Apple Fritter

Loaded with soft apple pieces, cinnamon, and a sweet glaze, this apple fritters recipe is better than anything you'll get at the store.

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Table of Contents

Apple Fritters Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Apple Fritter Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
Why We Love This Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE
Even More Recipes You’ll Love

Glazed apple fritters and a cup of coffee are the perfect breakfast on Sunday mornings, and now you can stay home and make your own easy homemade version. Fresh apples and cinnamon are the stars of the show, along with airy fried dough, all covered in glaze for everyone’s favorite donut.

close up shot of apple fritter recipe topped with a glaze on a parchment paper

Apple Fritters Ingredients

apple fritter recipe raw ingredients that are labeled

These apple fritters are a delightful treat featuring Granny Smith apples with a touch of tartness enhanced by lemon juice.

The fritter batter is warmly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, creating a comforting aroma.

The sweet glaze adds a rich, creamy sweetness, resulting in a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors with a crispy texture.

You’ll need:

For The Fritters:

3 cups (3 medium) peeled, cored, and diced Granny Smith apples
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 cup + 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon of ground ginger
¼ teaspoon of salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
¼ cup of granulated sugar
¼ cup of whole milk
½ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
Vegetable oil for frying

For The Glaze:

1¼ cups of powdered sugar
4½ tablespoons of milk
½ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

Substitutions And Additions

APPLES: You can use any variety of apples in the fritters; Granny Smith just gives that extra tart punch.

Other choices for delicious apples in this recipe are Pink Lady, Courtland, or Honeycrisp apples.

CINNAMON: You can add up to 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and ½ teaspoon of nutmeg and ginger, depending on how much spice you like.

You could also substitute apple pie spice in place of plain cinnamon for this delicious dessert.

FRUIT: You could substitute other fruit for the apples or in addition to the apples in this recipe. What about blueberry, rhubarb, strawberry, or peach fritters?

VANILLA EXTRACT: Swap out the pure vanilla extract for other extracts like almond or maple for a subtle flavor variation.

GLAZE: Get creative with the glaze by adding a hint of citrus zest (lemon or orange) for a zesty twist or a pinch of sea salt to enhance the sweetness.

How To Make This Apple Fritter Recipe

Let’s get started making the batter and frying up these delectable donuts.

STEP ONE: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, stir together the chopped apples and lemon juice. Set it aside.

STEP TWO: In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Set the dry ingredients aside.

flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt being whisked together in a bowl

STEP THREE: Using a medium bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-low speed, blend the eggs and granulated sugar until well combined.

apple fritter recipe process shot of ingredients being blended together in a bowl

STEP FOUR: Lower the mixer speed to low, and add half of the flour mixture. Blend just until combined. Add the remaining flour mixture, blending just until combined.

ingredients being blended together in a bowl

STEP FIVE: Keeping the mixer speed on low, add the milk and vanilla extract. Blend just until well incorporated.

STEP SIX: Drain the excess lemon juice from the apples, and fold them into the fritter batter. Set batter aside.

STEP SEVEN: Using a 10 to 12-inch deep-sided skillet, add enough vegetable oil to fill the skillet half full. Heat the skillet on medium-high.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

You can start to heat vegetable oil when you are making the batter, but I do not recommend leaving the oil unattended.

To test if the oil temperature is hot enough to fry, carefully drip a small dribble of the batter into the oil. If the dribble of the batter bubbles, it’s ready.

STEP EIGHT: Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and lay a cooling rack on top of the baking sheet to drain the fritters.

STEP NINE: Using a quarter cup measuring cup, measure out the batter and carefully pour it into the heated oil.

It will not take long for the batter to brown, so you will need to keep a close eye on the heat level (adjusting the heat up or down).

Turn the fritters often to ensure they are golden brown, but do not burn.

To ensure the fritters are done, insert a knife in the thickest part of the fritter; if it comes out clean, it is ready to be taken out of the oil.

I only recommend frying in small batches of two to three fritters at a time.

Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked fritters to the cooling rack. Repeat until all the batter is gone.

STEP TEN: Allow the fritters to drain and cool properly.

STEP ELEVEN: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract.

Continue whisking until the glaze is completely smooth and no lumps are visible.

powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla being whisked together in a bowl

STEP TWELVE: Once the fritters are drained and cooled, drizzle the glaze over the fritters until they are completely covered.

PRO TIP:

Leave the fritters on the wire rack for glazing so that the glaze doesn’t pool around them.

glaze being poured over fritters on a cooling rack

STEP THIRTEEN: Allow the glaze to dry, then serve and enjoy.

How To Serve

The best way to enjoy a warm apple fritter is with a cup of coffee or tea.

Or what about taking a different route and serving this for dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce?

