Apple Fritters
The absolute BEST way to enjoy apples! Apple Fritters are easy to make and fry up sweet, tender, fluffy and loaded with delicious flavor. Roll them in a mix of cinnamon and sugar or drizzle them with a simple vanilla glaze and enjoy!
Have you ever tried apple fritters? They are SO good! If you love donuts, you definitely need to try these unique pastries. They are very similar to donuts, but I actually prefer this apple fritters recipe even more! And after making and testing this recipe, they have become a family favorite. Soft, tender dough wrapped around bits of apple, laced with cinnamon and topped with a mix of cinnamon and sugar. Just try to find a more delicious fall treat!
They can be served as a warm, yummy breakfast option or as a scrumptious apple dessert with vanilla ice cream. Yum!
My family gobbled these up as fast as I could get them out of the fryer! Great recipe — it’s a keeper!
— Emily
Why you should make this recipe
- So delicious. Homemade warm sweet apple fritters that are even better than what you can buy from your local bakery. These are the perfect way to celebrate the coming of fall!
- Simple ingredients. These are made with basic baking ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen, no artificial colors or preservatives.
- Easy and quick to mix and fry. Don’t be intimidated by frying! This recipe is very easy to mix up and there’s nothing too difficult about frying.
- Versatile. Make these in a fryer, Dutch oven, or heavy stock pot. Then, toss them in cinnamon and sugar or coat them in a sweet glaze.
Ingredients needed
This apple fritters recipe is made with basic baking ingredients that I bet you already have in your kitchen. Here’s the lineup:
- Egg. You’ll need just one egg in this fritter recipe.
- Milk. You can use any milk you’d like. Whole milk will offer the richest flavor.
- Apple. Use any favorite apple. We like Gala, Fuji, and Honeycrisp apples best.
- Sugar. To perfectly sweeten each pastry.
- Salt. To help bring all of the flavors together.
- Cinnamon. For warm, cozy flavor!
- Orange juice. There’s not many desserts that don’t benefit from the addition of citrus zest or juice. It helps balance sweetness. However, I have made this recipe without the orange juice and it worked fine. You could also sub with apple juice or apple cider.
- Vanilla. I’m always a fan of a little vanilla in my sweets!
- Flour. We recommend using all-purpose flour for the best texture.
- Baking powder. For the fluff factor!
- Cornstarch. When paired with all-purpose flour, cornstarch helps prevent gluten development, which helps the fritters crisp up as they fry.
- Oil. For frying, use canola oil, vegetable oil or peanut oil, which are all neutral tasting and have high smoke points. Any of the three will work fine for this recipe.
Quick tip: You can either roll your apple fritters in a mix of cinnamon and sugar (like pictured) or drizzle them with a simple vanilla glaze. My glaze recipe is listed in the “notes” section of the recipe card.
How to make this recipe
Don’t let the fear of frying keep you from making apple fritters. I was intimated, but once I gave it a try, I wondered what took me so long! It’s really so easy and you just need about 10-15 minutes to peel and grate your apple and mix the batter, a few minutes to get your frying oil to the right temperature and then under 5 minutes to fry ’em up. Just like that you will be enjoying hot, scrumptious homemade apple fritters! Here’s the simple process:
- Combine wet ingredients. In a large bowl, combine beaten egg, milk, chopped/grated apple, sugar, salt, cinnamon, OJ, and vanilla.
- Whisk dry ingredients. Stir together flour, baking powder and cornstarch in a separate bowl.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients. Fold dry mixture into wet mixture. Do not over mix and stir just until combined; set aside.
- Heat oil. Heat your oil to between 350 and 365 degrees F. on the stovetop. On my gas stove top, I heated the oil between low and medium.
- Mix cinnamon/sugar (or glaze). While you’re waiting for the oil to heat up, stir together either the cinnamon/sugar coating or the glaze.
- Cook fritters. Once oil has reached temperature, use a large spoon or an ice cream scoop to scoop about 3 tablespoons of batter and carefully drop into the hot oil. Repeat with several more scoops of batter and fry 3-4 minutes, turning once and until golden brown. Repeat with all of the batter. Transfer cooked apple fritters to a paper-towel lined plate and allow them to cool for a few minutes.
- Roll in cinnamon/sugar. Once fritters have cooled a bit, roll in cinnamon & sugar mixture and place on a plate. Alternatively, you can drizzle with glaze or roll fritters in glaze.
