sides.
- Donut Glaze – Although you don’t need to use a glaze, this simple frosting takes your fritters to the next level. Mix powdered sugar, lemon juice and water together until you get a nice, smooth texture. Drizzle right on top of your hot fritter and allow to set for a couple of minutes before serving.
Hot Tip: You could also coat your fritters in a mixture of cinnamon-sugar. This adds an extra pop of Fall flavor and a nice crunch.
Can You Bake Apple Fritters?
You can bake your Apple Fritters, but I wouldn’t recommend it. You just won’t get that same texture you would get from frying.
If you must bake them, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 350F. Make your Apple Fritter batter according to instruction. Then, using an ice cream scooper or measuring cup, scoop out about 1/4 cup batter for each fritter. Press down the fritter with the back of the scooper or measuring spoon to flatted it out a bit.
Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately drizzle on your glaze and serve warm.
Tips for the BEST Apple Fritters
- Choose the right apple. Granny Smiths are the go-to apple for fritters. Why? They stay firm and don’t get mushy when fried at high heat.
- Don’t overmix the dough. Overmixing the dough will make your fritters turn out flat and dense. Fold the apples into the dough just until they are covered to keep the end product nice and airy.
- Don’t overcrowd the frying oil. It might be tempting to rush the frying process, but don’t overcrowd the oil with too much batter. This will turn into a big mess. Fry no more than 2-3 at the time to get perfect, crispy fritters.
- Use a candy thermometer to maintain hot oil. Your oil should stay at 375F when frying donuts. This is the perfect temperature for getting them nice and crispy.
- Let donuts rest on a towel or a cooling rack. It would be a shame for you to do all that frying just to end up with soggy fritters. Instead of stacking your fritters on top of one another when they come out of the fryer, set them on a towel or cooling rack to drain.
Storing Apple Fritters
Store your Apple Fritters in an airtight container on the counter. When you are ready to chow down, reheat them in an air fryer to make them crispy again. You could also use a conventional oven for the same effect.
If you made too many and need to freeze a couple, go right ahead! Fritters reheat great from frozen too.
Hot Tip: Never microwave a fritter to reheat it. It will always come out soggy and as it cools it will turn chewy and rubbery. The extra time spent using the air fryer or oven is well worth the wait.
Other Apple Recipes
- Apple Turnovers – These impressive pastries are great for breakfast or dessert.
- Apple Crisp – Have a bunch of apples you don’t know what to do with? Make an Apple Crisp and put them to work.
- Apple Sharlotka Recipe – This Ukrainian-Style apple cake is…everything.
- Caramel Apple Cake – Apples and caramel are a match made in heaven.
- Banana Apple Bread – Use those overripe bananas and make a bread that can double as breakfast or dessert.
Share Some Love ❤️
Recipe
Ingredients
Apple Fritters
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 3 cups apples, Granny Smith or Fuji
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- oil, for frying
Fritters Glaze
- 1 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
- 1/4 tsp lemon juice
- 4 tsp water
Instructions
Apple Fritters
- In a bowl, combine flour together with cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- Peel and dice apples into small pieces. Toss them with lemon juice in a separate bowl.
- In a bowl, whisk eggs with sugar until the mixture is fluffy. Stir in flour mixture. Follow with milk and stir to combine.
- Fold apples into the dough, just until apples are covered.
- Preheat a heavy pot with oil. Once the oil reaches 375°F you can fry fritters. Fritters are ready when they have a darker brown color, almost burned.
- Let them rest on a cooling rack or a papaertowel.
Fritters Glaze
- In a small bowl, combine confectioners sugar with lemon juice and water. Add water in small portions at a time. Stir until the glaze reaches a smooth texture.
- Drizzle the glaze over fritters and enjoy!
Ok, just made these. Had that evening sweet crave and didnt want to go out, staring in my pantry i saw apples and some flour… came out sooooo tasty. I accidentally put the sugar in the dry stuff, so i ended up putting a little more in the eggs to fluff up, and had to add a bit extra milk because the dough was a bit stiff, and only olive oil to fry in, so I fried at about 325-335 to keep from smoking it up. Tried some coated in apple pie spice sugar and some glazed with the powdered sugar glaze. They are all gone, my family ate them hot, all 9 i got out of this batch. Took about 20-25 mins with my minions fetching ingredients as the oil heated, enthusiastically flinging stuff into the mixing bowl as i peeled and diced apples. Thanks for a tasty easy recipe!
Hi Dawn- it sounds like you guys had a fun evening making these fritters! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for commenting.
Rose. Can I use French Vanilla Creamer instead of milk
Hi Rose, I haven't tried using creamer before so I can't say for certain but it would probably work as a substitute as long as you don't mind the french vanilla taste it'll potentially add. Let us know how it works out!
Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner I did make those apple fritters with French vanilla creamer and they turned out deliciousI'm going to be making them again todayCan I use almond flourInstead of all purpose flour
Hi Rose- I haven't tried almond flour in place of AP flour so I'm not sure! I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe though. Thanks for sharing!
Perfect directions! I was a bit hesitant to deep fry but they turned out fabulous! ❤️ I just dusted with powder sugar. My grandkids ate them all. Asking when I will make another batch. 😀
Hello Pam, I am so glad you loved the recipe, great idea on dusting them with powdered sugar! They really are the perfect fall dessert!
Thanks for all the great apple fritter info! Minor typo (I think) in one of the hot tips (listed below)...
Hot Tip: Never microwave a fritter to reheat it. It will always come out soggy and as it cools it will turn chewy and rubbery. The extra time spent using the air fryer or microwave is well worth the wait.
I think the second mention of microwave was supposed to be oven or toaster oven.
Hi Larry - good catch! You're 100% right and thanks for catching that. We have updated on our end - nothing is worse than a soggy fritter!
I'm just learning to use a airfryer. To Crisp up Apple critters what would you set your hairdryer on?
Hey Jo, hairdryer? I am assuming you are asking air fryer.. It should be at 350F for 3-5 minutes, time would depend on their size. Enjoy
Hi again!
I made these with corn oil and they turned out so well🤤
Thank you for your reply and this delicious recipe!
Sweet I'm so glad they went well! Thank you for your feedback 🙂
Hi Natalya,
Can I use corn oil to fry these? Will it taste good?
Thanks for your advice and your recipes!❤️
Hey dear, it should work fine unless the oil has a strong aroma. I haven't used corn oil in a while.
would a 2% milk work for this recipe?
Hey Anna, yes it would. Enjoy
Can you make them in the air fryer? Thank you
Hey Alona, I have not tried it but the dough is a bit runny. I think it might make a mess. If you try it, please let me know.
Okay thanks can you do stuffed crust pizza please natalya
Malak, that's a great one!
Can you do pizza videos and honey chicken recipe please a new suscriber
Hey Malak, Pizza is on the list. Thank you for your suggestions. I love hearing feedback.
So easy to make and SO good! We loved them!!
Eden, this is great to hear. Thank you for sharing this. I am so glad!
My boys are already begging me to make more! Definitely a winner!
Jen, wow, I am so happy to hear this. Good thing they are easy to make.
Such a delicious recipe while not being overly fussy. Loved it!
Julia, thank you for sharing this. I am so glad.
What kind of oil do you fry the donuts with?
Hi Anna, I use canola oil or light olive oil would work well. Hope you love it!