If you love the delightful combination of apples and cinnamon, our apple fritter rings are also a yummy choice for a snack.

Our apple dump cake and our apple crisp are also great apple recipes.

MORE APPLE RECIPES

Cookie Recipes

Apple Pie Cookies

Cobblers & Crisps

Caramel Apple Crisp Bites

Storage

Whether you’re planning to make them ahead of time or store leftovers, here’s how to do it.

MAKE AHEAD: While apple fritters are best enjoyed fresh, you can make them ahead of time by preparing the fritter batter and diced apples separately.

Store the batter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, and keep the diced apples in a separate container.

When you’re ready to fry, combine the batter and apples, then follow the frying instructions as usual for the freshest results.

ON THE COUNTER: Store any leftovers from this easy apple fritters recipe in an airtight container for up to two days.

IN THE FREEZER: We don’t recommend freezing these apple fritters as they will lose their soft, fried texture and end up soggy.

Why We Love This Recipe

IRRESISTIBLE FLAVOR: These apple fritters are bursting with the delicious taste of Granny Smith apples and warm spices, creating a delightful balance of sweet and tart flavors with a comforting hint of cinnamon and nutmeg.

CRISPY TEXTURE: The fritters have a perfectly crispy outer layer, thanks to the frying process. This contrast of textures, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, makes each bite incredibly satisfying.

EASY TO FOLLOW RECIPE: Our step-by-step instructions and helpful tips ensure that even novice cooks can confidently make these fritters.

close up overhead shot of apple fritter recipe topped with a glaze on a cooling rack

Homemade apple fritters are so much tastier than those from the drive-thru. The tart apples and cinnamon are such a classic combination, and the simple powdered sugar glaze makes this sweet treat extra tasty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of hot oil is best for deep frying?

Fry only with oils that have a high smoking point. The smoking point is the temperature it takes for the oil to start to break down and smoke. Once it smokes, it’s not good for frying.

Good oils to use are peanut oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, corn oil, or vegetable oil. Olive oil, on the other hand, is not a good oil to fry in.

What are the best apples to use for these old-fashioned apple fritters?

Tart apples such as Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Cortland, or Empire work well. You could also use a sweeter Honeycrisp apple if you prefer.

Can I use a different fruit for this recipe?

Fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, rhubarb, or peaches would all be delicious in this recipe.

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Apple Fritters

5 from 2 votes

Loaded with soft apple pieces, cinnamon, and a sweet glaze, this apple fritters recipe is better than anything you'll get at the store.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe

Ingredients

Fritters

3 cups Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and diced (3 medium apples)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup all-purpose flour, plus 1 tablespoon
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup whole milk
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
vegetable oil, for frying

Glaze

1¼ cups powdered sugar
4½ tablespoons milk
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, stir together the diced apples and lemon juice. Set it aside.
In a small mixing bowl whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Set it aside.
Using a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-low speed, blend the eggs and granulated sugar until well combined.
Lower the mixer speed to low, add ½ of the flour mixture. Blend just until combined. Add the remaining flour mixture and blend just until combined.
Keeping the mixer speed on low, add the milk and vanilla extract. Blend just until well incorporated.
Drain the excess lemon juice from the apples, and fold into the batter. Set it aside.
Using a 10 to 12-inch deep-sided skillet, add enough vegetable oil to fill the skillet ½ full. Heat the skillet on medium-high. To test if the oil is hot enough to fry, carefully drip a small dribble of the batter into the oil. If the dribble of the batter bubbles, it’s ready.
Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and lay a cooling rack on top of the baking sheet to drain the fritters.
Using a ¼-cup measuring cup, measure out the batter and carefully pour it into the heated oil. It will not take long for the batter to brown, so you will need to keep a close eye on the heat level (adjusting the heat up or down) and turn the fritters often to ensure it is golden brown but does not burn.
To make sure the fritters are done, insert a knife in the thickest part of the fritter; if it comes out clean, it is ready to be taken out of the oil. I only recommend frying 2 to 3 fritters at a time. Transfer the cooked fritters to the cooling rack. Repeat until all the batter is gone.
Allow the fritters to drain and cool properly.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Continue whisking until the glaze is completely smooth and no lumps are visible.
Once the fritters are drained and cooled, drizzle the glaze over the fritters until they are completely covered.
Allow the glaze to dry, then serve and enjoy.

Notes

You can start to heat vegetable oil when you are making the batter, but I do not recommend leaving the oil unattended.
To test if the oil temperature is hot enough to fry, carefully drip a small dribble of the batter into the oil. If the dribble of the batter bubbles, it’s ready.
Leave the fritters on the wire rack for glazing so that the glaze doesn’t pool around them.

Nutrition

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This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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