Expert tips
I want your apple fritters to turn out just as perfect as mine! Here are some tips, so that they’re delicious every time:
Number one tip: use a candy thermometer to gauge the temperature of the oil. Knowing the oil temperature is crucial for the perfect fritters. Make sure that the tip of the thermometer is not touching the bottom of the pan — it should be resting about mid-way through the oil.
- Only fry 2-3 fritters at a time. If the oil is overcrowded with dough, it will lower the oil temperature. And between batches, make sure the oil returns to the correct temperature before frying more fritters.
- If rolling in cinnamon & sugar, roll the fried fritters while they are still warm, so the mix will stick to the fritters. However, if you’d prefer to use the glaze or dust them in powdered sugar, make sure they are completely cool first.
Frequently asked questions
To make this recipe for apple fritters, you’ll need an egg, milk, an apple, sugar, salt, cinnamon, orange juice, vanilla, flour, baking powder, cornstarch and oil.
Yes, it is normal for this batter to be thick. This keeps the apple fritters from becoming crumbly and falling apart.
The oil must be hot, otherwise the batter will absorb more oil and become soggy. Also, be sure to keep the fritters fairly small and don’t try to fry too many at once. All of these tips will help them cook evenly and get nice and crisp on the outside.
This specific recipe is for frying the batter. I have not tried baking with this batter, but I don’t think it would hold up to being baked. If you try it, let us know!
Storing and reheating
Apple fritters are best enjoyed when warm and the same day they’re made. However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container or storage bags with the excess air squeezed out. They will keep at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Reheat them in the oven at 350ºF for 8 to 10 minutes. Or in an air fryer for a couple of minutes.
I have not tried freezing these fritters, but I think as they thaw, they will become soft and mushy. Probably not a great option.
More favorite apple recipes
When the fall season comes around, we love to make apple recipes! Check out these favs, that I’m sure your family will enjoy!
- Easy Apple Turnovers
- Fluffy Apple Pancakes
- Homemade Apple Pie
- Baked Apple Cider Donuts
- Cinnamon Streusel Apple Bread
If you try this apple fritters recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Apple Fritters
Ingredients
- 1 large beaten egg
- 1 cup (235ml) milk
- 1 cup finely chopped or grated apple* (about 1 apple)
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons orange juice optional*
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1-2 quarts vegetable oil for frying
For rolling fritters
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine beaten egg, milk, chopped/grated apple, sugar, salt, cinnamon, OJ, and vanilla.
- Stir together flour, baking powder and cornstarch in a separate bowl.
- Fold dry mixture into wet mixture. Do not over mix. Mix just until combined. Set aside.
- Fill a Dutch oven or large saucepan 2-3" deep with oil for frying. Use a candy thermometer to ensure the oil reaches between 350 degrees F and 365 degrees F. My stove was set to medium-low heat.
- Once oil has reached temperature, use a large spoon or an ice cream scoop to scoop about 3 tablespoons of batter and carefully drop into the hot oil. Repeat with several more scoops of batter and fry 3-4 minutes, turning once and until golden brown.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine 2 teaspoons cinnamon and 2 tablespoons sugar. Set aside.
- Remove apple fritters with tongs and transfer to a paper-towel lined plate and allow to cool several minutes. Be sure to allow the oil to return to the correct temperature before frying more fritters.
- Once fritters have cooled a bit, roll in cinnamon & sugar mixture and place on a plate. Apple fritters are best enjoyed while still warm.
Notes
**I have made this recipe without the orange juice and it worked fine. You could also sub with apple juice or apple cider.
***An alternative to the cinnamon sugar mixture is a glaze, which is equally delicious. Simply combine 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar with 1-2 tablespoons milk and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract. Roll each fritter in the prepared glaze, coating it evenly all over or drizzle the glaze over the top. Place the glazed fritters onto a wire rack and allow the glaze to set and any excess to drip off. You could also just dust with powdered sugar. Storing leftover: Apple fritters are best enjoyed when warm and the same day they’re made. However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container or storage bags with the excess air squeezed out. They will keep at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat them in the oven at 350ºF for 8 to 10 minutes.
Did you make this recipe?
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My family gobbled these up as fast as I could get them out of the fryer! Great recipe — it’s a keeper!
So happy your family enjoyed! Thanks so much for your comment!